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Saturday, May 9, 2009

Idle-Free NYC

by Robin Urban Smith on May 9, 2009

Time: 2:38 Plays: 460 Embed:

Did you know that 25% of all New York City School children are affected by asthma?  May 5th was World Asthma Day and Idle-Free NYC Day, and supporters gathered at City Hall to celebrate new legislation, Intro 631-A, that reduces the time a motor vehicle can idle in a school zone from three minutes to one.  The law also says that the Environmental Control Board and the Department of Finance have to file annual reports on the number of idling violations issued and the total value of penalties assessed.  A new bill, proposed by Senator Daniel Squadron, calls for a city-wide one minute idling law.  For resources, tools, and information about how you can take action against idling, visit Asthma Free School Zones and Idle-Free NYC.  Also visit Livable Streets Education for cirriculum integration ideas and information.

3 Comments

Last comment by Colin Shepard Leave a comment »
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    Wayne Michaud

    Awareness of unnecessary vehicle idling (when parked) is dawning. It's comparable smoking/tobacco awareness in the 60s. While there are idle-free campaigns and an increasing number of no idling laws, we have a long way to go. This is a great campaign to target idling at its most harmful: the children. Thank you to Idle-Free NYC for educating us about idling which is not only a health hazard, but contributes to climate change, wastes energy and wastes our money.

    May 11, 2009 at 9:14 am Link # 1
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    Ruth Smith

    Great ideas! Even in the small village where I live the residents next to the Post Office always told people to turn their cars off while they went in to get their mail as their "idling" was totally unecessary and harmful to the air quality in teh center of the village. Kudos to you!!

    May 12, 2009 at 5:51 pm Link # 2
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    Colin Shepard

    Thank you for making a video on this important topic.

    May 13, 2009 at 10:01 pm Link # 3