The issues are different for cars than for diesel trucks, but I'd like to point out that in Sweden most municipalities have a one-minute limit on idling your vehicle. You see many signs posted with the rules, and the rules are widely respected by car owners. There are appropriate exceptions: it doesn't apply when you are in traffic, such as waiting at a red light, and it doesn't apply in cases where the vehicle's motor is needed for some other function, for example running a cement mixer or a winch.
Putting aside the issues around trucks and diesel, we Minnesota car owners have gone soft. We can't handle getting into a cold car anymore, so we leave them running way too much. There used to be a preschool in my Minneapolis neighborhood, where many of the parents would leave their cars running during the short time it took to run their children into the house. We would have as many as five cars idling on the street to keep warm, which really stunk up the air for those of us who lived here. They did this not just in subzero weather, but as soon as the temp dipped into the forties. One of those idling cars was a Ford Explorer with a bumper sticker: "Think Globally, Act Locally." Sweet irony. David Curle East Harriet REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
