This week at City Council, a motion was passed to modify the City’s Idling Bylaw. The previous bylaw, effective since 2008, allowed vehicles to idle for up to three minutes every hour when temperatures ranged between 5°C and 27°C, with no limit on idling outside of these temperatures.
Council directed staff to review the Idling Bylaw and provide recommendations. In their review, staff recommended amendments to align Ottawa with other municipalities and National Resources Canada guidelines. Initially, staff proposed limiting idling to one minute when temperatures are between 0°C and 27°C, and extending it to five minutes for colder or hotter temperatures.
At the Council meeting, Councillors Steve Desroches and Laine Johnson put forward an amendment to extend the allowable idling time beyond staff’s recommendation.
The updated bylaw will permit vehicles to idle for three minutes within a 60-minute period when temperatures are between 0°C and 27°C, and up to 10 minutes in temperatures colder than 0°C or warmer than 27°C.
I voted against extending the idling times but supported a motion to prioritize public education on idling in high-incidence areas like schools and construction sites where excessive idling is a problem.
Public education on idling is crucial.
Did you know?
Idling decreases fuel efficiency, increases costs, and contributes to pollution.
Modern vehicles don’t need to idle as long as older models. Consult your Owner’s manual for recommendations for how to avoid idling to optimize fuel economy.
In modern vehicles, driving helps the engine reach optimal temperature faster than idling, while the catalytic converter operates more efficiently.
Even in cold weather, manufacturers advise against long idling, and modern engines warm up more effectively while driving.
Today’s gasoline and diesel vehicles are also designed to handle frequent starts and stops without damage. Starters and batteries are much more durable than in the past.
Idiling Costs You Money
For a typical vehicle with a 3-liter engine, idling for 10 minutes uses up 300 milliliters of fuel (more than 1 cup), while a 5-liter engine consumes half a liter (over 2 cups) in the same time. Unnecessary idling not only wastes fuel but also results in wasted money.
By reducing our idling, we can save money and contribute to cleaner air.
For more information, you can read about how idling wastes fuel and money here:
