Deal with engine idling too

I read in today’s The Freeman that 300 individuals have paid fines this month to the city government for smoking in public places. Whilst I am all in favor of public places being smoke-free in the city, I do not consider it to be the most pressing health or environmental issue that needs addressing by the city government. A far more compelling issue that receives no attention at all is engine idling.

The practice of leaving engines running while stationary is pervasive on the city’s streets. The reasons for drivers idling their engines are varied and not simply to give the driver the opportunity to sit in an air-conditioned environment. In fact there is often a direct connection between engine idling and illegal parking in so far as the driver runs his engine as an indication that he or she is about to drive off so justifying a stay in a no-parking zone.

In The Freeman editorial of January 28th, you reported that 20 government vehicles had been issued citations for parking in bike lanes on one specific day earlier this month. What is not mentioned is how many of those vehicles also had their engines running (at tax payers’ expense) while parked illegally.

Engine idling has repercussions for both the environment through the burning of fossil fuels and on the health of pedestrians who breathe in the fumes.

Air pollution is a major causes of asthma which is one of the most common ailments of city dwellers. Asthma is not the only consequence of air pollution; it is believed that 92% of the world’s population is affected by air pollution to a greater or lesser extent and that 90% of the organs of the human body are adversely affected. The WHO has described air pollution as “the silent killer” with 8.5 million deaths annually worldwide directly attributed to it.

Aside from witnessing engine idling in bike lanes and other parking prohibited areas, I have often noted the practice outside schools, hospitals, supermarkets and banks. There is a widespread ignorance on the part of drivers of the harm they are doing to the health of passersby.

I believe there are plans afoot to have designated bus lanes in various parts of the city. This initiative by the city government could do more than just boost the usage of public transport; in fact it could have a significant impact in preventing illegal parking on main roads. The right-hand lane of some major highways is currently unusable as there are too many illegally parked vehicles. A bus lane will have the effect of re-opening the right-hand lane and thus improving the flow of traffic generally.

Richard Foster

Cebu City