Responsible Legislation: Curb Idling Cars & Build Cycling Infrastructure

Rather than diving into where I left off on my book or starting the new blog that is calling me, I just put this together and sent it to the mayor’s office (contact form online). Feel free to copy and paste it if you are aware of this disconnect (lack of awareness) in your own community and wish to send some of the information to your own city government.

Responsible Legislation to curb idling cars and build safe bicycling infrastructure – taking local responsibility for a global problem of extreme warming.

red hot planet article by Jason Samenow for the Washington Post

In lieu of the fact that global temperatures continue to exceed the ‘normal’ averages, year after year as expressed in this article by Jason Samenow in the Washington Post, Red-hot planet: All-time heat records have been set all over the world during the past week It displays the obvious, human induced global warming. I am currently residing in Providence. I get around on a bicycle everywhere that I live. I joined the mayor’s bike ride on the Thursday evening before the PVDfest, to promote bicycling. I have lived in numerous communities in the United States and in several European cities. For example, Germany has an extensive recycling program and an enormous functional infrastructure for bicycling in urban and rural areas. One is not ‘risking one’s life’ to commute by bicycle as they are in most American places. The city of Berlin, Germany hosts maintained and distinct bicycle paths. The bicycle paths are not merely lines drawn on the road or a logo of a bike lane painted on the road, but actually the bike paths are on the sidewalk, with a designated side for cyclists, the other for pedestrians. Cities in France and Scandinavian countries do the same thing. To ride on the road with only a line designating a bike path, is to me, risking injury and death. Therefore to encourage bicycling rather than discouraging it, infrastructure needs to be created to support safe family bicycling.

The cycling infrastructure in the Netherlands is like a science.

Fietspad bicycle infrastructure in the Netherlands

The main point of this email is that as someone whose major form of transportation is bicycling, no matter what city or country, I have encountered in just the few months living here in Providence a stupendous number of people who sit in their cars with the engine on, idling, while typically looking down at their phones. People sitting in idling cars are not the exception, but the norm. This is not in exceedingly frigid temperatures or high heat, but pleasant temps. I quickly was able to ascertain that it is everywhere, nothing to do with education, socio economic class, race or age factors. 30% of the population are simply oblivious to how they are contributing to the climate crisis, and sorry to say, along with air conditioning units. I’m sure you are aware of the fact that Americans use much more energy and power than most of the other countries combined, and are directly and indirectly responsible for cataclysmic repercussions everywhere.

You can do the math. I feel the heat as I cycle past cars and smell the exhaust. As an acquaintance mentioned, if people could actually see carbon monoxide, it might be a different story. http://www.silentshadow.org/carbon-monoxide-in-your-car.html
This threat is not observable, like a disease, until it has rendered its affects on the body. Having lived 7 years in Berlin, Germany where I also bicycled, I would see people conscientiously ‘turning off their engine’ even at red lights. What in the world is this complete gap in awareness and education? I would have thought that in a New England capital city there would be a whole lot more awareness and education about this. I have made signs, I have tapped on windows, I have written to the mayor’s office and even mentioned this to the mayor in person during this bike ride.

By the way, sitting on a bus to return to Providence from New York city several weeks ago, the dispatcher called the bus driver and told her to turn off the ignition of the bus while she was waiting another 20 minutes prior to departure, regardless of how hot the bus becomes. She later informed me that in Manhattan, the fine is $2,000 per idling bus. Since people don’t seem to be cognizant whatsoever of their role in contributing to global warming, or their own actions, I suggest like cutting out the sales of HUGE sugary drinks, enforcing awareness upon them through instituting fines if people are found sitting in their cars with the engine on. A fine large enough to deter people from even thinking twice about it. And with the money accrued, build safe and convenient bicycling infrastructure. Lead the country in building community, in attracting people to healthier, sustainable habits that encourage people to exercise more and eat right and have awareness of how their actions affect the entire planet. Lead other cities by example of your proactive legislations.

This city is very, very easy and convenient to get around on bicycle, and it could be made to be even more bicycle friendly. And if you think I’m exaggerating or think that it is unimportant, put 15 of your police officers out on bicycles to see, feel and smell for themselves how an entire metropolitan population is contributing to the climate crisis that we are in, and seemingly completely oblivious. And if you have never heard of or read this prominent British journalist’s writings, I suggest that you do. http://www.monbiot.com/2018/07/02/in-memoriam/

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