Kids are buckling down and disciplining their parents about idling vehicles. Ron Zima, a spokesman for the Children’s Clean Air Network, said idle-free zones at schools are working.
It’s been close to two years since Zima and other concerned parents got together with sponsors to promote idle-free zones in front of schools. They just launched their eighth school last week.
“You can see a lot more grown-ups not idling their vehicles,” Zima said.
“I remember one time I was at Madeline Symonds Middle School and there were six vehicles in the drop-off route and not one of them was idling. I went up to the first couple of vehicles and I asked them why … and they said, ‘Jeez, my kids won’t let me.’”
Kids have taken the initiative to heart and sponsors provide signs, bumper stickers and T-shirts to help the kids drive the message home.
Tantallon Elementary School had its big launch day last week .
“Stock Transportation that provides the buses for our school, they’re certainly onside,” said principal Connie Pottie. She said the idle-free zone will be effective because parents are very co-operative with school initiatives.
“Kids are definitely the way to get action,” Pottie said.
The next school to launch its idle-free zone will be Duc d’Anville Elementary School in Clayton Park on May 14.
And just how many more schools does Zima have his eye on?
“The sky’s the limit,” he said. “I’ve had e-mails and inquiries from literally dozens of schools across Halifax and the province. We actually get people hitting our website (www.childrencan.ca) from across North America.”
