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6. Reduce Vehicle Idling/School Pool Pilot Project

Reduce Vehicle Idling/School Pool Pilot Project

Sierra Club of Canada - Prairie Chapter (SCC-PC) is a non-profit organization that aims to develop a diverse, well-trained grassroots network working to protect the integrity of our global ecosystems. The Prairie Chapter focuses on educating its members to take action locally.

What are they doing?

The "Reduce Vehicle Idling" project and the "School Pool Pilot" project will occur at 20 schools in Alberta. The same candidate schools will be approached for both projects and will be scheduled in a short time span so that the issue of traffic congestion and air quality in schools becomes one of the primary concerns in the future. These programs are targeting private schools in Calgary and Edmonton.

1. Reduce Vehicle Idling Phase II

   In September 2003 a campaign was launched in Edmonton and Calgary to address vehicle idling in schools. For Phase II of this project, the SCC-PC will focus the community-based social marketing aspect of the previous project and approach 20 additional schools with the reduce vehicle idling campaign. The goal of this project is to reduce the frequency and duration of idling vehicles in school zones thereby improving air quality.

   The Sierra Club and its partners will launch the following idling initiatives in 20 schools in 2005:

   • Idling Outreach to Parents - information cards on the harmful effects of idling will be distributed to all parents in the 20 schools in Alberta. Parents will also receive a window sticker to remind them not to idle their engine;
   • Behavioural Data Evaluation - Idle Free Ambassadors will be hired to monitor the 20 sites prior to the outreach event and assess the frequency and duration of idling vehicles;
   • No Idling Zone - all participating schools will be asked to place an Idle Free Zone sign in a prominent place so that parents will be aware of efforts to reduce vehicle idling.
   
   

2. School Pool Pilot Project

   The second component of this project will involve a campaign targeted at the same 20 private schools being approached for the idling component of the project. The purpose of the project is to encourage carpool trips to and from private schools.

   To reduce trips to school Commuter Connections will:

   • Develop an on-line ride-matching application that will be made available to 20 private schools in Alberta;
   • Develop a series of promotional materials (posters, bookmarks, pencils, signs) to distribute to schools, parent groups and students;
   • Deliver information about the program and its benefits through the schools’ administration and parent groups (school and parent groups newsletters).

Where can you find more information?

Sierra Club, Prairie Chapter Website

Date modified:

2010-02-03

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