Unnecessary idling

Bravo to eighth grade students, Jessica Henson and Caroline Dye, for their efforts to stop cars and buses from idling while dropping off or picking up students at the middle school.

Their research is impressive and we agree that it makes sense to make all of Whitefish an idle free zone. All of British Columbia and most of Alberta already have laws in place to prohibit idling.

Unnecessary idling wastes money and fuel and produces greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and to health issues.

We need to use energy more wisely. Although vehicles are more fuel efficient than they were years ago, there are many more vehicles on the road.

While reducing vehicle idling won’t solve the climate change on our environment and its health implications, it’s a step in the right direction and easy to do. Keep in mind that if we each do our part, our individual actions add up.

Way to go, Caroline and Jessica! You have started a very important conversation and we hope that the Whitefish City Council will support you unanimously in your school endeavors and also consider the proposal for all of Whitefish.

— Cheri and Peter Aronsson, Whitefish