THE Maribyrnong Integrated Transport Strategy, adopted by the council, proposes “idle-free zones” where motorists switch off their engines when they are not moving.
The zones would be enforced at places such as outside schools, in hospitals car parks and residential neighbourhoods to protect people from emissions, particularly diesel fumes.
The system has been adopted in some European and North American cities where guidelines dictate how long a car is standing still before the engine must be switched off. Times range from 10 seconds to one minute.
Increased car maintenance costs will be offset by money saved on fuel, the report says.
Cars could be banned altogether on some days, following the lead set in Bogota, Colombia, more than 30 years ago. There, for periods each year, hundreds of kilometres of major arterial roads are closed to traffic for people to walk, ride and play.
The annual “Ciclovia” – meaning bike path – reinforces the message that the road is not just for cars.
A similar event has been run on Sydney Road by Moreland City Council.
