Greater Toronto area

Toronto's Idle-Free Day

The Toronto-based environmental group, Greenest City Environmental Organization, declared August 21, 2002, "Idle-Free Day" across the Greater Toronto Area.

Feel free to use or adapt the following materials to plan and implement your own local "Idle-Free Day."

Greenest City "Stop Fuming" poster. These posters were mounted in strategic locations throughout the community.

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Greenest City Brigadiers/interventions dialogue was used by a group of volunteers who approached over 600 motorists and were asked to make a commitment to not idle while parked.

"Hi there. We're here working with Greenest City Environmental Organization on a project aimed at reducing the harmful emissions that occur when vehicle engines are left running. These emissions decrease air quality and contribute to climate change. We are asking motorists to make a commitment to turn off their engines when they are parked and are waiting in their vehicles. Would you be willing to join the growing number of people who have made a similar pledge and agree to turn off your vehicle's engine when you are parked and waiting in your vehicle? We are asking people who make such a pledge to turn off their vehicle engine to place this sticker on their window. By doing so the sticker will serve as a reminder to you to turn your engine off, and as a display of your commitment to reduce engine idling. The sticker has been designed so that it can be easily removed from your window at a later time. Would you be willing to attach this sticker to your window? We are also giving out these information cards that explain how turning off your engine can save you money, help you breathe easier and spare the air. Would you like to have one?"

The City of Toronto also launched its own idling campaign, which made use of a wide variety of communications materials. These were drawn from the graphics and tools on the Idle-Free Zone Web site and adapted for use in the GTA.

• Banners, information cards, t-shirts, ball cap and windshield decal that were used for public interventions.
• Transit advertisement - These large posters were used during the media campaign in transit shelters with the slogan "Don’t idle your vehicle! Breathe easier."
• Final campaign report for the GTA – Download full campaign results www.toronto.ca/gtacac/reports.htm.
• Read a case study on Toronto's idling by-law.
• Read a summary of Toronto's "Turn it Off" campaign.

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Through STEP, students at Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School in Peterborough, Ontario, and Unionville High School in Markham, Ontario, drove home the Idle-Free message to drivers idling in front of their schools by issuing mock tickets.

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Markham/Newmarket

Idle-Free Challenge

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Idle-Free Community Challenge

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