Calgary studies anti-idling bylaws in other cities for possible update to its rules

Calgary staff are looking at anti-idling bylaws in other jurisdictions in preparation for a potential update to the city's relatively lax rules on motor vehicle emissions.

"That process has already begun," Kurt Hanson, the city's general manager of community services, told council on Monday.

His comment came in response to a question from Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra, who inquired as to whether the city would extend its narrow anti-idling bylaw — which only applies to large commercial trucks doing work in residential areas — to other types of vehicles.

"However a truck is defined in the bylaw … does not include standard vehicles such as cars or pickup trucks," Carra said.

"We are stewards of our air, land and water. To what extent are we updating our bylaws around idling?"

Hanson said Calgary is looking "other best practices across the country" when it comes to anti-idling rules.

"And we can look at bringing back something to council, in terms of addressing that issue, as we go forward," he said.

Calgary's current bylaw prohibits commercial trucks with gross allowable maximum vehicle weight of greater than 5,450 kilograms from idling for more than 20 minutes in a residential area.

Bylaws in other municipalities

Dozens of other cities and towns across Canada impose more stringent rules on vehicle idling.

In Vancouver, for example, it is illegal to run an idle vehicle's engine for more than three consecutive minutes in a one-hour period. The city also forbids the idling of any vehicle that is unattended and unlocked for any amount of time.

In Toronto, idling a parked vehicle for more than one minute per hour is against the law.

Canmore, Alta., adopted a bylaw in 2014 that prohibits idling a vehicle for more than five minutes. Idling is also restricted in the mountain towns of Banff and Jasper.

All the bylaws come with various exceptions for emergency vehicles and certain types of work vehicles.

Edmonton proposed a comprehensive anti-idling bylaw in 2009 but it was met with a strong public backlash. In 2013, a more limited bylaw took effect, which prohibits idling only in designated areas outside of schools and hospitals.

Alberta RCMP have recently warned against idling after a rash of vehicles were stolen that had been left running and unoccupied with the keys in the ignition.