This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
Idling Bus Engines
I work in an office at Dalhousie overlooking LeMarchant St, across from where the Metro buses park to wait until for their departure times. May I ask why these buses continually insist on keeping their loud engines running while they are parked there for
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Is Dal U. smoke free? Is Dal U. scent free? Why isn’t Dal U. exhaust free? Complain to your policy-making-critters. Your working conditions should not be a hazard to your health as they are now. Regards
I am a bus rider and I have asked the question many times. Like you, I have never received a reply. Why? They do not have a reason. Except for the fact that they can raise the price of fare’s as a result of higher gas prices. Go figure.
Speaking from experience in the bus industry – There is one very good reason to let a bus idle between stops: will it start again? Its cheaper to idle the engine for 15 mins or less compared to a tow-call, labour to send out a spare bus plus the inconvenience to those waiting for the now-late bus. A no-start can be caused by many things, a broken wire, faulty starter or even weak batteries.A secondary reason is that the suspension will leak air pressure when shut down and this means the driver will have to fast-idle the bus to get the system pressure (which also powers the doors, windshield wipers, brakes and accelerator systems) back to a sufficent level to fill the air bags and allow the park brake to release once 90psi’s are reached.Hope that gives a bit of help to those asking about the issue.