Dear Editor,
I wish to call upon the City of Richmond to investigate the impact that so-called double drive-thrus have on our air quality.
It sure seems hypocritical to have laws preventing people from smoking in public places, citing air quality concerns, and then allow the unnecessary idling of thousands of vehicles for approximately five or 10 minutes in an endless toxic parade.
Double drive-thrus are a marketing trick to fool customers into thinking the line is shorter by splitting it into two and thus trapping more vehicles in the order area.
However, there is still only one window to receive your order and the same amount of staff, so a bottle neck occurs. The only thing that doubles is the time you wait and, therefore, the amount you idle.
Why is this acceptable? Shouldn’t we be taking steps to make companies do more to reduce the problem they create instead of allowing them to add to the pollution while adding to their profits?
The biggest offender, in my opinion, is the recently installed double drive-thru at Tim Hortons in Ironwood plaza. As a long-time customer and concerned citizen, I tried to meet with the owner but was told by management that he was not available to see me and does not give out his phone number, e-mail address or return calls.
Perhaps the fine reporters at this paper can get a few answers for me? From Tim Hortons, I would like to know what impact they feel they are having on air quality?
From the City of Richmond, I would like to know if double drive-thrus are being monitored? How many prosecutions have been made under the current idling laws? Have there ever been any prosecutions? Has the City of Richmond been idle on this issue?
If no prosecutions have been made, am I to assume that one vehicle idling for 10 minutes is not a concern, but a single smoker is? Something to think about while you are idling unnecessarily for your morning coffee....or is that cough?
Alan Bennett
Richmond
