Who thinks closing drive thru windows can help the environment?

Air Advocate

Nominee Member
Mar 4, 2007
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If the average Fast food restaurant does close to 66% of it business at a drive thru restaurant is it fair to the population that we breathe all this extra vehicle exhaust?
Has any one ever calculated just hom many cubic feet of exhaust is generated at these window every day? Does the restaurant have increased filteration on there ventilation systems? Did you go around to there neighbour and give money to compensate for the loses caused by illness related to these fine particuls?
 

DurkaDurka

Internet Lawyer
Mar 15, 2006
10,385
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Toronto
If the average Fast food restaurant does close to 66% of it business at a drive thru restaurant is it far to the population that we breathe all this extra vehicle exhaust?
Has any one ever calculated just hom many cubic feet of exhaust is generated at these window every day? Does the restaurant have increased filteration on there ventilation systems? Did you go around to there neighbour and give money to compensate for the loses caused by illness related to these fine particuls?

Consider a driver might idle in a drive through for approx 2 min per visit compared to the ammount of commuters sitting in their cars by them selves on major freeways everyday.
 

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
Jan 6, 2007
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If the average Fast food restaurant does close to 66% of it business at a drive thru restaurant is it far to the population that we breathe all this extra vehicle exhaust?
Has any one ever calculated just hom many cubic feet of exhaust is generated at these window every day? Does the restaurant have increased filteration on there ventilation systems? Did you go around to there neighbour and give money to compensate for the loses caused by illness related to these fine particuls?

So the solution is to close the drive through window, and have the people take 10 or 15 minutes to go in and grab their food instead of 5 minutes in the drive through? Considering that most people leave their vehicles idling to ward off discomfort (cold or heat), then all you've done is lengthen the amount of time a vehicle might sit and idle at a fast food restaurant. That doesn't help, it complicates issues.
 

Air Advocate

Nominee Member
Mar 4, 2007
55
0
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so you think line ups of 5 to 10 cars only take 2 minutes for service

sure it be inconvenent but think of all the people you are affecting not every one sits at drive thru window why should there health be affected.
what about your family members breathing in the exhaust all day servicng the coffee
 

tamarin

House Member
Jun 12, 2006
3,197
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Oshawa ON
I should think closing drive-throughs would have a remarkable environmental effect. Our roads and highways are strewn with litter jettisoned by the drive-through gang. Theirs is a mentality all of its own.
 

csanopal

Electoral Member
Dec 22, 2006
225
5
18
Toronto, ON
If the average Fast food restaurant does close to 66% of it business at a drive thru restaurant is it far to the population that we breathe all this extra vehicle exhaust?
Has any one ever calculated just hom many cubic feet of exhaust is generated at these window every day? Does the restaurant have increased filteration on there ventilation systems? Did you go around to there neighbour and give money to compensate for the loses caused by illness related to these fine particuls?
They would be in their cars anyway, if not at windows, driving to restaurants from home.
 

RomSpaceKnight

Council Member
Oct 30, 2006
1,384
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London, Ont. Canada
Every little bit helps. Sure stoplights + other legitimate reasons to idle + drive thrus = A
but stoplights + other legitimate reasons to idle= A - drive thrus
A > A - drive thrus
Do the math.
 

fuzzylogix

Council Member
Apr 7, 2006
1,204
7
38
In neighbourhoods that have legally fought and won to block fast food restaurants, the pollution from cars idling in the drive through lane was deemed to have a significant adverse effect on the surrounding environment.

I figure if you are really going to eat that 857 calorie fat loaded Big Mac, you should at least have to get out of your car and use 7.2 calories walking to the counter to get it.
 

TenPenny

Hall of Fame Member
Jun 9, 2004
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Location, Location
I think you're right. In fact, nobody should be allowed to drive anywhere. At no time should anybody be allowed to do anything that could possibly be construed as convenient. Nobody should be allowed to have a garage, either, because one of the main benefits of drive-thru service is not having to get in and out of your car in bad weather, so we have to eliminate that convenience.

And we have to ensure that parents with small children have to get the kids in and out of their car seats as many times a day as possible. Because, god knows, we cannot possibly make life easier for anyone.
 

snfu73

disturber of the peace
How much idling time is spent at lights waiting for through traffic to clear enough to enable one to turn left?
How much time do airliners spend sitting still while waiting for a runway to clear?
etc.
Excellent questions...all things that need consideration as well. I believe virgin airlines is in the process of developing a strategy on how to decrease the amount of fuel used in idling. At stop lights...well, then that is a job for city planners to determine how to keep main thorough fares moving steadily...possibly even looking at what areas can be blocked off to traffic altogether. Yes, looking at the impact of drive thrus on the environment is a good thing, I believe. I think there are ALOT of things that can be done...a little bit here, a little bit there that ALL adds up to something big in the end.
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
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Doesn't Vancouver have some kinda timing system for the lights, so if you drive at 60 km/h you never hit a red light?
 

tamarin

House Member
Jun 12, 2006
3,197
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Oshawa ON
Another big bonus is scuttling drive-throughs might not be environmentally as friendly as it is small business friendly. I live close to small communities where Tim Horton's has driven out longtime independents because Horton's could afford the extra lot space necessary for an effective drive-through. Without this business convenience for the chains, the small guys might have a chance again.
 

AmberEyes

Sunshine
Dec 19, 2006
495
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28
Vancouver Island
I don't know how much of an affect it would have on the environment.. but I do know it would make my job a lot less stressful. I hate running the drivethru at Tim Hortons.. it's what I do every weekend, and it's one of the worst jobs I've had.

There's so much exhaust coming through the window, by the end of the day I'm so dizzy and ill I just want to go home and sleep.
 

L Gilbert

Winterized
Nov 30, 2006
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Excellent questions...all things that need consideration as well. I believe virgin airlines is in the process of developing a strategy on how to decrease the amount of fuel used in idling. At stop lights...well, then that is a job for city planners to determine how to keep main thorough fares moving steadily...possibly even looking at what areas can be blocked off to traffic altogether. Yes, looking at the impact of drive thrus on the environment is a good thing, I believe. I think there are ALOT of things that can be done...a little bit here, a little bit there that ALL adds up to something big in the end.
Banning left hand turns would be cool. Then more than one vehicle can go through on a green. Nelson has 4 or 5 lights down Baker street and at certain times of the day that's how many vehicles can go on a green light because some idjit at the front wants to turn left. Meanwhile there are 2 blocks of traffic waiting for the idjit. betcha that spews a fair-sized blimpful of GHGs.
 

tamarin

House Member
Jun 12, 2006
3,197
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Oshawa ON
Unless I'm truly desperate I boycott Horton's. Small donuts and they've dropped their orange twists locally, the only donut they ever knew how to really make!
 

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
Jan 6, 2007
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I don't know how much of an affect it would have on the environment.. but I do know it would make my job a lot less stressful. I hate running the drivethru at Tim Hortons.. it's what I do every weekend, and it's one of the worst jobs I've had.

There's so much exhaust coming through the window, by the end of the day I'm so dizzy and ill I just want to go home and sleep.

I know there are a lot of areas that are trying to crack down on idling. Hospitals in our area now threaten to tow if you leave your vehicle idling. My children's school has a sign on the side of the building telling parents to refrain from leaving vehicles idling near the door. I know, I personally, do not idle my vehicle. It's a choice I've made for the sake of the enviro. I don't let it run for half hour before leaving the house like most people do. I bundle up, and give the engine time to warm up, not the cab. Burning extra fuel just to warm the cab is the height of luxury in my view.

But, I see what happens with other people when they are told not to idle near the doors, etc.... they park farther away and leave their vehicle idling anyway. It would be easier for people in your position, yes (and it's part of why I don't do drivethroughs for the most part), but I don't think it would really help the enviro much if these companies shut down their drivethroughs. People would jsut park in the lot and idle there even longer than they do in the drivethroughs.

Perhaps I'm being a bit jaded and bitter.
 

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
Jan 6, 2007
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Banning left hand turns would be cool. Then more than one vehicle can go through on a green. Nelson has 4 or 5 lights down Baker street and at certain times of the day that's how many vehicles can go on a green light because some idjit at the front wants to turn left. Meanwhile there are 2 blocks of traffic waiting for the idjit. betcha that spews a fair-sized blimpful of GHGs.

Where I live, the busiest intersection in town has a daytime ban on left turns. 8AM-6PM, no left turns.
 

Air Advocate

Nominee Member
Mar 4, 2007
55
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6
ok since you work at the place

tell me how long does it take to serve a customer for coffee in the morning? What is the most amount of customers you have seen at one time lined up?