Idle-Free NYC (I-FNYC)

Two years ago, on Earth Day 2007, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced his goal for NYC to "have the cleanest air quality of any big city in America."

Great idea. But it won't happen until unnecessary engine idling stops. It has to come both from the top with tougher idling laws and enforcement of those laws, and from the bottom with an informed citizenry that stops idling through self-control and social capital. This year the Mayor is onboard with an idling campaign of his own, which helps by both setting prioriities at the top and raising driver awareness at the bottom.

The good news is that today idling is on the map. No longer the fringe concern of a minority, this year the word "idling" and the may negative impacts of idling no longer require explanation. NYC has a new law on the books and new laws in the works at both the City and State level. There is much to celebrate but much still to be done. Just as good air doesn't happen overnight, maintaining a healthy environment requires vigilance. Not-idling is just one easy, quick example of how individual citizens can take responsibility for their own greenhouse gas emissions.

Idle-Free NYC 2009 kicked off on Earth Day, April 22nd, when 360 city buses once again rolled out with interior and exterior bus posters that target Tuesday, May 5th, World Asthma Day, as the day to celebrate all our efforts to stop unnecessary idling in NYC. Fifty thousand cups sleeves were distributed to coffee shops throughout Manhattan.

Below are some free I-FNYC downloads--tools--to help you spread the message.

FREE DOWNLOADS (8.5"x11")