THE PUBLIC IS SPEAKING ITS MIND ON DRIVE-THRUS

In less than a week, over 52,000 London, Ontario residents have signed petitions and sent letters, sending a clear message to City Council: "Don't Ban Drive-Thrus!"

SEND LONDON CITY COUNCIL A MESSAGE:

BANNING DRIVE-THRUS IN LONDON? IT'S A BAD IDEA ALL AROUND.

Some municipal politicians in London, Ontario, are attempting to prohibit drive-thru development over a significant part of the city.

Special interest groups and anti-car activists want the City to close ALL existing drive-thrus in the next two years.

The current proposal is the first step to the total elimination of drive-thrus without any proof that it's a good idea.

In fact, it doesn't make sense and won't help the environment.

BANNING DRIVE-THRUS DOESN'T HELP THE ENVIRONMENT

Scientific research conducted by RWDI, leading Canadian air quality experts, compared restaurants with drive-thrus and those with only parking lots.

The research concluded emissions from drive-thru restaurants are less than from a restaurant with only a parking lot.

Parking lot emissions are higher because of the increased pollutants produced when cars are re-started and as drivers look for a spot or leave their cars idling when they go into the store.

This study was reviewed and supported by a leading Professor of Environmental Engineering at Carleton University. City of London bureaucrats do not have any peer reviewed study on drive-thru emissions to justify their proposed ban.

Read a summary of the RWDI study. For other information on drive-thrus and the environment visit the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) website.

DRIVE-THRUS: A VITAL SERVICE FOR MANY PEOPLE

Many people need drive-thrus. Drive-thrus are a vital access point for the disabled, seniors, and parents with small children. In bad weather they are especially helpful. They also enhance personal safety in unfamiliar areas late at night.

DRIVE-THRUS KEEP STORES SMALLER AND TRAFFIC MOVING

Banning drive-thrus means restaurants, banks, pharmacies and other drive-thru operators will need more land for parking lots reducing green space and agricultural land.

Cars waiting to get into congested parking lots will spill onto the roadways making London's traffic congestion worse in high traffic and core areas. Customers using quick service restaurants are typically already on the road. Banning drive-thrus won't reduce the number of overall car trips.

For an overview of the drive-thru issue, see the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) presentation, and to learn more about the ban, click here.

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