Madison eyes a ban on stinking drive-thrus
A planning commission in Madison, WI is deciding right now whether to make you walk inside Starbucks to order your vanilla soy iced latte. In addition to the fact that drive-throughs waste valuable gas -- an increasing important concern -- councilman Eric Sundquist worries about the effect of building any more establishments that encourage people to spew greenhouse gases as they wait in idling cars. He wants the council to place restrictions on drive-thrus based on some kind of air pollution standard. A few cities in Canada have already banned drive-thrus -- which studies have shown are no faster than waiting in line -- but similar types of prohibition have not made much headway in the US. While I can't say I'm in favor of the ban, it's hard to defend drive-thru culture. It hasn't been good for much except for making us fat and increasing our carbon footprint. Unless, of course, you're biking-thru or driving one of these.
It's Energy Independence Day! 
Green Your 4th of July Celebration
The Importance of Pollination - It's Not Just Bee Sex
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-26-2008 @ 11:30AM
Chris M. said...
Oddly enough, my hometown of Calgary, AB is thinking of banning all new drive thrus:
http://www.660news.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20080626_091858_7828
Reply
6-26-2008 @ 11:45AM
the goddess anna said...
If I'm alone, I never use drive -thrus, even if the weather is terrible. However, if I have all three kids with me, I hit it up. To my young children, going in means sitting down and playing on the equipment. I'm often out alone with my kids, and yes, I'll be honest in admitting they are not always the quietest children when they're hungry/tired. I'd rather sit in the drive-thru than piss off other customers.
I do try to only go through drive-thrus that are not crowded, though, or at off-hours. A ban like that around here (Hampton Roads) would not go over very well, especially with all the Navy. I'll explain - they have a working uniform (utilities), which one can wear to and from work, but not actually out of the car when not on base (except in emergencies, or getting gas). This means no going into a fast food joint, only the drive thru. Of course, this is a regional thing. I do hate the fact that the government would try to legislate how we get our fast food. Nanny-statism is dangeriously close to the edge of fascism (Liberal Fascism is a must read!).
Reply
6-26-2008 @ 11:49AM
Shannon said...
I never used drive-thrus until I had kids, but the prospect of unpacking and packing the baby or dealing with a cranky toddler in public just to deposit a check changed my outlook. I don't feel guilty about them since I drive a hybrid that automatically cuts off when idling. Will long drive-thru lines be another casualty of high gas prices?
Reply