Drive-Throughs Pollute and Don't Even Save Time
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.16.08
Michael Stuparyk, the Star
Last summer there was a spate of articles about municipalities from Washington DC to California considering the banning of new drive-through restaurants. Some because they are ugly- "One of the things we always hear from residents is that they want a more walkable downtown" says one politician, but mainly because of pollution and greenhouse gases.
Others protest, saying they like the convenience and speed. But is it faster? Two Toronto Star journalists tried it out.
The reporter walking into the restaurant began her stopwatch when upon opening the door of the restaurant while the reporter driving begain timing when she got in line behind the other cars. (to be completely fair, both reporters should have started their watches when they entered the property and included the time required to park the car and walk to the restaurant, but then they would have needed two cars). The walker stopped the watch when she left the restaurant; the driver when she left the window.
They calculated the carbon emissions using a footprint calculator based on the time of idling.
(sorry about the small size, you can link to the original pdf here)
Results: a split on time, a McDonalds and a Timmys were faster on foot; while a Starbucks and a different Timmys were faster in the drivethrough. However the differences were slight and the carbon saved by walking in and not idling was considerable.
So we agree with Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion: Drivethroughs are a pollution problem, and urban design problem, and often a traffic nightmare. ::The Star
Duh. I *never* go through the drive through anymore -- on the rare occasion that I patronize a restaurant with this service. All it took was a long line one day and a practically empty parking lot to convince me that my time would be better spent parking and walking in. The fact that when I emerged from the restaurant the person behind whom I would have been idling was only just pulling up to give their order solidified it for me.
Drive throughs, like leaf blowers and pressure washers, are the work of the devil.
So the lesson here boys and girls is to make sure to build a really large parking lot for the next restaurant we make so that everybody can park to eat or they will sit idling to get in to and out of the parking lot with everybody else. As we all know, idling in a parking spot makes less carbon that idling in a drive-thru line.
So, what is the real solution proposed by these folks? There was one right? Oh...
-Lego
Sorry,what's wrong with pressure washers? They use less water than using a regular hose... although they do also use energy... But they sure do a lot of things that would be a real pain otherwise...
Get an electric car or a hybrid.
No idleing.
Solution: don't frequent fast food restaurants at all. Since my daughter was born I haven't gone, no regrets either. Reasons:
1. They are generally unhealthy. So by choosing to frequent fast food places, you are essentially letting the general taxpayer subsidize your medical bills. Quite a cruel thing to do to your fellowmen. People often complain about taxes but do nothing to proactive solve the problem. Oh, and you don't live as long either.
2. Meats from fast food places are generally unsustainable: cruel treatment; fossil fuel intensive; nitrate runoff; highly centralized so they ruin land.
3. Well-planned meals are cheaper, healthier, and funner to make. Or you could support an establishment that serves food that doesn't do #1 or #2.
4. They are just that much more pavement and sprawl.
Interesting article,
I am not a fan of drive through's at all - however what if you increased the capacity of a drive through and therefore reduced the wait time? If the person taking your order had more lead time then perhaps people would make their way through the lineup faster. I hate the idea of cars idling but the idea of bigger parking lots does not seem all that appealing either.
Just a thought
Cheers - Eric
demolish all drive thru restaurant. they are suck and polluting the environment since they encourage people to drive. these people are selfish. They just care about how to earn more $$. Government should put high tax on restaurant which offer drive thru if demolishment is not possible.
I prefer the 1950's style "drive-in" restaurants where you park in a space under a long awning, order through a microphone in the menu sign, and carhops bring the food out to your car.
It is faster than drive through because they can serve multiple customers simultaneously and with no idling. Plus, if you wanted to make them sustainable, those awnings could hold solar collectors.