Schools Are Not Drive-Thrus© idle-free school study/campaign, spring 2025

Step 1: introductory session conducted 2/13/25

Step 2: initial data collection conducted for three days at school afternoon dismissal on 4/14, 4/15, 4/16

Average temperature: 66 degrees; winds: 14 MPH

Total vehicles observed: ??; total vehicles idling: ?? (??%); total hours of idling: ?

Amount of fuel consumed**: ? gal/three days / ? gal/per day average

Amount of fuel consumed annually (est.) - based on 175 day school year: ?? gal (??? gallons relative to number of

vehicles observed, initial vs final measuring)

Amount of CO2 emissions annually (est.) - based on 175 day school year: ?,??? lbs***

COMMENTS: Data collection was more challenging than other studies/campaigns as the drop off and pick up location is on a public road (Broadway) in front of the school, rather than the normal on-school-property lane(s). Mr. Senn: "The data gathering is much harder than originally anticipated. Broadway is a long road, cars move, there's cars already present, etc. Video recording is probably necessary for more accurate data."

Given these challenges, students were limited in collecting data, with less specific results:  IMAGE 1   IMAGE 2   IMAGE 3

Step 3: school supports idle-free study/campaign in the school community with an announcement in The Bullhorn e-newsletter. The school will install two Green Driving America provided 15"x21" Idle-Free Zone bilingual signs in the pick-up area in front of the school on Broadway, pending application for a conditional use permit by the City of Oakland.

Ahead of the Step 4 driver contact event, Mr. Senn's students enthusiastically and creatively embraced getting the message out in the school community in a video and artwork on being idle-free!

Step 4: driver contact event: 4/28 (featured image, top of page) and 4/29: About 12 students, guided by Mr. Senn, approached drivers at the front of the school on Broadway, who were waiting during the approximately 30-minute dismissal period. The students discussed with drivers the benefits in avoiding idling and handed out idle-free information flyers and customized key chain incentives (with the OTHS bulldog logo on one side and "be idle free" on the other).

Joseph Senn: "Thank you, Wayne, for providing our class this learning opportunity on dangers of idling cars!"

*Clean Cities Coalitions are volunteer organizations formally sponsored by the federal Department of Energy (DOE)

**Amount of fuel consumed based on passenger vehicle — car/SUV/pickup truck — idling consumption of 0.43 gal/hr.

***Amount of CO2 emitted based on one gallon of fuel consumed equaling 20 pounds of CO2 emitted (gasoline - 19.64 pounds; diesel - 22.38 pounds)