School Board should be promoting public transit rather than more cars on the road

Sierra Club Canada urges the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board to reconsider increasing parking at Devonshire Public School, 100 Breezehill Avenue.

“The Board should be assisting staff to use public transit and limit parking at all of its schools,” said John Bennett, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada.

Encouraging the use of low-impact transportation, such as public transit, bicycling and walking, would reduce traffic-related hazards and mitigate carbon emissions.

There are also additional hazards from the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) originating from the erosion of asphalt. Found in run-off waters, PAHs are highly toxic to the environment and are have mutagenic and carcinogenic properties.

“Children should be promised a space which is free of harmful chemicals - not constrained to an area that is full of them,” said Kelsey Monnelly, an Intern at Sierra Club Canada.

John Bennett, Executive Director
Sierra Club Canada
jb@sierraclub.ca
(613) 291-6888