Oakland joins other cities banning gas yard tools. (apartment, condominium)

[Ultrarunner]

Fire season fast approaching and Oakland leaders have banned gas string trimmers...

String or line trimmers are the bread and butter of fire hazard abatement.

Battery units ok for residential lawn care but woefully inadequate for waist high grass and brush and makers like Stihl have none to sell on the big units which can approach 2k with battery backpack...

[sav858]

Is it because of noise and/or pollution? These bans don't always seem well thought out.

[davdaven]

100% in favor of these kinds of restrictions for private residential users, especially for leaf blowers. The technology isn't quite there for contractor-grade equipment, though. When does the restriction take effect? Should be fine if it's in a couple years. Quality continues to improve and prices continue to come down.

I bought a battery weed whacker ~2 years ago and it's doing well. However, I bought a plug-in mower at that time because the battery ones weren't so great. Now I see some decent models on the market that wouldn't bankrupt me.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by davdaven

100% in favor of these kinds of restrictions for private residential users, especially for leaf blowers. The technology isn't quite there for contractor-grade equipment, though. When does the restriction take effect? Should be fine if it's in a couple years. Quality continues to improve and prices continue to come down.

I bought a battery weed whacker ~2 years ago and it's doing well. However, I bought a plug-in mower at that time because the battery ones weren't so great. Now I see some decent models on the market that wouldn't bankrupt me.

Why?

[davdaven]

Originally Posted by sav858

Why?

Better for the environment, cleaner and easier to maintain, and usually quieter (although not as quiet as most people think). In the case of leaf blowers, I think they are more a nuisance than anything, so I'm fine with cracking down on them first. However, realistically I doubt any local jurisdictions have the resources or desire to become yard tool police, so I have doubts about the effectiveness of such legislation. Especially in a city like Oakland that can't even keep its own residents safe.

[Diana Holbrook]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

Fire season fast approaching and Oakland leaders have banned gas string trimmers...

String or line trimmers are the bread and butter of fire hazard abatement.

Battery units ok for residential lawn care but woefully inadequate for waist high grass and brush and makers like Stihl have none to sell on the big units which can approach 2k with battery backpack...

Well, if this is something cities are doing, it will only impact inside city limits.


Those on large acreage using trimmers for fire abatement aren't affected yet.

[Hemlock140]

My leaf blower and line trimmer are electric, but I have a chain saw, rototiller, pressure washer, riding mower, two generators and a chipper-shredder that are all gas. Hopefully that never happens here, and probably not because lots are mostly 12,000 sf or more, and we all have such tools. I was working in Oakland when the big hills firestorm of 1991 hit, most of the 2,843 single-family dwellings and 437 apartment and condominium units destroyed were in the Oakland City Limits.

[NickB1967]

Good lord. Eco fiends and other Leftist ban motorized tools, tools that are used to improve a neighborhood. This is like them imposing the plastic straw bans whilst ignoring human defecation.

[NickB1967]

Originally Posted by davdaven

Better for the environment, cleaner and easier to maintain, and usually quieter (although not as quiet as most people think). In the case of leaf blowers, I think they are more a nuisance than anything, so I'm fine with cracking down on them first. However, realistically I doubt any local jurisdictions have the resources or desire to become yard tool police, so I have doubts about the effectiveness of such legislation. Especially in a city like Oakland that can't even keep its own residents safe.

Except they aren't. Anyone who has had to deal with a fickle battery electric trimmer or drag extension cords around will know otherwise. Nor are electric blowers noticeably quieter.

[18Montclair]

I have plug in weedeater and blower but the cord is always too short. I also have battery operated but it lasts like 5 minutes-hate it.