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Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

timeuse.barcelona

31–40 of 264 posts

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#31

"After agreement of a common date within the EU, we recommend doing the transition in 1 to 2 steps, depending on the member state: Step 1: All EU countries abolish the clock change to DST in spring and remain on the clock time they use in winter. For those countries whose recommended time zone is their current standard time, no further steps need to be taken. Step 2: Those countries whose recommended time zone is not…

I've never seen anyone propose moving in the opposite direction of summer time before. That seems needlessly awkward to me.

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Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#32
We (Europe) shouldn't fragment time zones that much. We (NL) should stay on permanent summer time.

Reasons

- criminality is lower when there's longer light

- earlier darkness leads to more accidents. It's better to have longer darkness after the masses are RESTED (in the morning), opposed to when they're TIRED (in the evening)

- longer day-time for office workers, is more productive

- shorter time of year that has long after noon darkness. As humans are using artificial light to stay up longer, it's better to align the time of day with that

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. National borders is quite possibly one of the worst ways to do time zones. At least in the US time zone borders were specifically chosen to run through areas of low population, so you would minimize the number of people doing, say, living in France but working in Geneva one hour ahead. Also it's kind of odd that Ireland and Portugal are in their own little time zone, when it probably makes more sense to just…

Ireland and Portugal already are together in this time zone, but the UK is with them, which makes good friday sense. Map of Timezones: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/World_Ti...

Oh interesting.

Admittedly that map is a bit difficult to read as a colorblind person.

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#34
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never seen anyone propose moving in the opposite direction of summer time before. That seems needlessly awkward to me.

I don't think it is proposing that. From what I can tell their proposal is a (somewhat awkward) way of saying some countries will stick to their current summer (standard) time next time they switch to it. Other countries will stick with their current winter (DST) time when they next switch to it.

Look at the resulting time zones. They wrote it correctly. Every country is skipping the +1 to summer time, but several of them are still doing a final -1 after that. Several countries that use time zones X and X+1 would switch to X-1.

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#35

I find it kind of absurd that people claim that clock alignment has negative impact on their health. Studies show that but: You do it only twice per year. But how often do you stay late up because of an event or whatever. And how often do you travel to another time zone, sometimes even >6 hours. I think the latter effects outweigh the health impact of clock alignment significantly.

You find it absurd because you’re one of those people for whom the change isn’t hard. It’s hard for a good percentage of the population (like me). Please just stop messing with my clock!

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never seen anyone propose moving in the opposite direction of summer time before. That seems needlessly awkward to me.

The United States adopted summer time in the 70s but abandoned it because of complaints about the late darkness in winter mornings.

The sun setting at or before 5PM is so very much worse than morning darkness. Especially for kids. They need sunlight and their only real opportunity to get much time outside during the school year is the late afternoon and evening, especially as recess time has been cut post-NCLB (and public schools are absurdly timid about sending kids outside in the winter anyway). My kids are old enough that they won’t reap a lot of the benefits of the change even if it happens tomorrow, but I remain hopeful we can make this happen for their kids’ sake.

And at least morning darkness means you don’t start your day with a commute that involves having your eyes melted by a just-over-the-horizon sun.

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#37

I find it kind of absurd that people claim that clock alignment has negative impact on their health. Studies show that but: You do it only twice per year. But how often do you stay late up because of an event or whatever. And how often do you travel to another time zone, sometimes even >6 hours. I think the latter effects outweigh the health impact of clock alignment significantly.

Especially because people only focus on the one time that the clock takes sleep. Certainly, studies show that heart attacks rise that day.

But also during the year, you gain an hour of sleep. Studies show that heart attacks fall that day. People always discount this one.

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#38

We (Europe) shouldn't fragment time zones that much. We (NL) should stay on permanent summer time. Reasons - criminality is lower when there's longer light - earlier darkness leads to more accidents. It's better to have longer darkness after the masses are RESTED (in the morning), opposed to when they're TIRED (in the evening) - longer day-time for office workers, is more productive - shorter time of year that has lo…

Criminals can't distinguish between 8PM and 9PM light because they don't operate on an hourly schedule

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#39

Abolishing daylight savings and keeping standard time. If you’re going to abolish it, this is the way. None of this permanent summertime nonsense.

Yes people think they like summer time because they only use it in the summer. Most people will realize it sucks during winter more than “winter” (read: actual) time sucks in summer.
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