true that

Written by okuchisan on 4 August, 2006

Related to change: Noise bylaws for 'hogs'

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Being a motorcyclist for close to 15 years now, I felt I had to comment too. I agree that "hogs" or any other bike with a loud exhaust is obnoxious if used as a "noise pollution" device in our environment. These few make the rest of us bikers look bad.

As an avid biker, I am careful with how I ride my bike in high-density community areas. After all, I live in one too. The vast majority of bikers are careful with how they ride in and around high-density housing , but unfortunately, there are a few who purposely seem to get a kick out of creating "noise pollution" in the environment as they pass through like a tornado...

Its unfortunate that the few bad apples give the remainder a bad name. Most of us do our best, but I understand the frustration, after all, I like to have a good nights rest like the rest of us! ;-)

Comments

Is there any truth to the

Written by Rob Cottingham on 5 August, 2006

Is there any truth to the argument that it's worth inflicting ear-splitting pain on pedestrians to ensure that car drivers are aware of the motorcycle? That's the point that a motorcyclist from the West End was making on CBC Radio the other day.

I can actually understand the fear that bikers have - but given that cars kill far more pedestrians than motorcyclists, I'm having a deafening claxon surgically implanted in my skull, calibrated to go off whenever my feet touch asphalt. Just to be on the safe side.

Apologies in advance if you happen to be within fifty metres or so of me when it goes off.

Yes I've heard the term

Written by Pierre on 8 August, 2006

Yes I've heard the term 'loud pipes save lives' but I think some people just like the noise for the 'cool' factor.

Having ridden a motorcycle myself I know that it can be dangerous on Vancouver streets, people aren't really looking for you or expecting you. However I'm not sure how much of that is due to the motorcycle owners own fault for driving too fast or zig zagging in and out of cars.

Motorcycles in my experience are best enjoyed on long stretches of open highway not on densely packed residential streets.

Noise pollution is of course not restricted to motorcycles, collectively cars create their fair share as well. Living in downtown Vancouver our windows are very close to the Cambie bridge, on any given evening it pretty much sounds like a raceway you'd think there was a NASCAR championship going on in your living room.

I've often imagined what it would be like if all motorized transport was electric, can you imagine how QUIET things would be?