Don’t be a noise pollution victim: Support keeping the peace

Posted on by Grant Millin

The city of Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway are two great places to dial in on when it comes to noise pollution. Over the past several years, I have witnessed a growing number of citizens asking why things are the way they are when it comes to excessive, unnecessary noise.

More stress in our lives, unequal political power, dangerous transportation-safety myths, bad economics and unaccountable government are some of the surprising themes behind this subject. If we cannot enforce our noise ordinances, then what else are we incapable of dealing with as a society? If we can enforce our noise ordinances, what are the benefits? Our public officials should have answers to these questions.

I have posted an expanded commentary on these matters on the Keep the Peace site (http://niceasheville.ning.com/profile/keepthepeace).  First, please sign the Keep the Peace petition [http://www.gopetition.com/online/35345.html].

Nothing is going to change unless we organize. There are few public officials willing to champion the concept of domestic tranquility — let alone our various local, state and federal noise laws. 

A meeting at the Folk Art Center with BRP Superintendent [Phil] Francis present is desperately needed in order for citizens to understand the realities of the BRP failure to mitigate unnecessary noise and get BRP officials to focus. We have decent noise laws, they just need to be [enforced]. Folks are not seeking total silence in all corners of our community (and the BRP is part of our community). We just want our laws enforced.

— Grant Millin
Asheville

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7 thoughts on “Don’t be a noise pollution victim: Support keeping the peace”

  1. Jon Michael Riley

    Quiet and calm, less stress and more mountain beauty. This is what I want ad gratuitous noisemakers get in the way. They invade MY privacy and, moreover, they don’t care. Their noisemaking is more important than community. They are a kind of fundamentalist noise maker, one who cares less what you believe, think or want.

    I support what Grant Millin is doing!

  3. Viking

    Hey Travelah,

    You’ll have to ask the NPS Natural Sounds Program why BRP is neither measuring nor mitigating unnecessary noise pollution. It’s only thier top complaint!

  5. JWTJr

    Are we talking Motorcycles here? Its pretty quiet up there other than those guys.

  6. bobdurivage

    Dogs, lawn mowers,weed whackers,leaf blowers, booming car stereo hip hop, two-stroke motorcycles, Harleys, monster diesel pickups,muscle cars, the louder mopeds, sirens, – where would you like to start?

  7. JWTJr

    The homeowners who live by the parkway should be able to live a normal life. Mopeds? Nothing compares to loud pipes on a car or bike.

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