I would like to express my sincere gratitude for Grant Millin's commentary, "The Motorcycle Community Needs a Tune-up" [Sept. 30]. I picked up the Mountain Xpress on Wednesday and, after reading the article, decided I needed to speak out in support of Mr. Millin. I had been putting it off, but today is Saturday and although it is a gorgeous fall day and I would love to be outside, I am instead in the basement at the keyboard of my computer because there is just too much noise outside.
You see, I live in what used to be the very quiet and peaceful Spring Creek community in Madison County. Unfortunately, over the past several years, our road has become a favorite route for motorcycles, most of which are so noisy you can hear them from several miles away and for several miles after they have passed. I just counted over 30 in the last half-hour alone! I don't mind the extra traffic and understand the desire to get out and enjoy the curves of the highway and the beauty of the mountains on a motorcycle, but to disturb the peace of entire communities for one's personal pleasure is just plain inconsiderate and rude. I know I am not alone in my opinion, and if you can't relate, just try having a quiet picnic on the parkway today!
Regarding the "safety" argument: I have had several friends who have been either seriously injured, killed or crippled on a motorcycle. None of these folks had quiet bikes and, in the most serious events, there wasn't even another vehicle involved. Whether a motorcycle is noisy or quiet, it is very dangerous to ride. A noisy bike won't save you from gravel, ice, wet pavement or your own poor judgment. If you get on a motorcycle, you risk your life, period. That is fine, embrace it. Just don't expect that your choice to risk your life gives you some "right" to ruin the peace and quiet for everybody else.
Thanks again to Grant Millin! It is way past time for this "silent majority" to speak out, stand up for our rights and demand that, at the very least, existing laws be strictly enforced.
— Karen Hansen
Hot Springs
This morning on NPR there was a segment about hybrid cars being too quiet. It seems they’re dangerous because you can’t hear them coming. A company is actually developing speakers for the hybrid’s bumpers that will make Vroom, Vroom sounds. No kidding.
Yes, this lack of noise from hybrids, HEVs and BEVs has come up. Rather than a constant sound, along with pedestrian and animal ID technology, hopefully a ‘approaching vehicle’ standard sound can be agreed on that on sounds when the vehicle and pedestrian or animal are in proximity, and gets louder if the two subjects do not diverge as the safe distance reduces (i.e. at 150′ a warning sounds that gets more intense within that range). I think this technology exists.
Otherwise it would be nice to have quiet cars on the road. In terms of vehicle-vehicle issues, we usually hear tires on the highway and otherwise have to look around. Except for semi-tractor trailers and these vehicles with modified exhaust systems, we don’t hear most car engines on other cars meeting (enforced) inspections standards when we drive with windows up and A/C or heat on and some tunes playing.
There is no public OK to the excessively loud vehicles people are talking about otherwise.
jaellenburg@ncdot.gov
is the man to contact about illegal:
Motorcycles being sold with improper
mufflers
Bogus inspections on illegally equipped
vehicles (Straight-pipe exhausts)
motor cycle riders should be required by law, and common sense, to wear flashing, screaming siren-hats at all times.
Sure it isnt as manly as loud pipes, but it is far more effective in saving lives, and thats what this is really about, right?
[b]Siren-hats save lives![/b]