Motorcycle owners are being given the chance to find out just how much of a nuisance their rumbling motors are before the city considers a noise bylaw requiring them to tone it down a notch.
The city is hosting two free motorcycle-noise testing clinics on Aug. 25 and on Sept. 1 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the rear parking lot of the West End Community Centre.
The purpose of the clinics will be for the city to learn whether there is call to create a bylaw restricting motorcycle noise in the city, said Randy Berg, the city’s supervisor of bylaw compliance and security. “It’s definitely for the education of the city to determine how big of a problem it is out there,” he said.
City council asked staff to look into the issue of motorcycle noise last October after hearing two delegations urging action on vehicle noise. No bylaw has yet been passed, but complaints about the issue mean there is a need to investigate it, said Berg.
At the same time, people who ride motorcycles will likely have an interest in seeing how their bikes measure up on the decibel scale to find out whether they would be bylaw-compliant, he said.
“Come and get your motorcycle tested and see where you fall within the range – whether it would be a pass or a fail,” Berg said.
People can schedule a 10-minute test by calling 519-822-1260, ext. 2422.