Re: Motorcycle noise level testing (Tribune, Aug. 21)
If the City of Guelph is considering a noise bylaw for motorcycles, let me help by saying absolutely, unequivocally yes! A bylaw is absolutely needed to force owners of these vehicles to be considerate and respectful of the majority of people who find them too loud.
This proposed bylaw should also be extended to any personal vehicle, such as trucks and cars, with a modified exhaust system and ‘boom box’ system.
I have the misfortune of living in a neighbourhood where one house, in particular, is home to all three types of vehicles mentioned, all with modified exhaust systems and a ‘boom box’ system.
The noise that comes from these vehicles each and every day is not only bothersome, but intrusive.
When dinner conversations in the privacy of your own home are interrupted by the rumbling of your neighbour’s motorcycle, it is, without a doubt, too loud.
When babies are woken up prematurely from their naps by one of these vehicles driving by, it is, absolutely, too loud.
When your walls and windows vibrate as one of these ‘boom’ cars drives by, it is, needless to say, too loud.
When you are out in your garden gardening and every five minutes you hear what sounds like a race car in the Indy 500 drive by several blocks from your house, it is too loud.
So, to the city, I say there is no need to waste any more time or resources on investigating the need for this type of bylaw. There are many other municipalities that already have these bylaws in place. Guelph, being the progressive city that it is, should follow suit immediately and get this bylaw implemented so that the citizens need not be bombarded by this excessive, intrusive and completely unnecessary noise.
J. Kemeny
Guelph
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Shut down noisy vehicles with much needed bylaw – rebuttal
Following reading the letter under “Letters to THE TRIBUNE” by J.Kemeny, I feel myself forced to bring a few issues to light in this regards.
First, Mr. Kemeny, we already have a noise bylaw in place that is very productive. I must say, I was personally informed of this bylaw many years ago when I was having a pool party in the middle of the afternoon and found the police knocking on my door to inform me of this said bylaw. I instantly made sure my guests were quieted down and the afternoon went on without a hitch. This bylaw in Guelph is a 24/7 bylaw, which already far exceeds any other municipalities in the area.
Second Mr. Kemeny, this proposed by law, is targeting ONLY motorcycles. In all the communities that this bylaw has been put in force, every one of these communities have had their court systems tied up with every biker fighting and winning their cases on the grounds of discrimination as well as faulty equipment and improper testing, so what we have here is simply a matter of throwing your money and our communities money out the window. I don’t know about everyone else in Guelph, but I for one am getting tired of my tax dollars being wasted.
I will say one last thing Mr. Kemeny, I DO AGREE WITH YOU! There are a few very irresponsible people out there that feel that they should have the right to make ungodly noises, but we need to remember, this is only a few bad apples. What we should be doing, is having our current bylaw enforced by our local Police services, that way we can also address other issues like the neighbour that feels he needs to start cutting his grass at 6am Sunday morning as well as the crazed midnight university parties.
Crucifying every motorcyclist that enters Guelph is not the answer to this problem, in fact, it will simply open up a completely new can or worms that in the end will cost no one but us, the taxpayers. I truly hope this will correct itself as it should.
John Thompson
Guelph
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I have to say that you are both correct.Wasting valuable time and resources on just motorcycles is a joke. The boom box cars that make your windows rattle (have same issue in our area) as well as the wannabe rednecks with their diesel pickups with oversized exhaust they have just got to go!!! Pretty much everywhere you drive in Guelph you drive by someones home and they deserve the right to enjoy that home in peace and quiet. We also deserve a bylaw that enforces this. While your at it city of Guelph you have a couple of buses that fall into this noisy category and make windows rattle so get your act together and go after noise makers not just motorcycles.!!
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