HansL said:
In Holland there are also discussions about closing twisty dike roads for motorcycles during weekends. A few of them already are. Because of the noise. I don't understand. We are talking about a few weekends with good weather. I live a few kilometers north from Amsterdam. Everyday I hear traffic going to and from our capital. Lorries, cars and motorcycles. Trains every 10 minutes. And when the wind is right, plains from Schiphol every 5 minutes. And that the whole year long. What are these people complaining about?
Much of everyday noise is unavoidable while living in large parts of the "civilised" western world. Air traffic, public transport, road traffic, etc, etc. Some arsehole tearing through my hamlet at 150+ km/h at 2am, making a fucking nuisance of himself, IS avoidable. Multiply by about 500+/day and you just may be able to imagine what these people complain about.
I live in a very small hamlet on a road that is a favourite amoung bikers. About 8000 vehicles on average pass my house every day, the living room window is 1 metre from the road side. When I moved there, I was well aware that I'd have to put up with a certain amount of traffic, that was about 3000 vehicles/day back then. Of those 8000/day presently, about 30% adhere to the posted limit, cars definitely more so than bikes, the remainder are definitely faster, and therefore, loud. On weekends, traffic is split about 40% motorcycles, 60% cars. On a nice sunny day, I can have as many as 100 bikes passing per hour, mostly ridden by twats with some sort of inferiority complex. I invite you to come by, we could try to discuss this noise thing over a beer or 3, but I bet you'd give up after half an hour. Sitting outdoors in pleasant weather simply isn't possible any more. My property is also close to the flight corridor to Cologne/Bonn International. I can assure you, low-flying planes are nowhere near as intrusive as a R1 at 12000 in 3rd gear or a Lav triple with Jota cans under full acceleration... or a Porsche GT3, Ferrari F-something or whatever, for that matter.
You seem to think you have the right to make as much noise as you like/can. Don't the people living on the dikes have a certain right to a bit of regard? It's not just you that disrupts their peace and quiet, there's a couple of hundred of others doing the same, all fucking day long, every time the sun's shining. I'm quite sure the dike inhabitants would also like to sit in the garden, having a BBQ and a beer while enjoying the sunshine (it's only a couple of weekends for them too). Not very pleasant though, having the noise backdrop of Assen on SBK weekend, ALL bloody weekend, and longer.
Personally, I cannot understand the obsession some have with creating unnecessary noise with their bikes. My bikes do not all comply to current approval regulations, but I try my utmost not to make a nuisance of myself by riding faster than allowed or at higher revs than necessary. I'm no angel, I don't have the slightest problem with exceeding speed limits outside residential areas, but as soon as a dwelling of any sort comes into view, I will back off immediately and usually trundle through villages quite a bit slower than the posted limits. I still often see little kids holding ther ears in fear as I approach, but often glimpse a smile when they realise my noise isn't going to hurt them. The sight of such kids ties my stomach in knots and hammers home the fact that they have learnt to expect the worst.
Riding around on motorcycles, just for the joy of it, should be regarded as a privilege, not a right. And, as such, should be exercised with a certain amount of common-sense and respect towards others. Unfortunately, this is very sadly-lacking amoungst a very large part of the biking community. German bikers have had plenty of warnings in the past, that certain municipalities are now banning bikes from certain roads on Sundays and public holidays is simply the consequence of not heeding the pleas from the authorities, of which there have been more than enough!.
I would ask you to keep in mind that excessive noise can cause psychic illness, sleeplessness and more. Would you like others to do that to you?
Rant over,
piet
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