Maine bikers need to be heard

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.journaltribune.com/articles/2010/06/01/columnist/doc4c051cae69632195486098.txt Maine bikers need to be heard
By ELIZABETH REILLY HUSSEY Special to the Journal Tribune Published: Tuesday, June 1, 2010 11:11 AM EDT Although it may have come upon us unusually early this year, summer is undeniably upon us. And with the changing of the season to balmier weather, a unique group of people are donning their leather chaps, revving up their engines and taking their motorcycles to the open road.
For the past three summers, I’ve been subjected to an entirely different breed of people. Bikers. Love them or hate them, they’re everywhere. They come from all social, racial and economical genres with one common thread … the love and rebellion of riding steel.
One thing that is common among the bikers I’ve come across is to never speak certain taboos. There is so many elements that can turn an otherwise blissful and relaxing ride into a waking nightmare that very few let themselves worry about things like the worst-case scenario. From what I’ve been told, if you concentrate too much on the what-if’s then you can cause yourself to make a mistake that can lead to disaster.
Taking some precautions aren’t unheard of, though. There’s gear out there for just about everyone’s taste or style. Helmets keep your brain bucket safe. Chaps can keep the skin on your legs. Leather jackets serve the same purpose for your torso. Boots protect your feet.
One piece of biker gear has recently been at the heart of a heated debate among Mainers, bringing the argument all the way to the governor’s desk. Loud exhaust pipes, according to the Maine Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles’ website, is so disturbing that they are degrading the quality of life of Mainers.
Initiated by Senator Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford, the bill reads, “An act to Reduce Noise Caused by Motorcycles to Improve Public Health.” The bill was signed by Governor John Baldacci on April 9th and requires all of the approximate 50,000 Maine motorcyclists to have their bikes inspected and display said sticker by 2012. Among other requirements, the inspection is to include pipes that are quiet enough for the average Joe to put up with.
My first reaction to that is: Dude, really? Passing motorcycles degrade their quality of life? That’s some pretty strong wording for noise pollution. Granted, the 20 seconds or so that it takes for a bike to pass by could qualify for an enthusiastic eye-roll, but life degrading???
And as for effecting public health, it seems like a pretty far stretch to say a bike is destroying their peace at home. What about that pesky neighbor with the lawn mower when you’re trying to take an afternoon snooze? Right at the very second I’m writing this all I can hear is my next-door neighbor weed-whacking at a noise level well beyond any passing motorcycle. My health is none the worse for wear.
Something I have witnessed first-hand being a passenger on a motorcycle many times over the past couple years is the effect loud pipes have on everyone in earshot … pretty much everyone looks around to find the source of the noise. Be it just distracting or quality-of-life-altering the pipes have an effect that is immediate and distinct. And life-saving.
Let me explain.
Even with amplified exhaust systems on my husband’s and his friends’ bikes, I’ve seen a few too many people completely miss the sight of a group of bikes coming their way and make idiot moves like pulling out in front of us. When you have to stop quickly on a motorcycle, the bike can jack-knife, flip over or skid out. In other words, fall down and cause great injuries, potentially life-threatening.
But, I’ve also seen cars edge forward and almost pull out, only to stop when they hear us coming.
Granted, there is such a thing as too much, too loud and amping the decibel just for the sake of attention. However “stock pipes,” the ones that come with the bike from the factory, are often built to muffle as much of the noise as possible, much like a purring new car.
Last summer, a close friend of mine was riding with another well-seasoned biker. Neither of them were drinking, under the influence of drugs or speeding. They were just out, enjoying the amazing Maine summer weather and their bikes for the afternoon.
About an hour before the sun went down, a driver didn’t see them coming and pulled out directly in their path. Thankfully our friend was toward the outer edge of the lane so was able to safely avoid colliding with the car. His friend, who had been riding a bike for decades, never had even a second to react. The car crashed right into his bike. Although they were only going 35 miles an hour, the friend died later that night as a result of his injuries.
There’s no telling for sure if louder pipes could have saved his life. Investigators of the crash blame the glare of the sun in the car-drivers eyes as the cause of the accident. It really was that, an accident. But maybe, just maybe if the driver could have heard them coming then a much-loved friend’s life could have been spared.
I do agree that there could be a limit on just how loud pipes should be able to go. They don’t have to be deafening to enhance the safety of the rider. However requiring all bikes to retain their stock pipes hardly seems in the best interest of the bikers “quality of life” and “public health.” Yes, bikers do take more of a chance in riding than drivers of cars do, but it’s their choice to take that chance and keeping them, make that us, as safe as possible while we do so should be a right, not a misdemeanor.
As for Ms. Sullivan, I invite you to come along for one of our rides any day. But may I suggest, for your personal safety, wearing a helmet, leather jacket, chaps and boots.
And don’t forget the pipes, my dear.