http://www.theprovince.com/
Loud pipes are just a blight on others
One can have some sympathy for motorcyclists who believe "loud pipes save lives." There is evidence on both sides of the debate about whether that is true, but it's easy to appreciate why motorcycle riders want to ensure drivers of larger vehicles are aware of their presence.
But that sympathy doesn't extend to riders like Ian Tootill who install special exhaust systems that make their motor-bikes as loud as possible, in fact, obnoxiously so.
Every spring, as the motorcycling community comes to life, those loud pipes become a blight as painfully loud blasts of exhaust echo down the concrete canyons of our cities.
The noise frightens people's pets, startles older folks and children and is generally annoying for everyone else.
It's one thing for motorcyclists to make their presence known; it's quite another for them to selfishly inflict them-selves on their neighbours.
While a judge is now deciding whether Vancouver police Const. John Bercic erred in issuing Tootill a ticket for the din issuing from the "Screaming Eagle" pipes Tootill had installed on his Harley - allegedly twice as loud as is lawful - the officer should be commended for his efforts in cracking down on overly loud motorbikes. We need more officers like him to attack this most horrible form of urban noise pollution.
What do you think? Email a brief comment, including your name and town to: https://mail.google.com/mail/h/1nd8hu8k8nbnr/?&v=b&cs=wh&to=provletters@theprovince.com.
