OFF THE WIRE
EDMONTON - More than 30 bikers crowded a city block on Whyte Avenue Saturday, occupying all metered parking spots with motorcycles to protest the city’s noise bylaw.
“It was a peaceful gathering to raise awareness with the non-riding community,” said organizer Liane Langlois.
Langlois is a member of Motorcyclists Opposing Discriminatory Exhaust Legislation (MODEL), a committee that wants to see the city’s noise bylaw — adopted by city council in June 2010 — expanded to include all forms of vehicles.
“There’s a target on our community’s back and growing discrimination. We’re not bad people but we’ve been labelled as such,” said Langlois, who drives a Triumph motorcycle.
The protest involved 36 motorcycles occupying all metered parking spots between 103 and 104 Street on Whyte Avenue. Signs on the motorcycles, such as “noise is noise,” helped bikers share their concerns with people passing by on Whyte Avenue.
“We want to see the noise bylaw expanded to all vehicles, like in Calgary with the noise snare,” Langlois said.
Edmonton’s bylaw has attracted controversy from its start, with motorcycle owners arguing they are singled out and noise regulations should apply to cars and trucks to. Bikes can’t be louder than 92 decibels under the bylaw.
This June, police said they were likely too busy to chase loud motorbikes, as traffic staff were busy working on the city’s many fatal vehicle collisions.
Calgary’s noise snare, which was introduced this summer, is deployed in response to complaints. Loud cars, trucks and motorcycles all face heavy fines if caught producing noise louder than 96 decibels.
cklingbeil@edmontonjournal.com
