Excessive Motorcycle Noise
- From: What?
- Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 10:19:55 -0400
Excessive Motorcycle Noise
The American Motorcyclist Association, established in 1924, has
maintained a position of strong opposition to excessive motorcycle
noise throughout its history. It has funded information and public
relations campaigns in support of quiet motorcycle use and was the
first motorsports sanctioning body in the world to regulate and reduce
the sound level of racing vehicles.
The Association believes that few other factors contribute more to
misunderstanding and prejudice against the motorcycling community than
excessively noisy motorcycles. A minority, riding loud motorcycles,
may leave the impression that all motorcycles are loud. In fact, a
significant percentage of the public does not realize that motorcycles
are built to federally mandated noise control standards.
Each segment of the motorcycling community -- including the riders,
event organizers, retailers and distributors, original equipment and
aftermarket manufacturers, law enforcement and the safety community --
must realize that it cannot single- handedly solve this problem.
However, each has a role and a responsibility in achieving a solution.
Shifting blame and failing to adopt responsible policies on a
voluntary basis can only result in greater prejudice and
discrimination against motorcycling. The consequences of continuing to
ignore this issue will likely result in excessively rigorous state and
federal standards, more expensive and less attractive motorcycles, the
reduction of choices in aftermarket products, abusive enforcement of
current laws and other solutions undesirable to riders and the
motorcycle industry.
Based on its opposition to excessive motorcycle noise, the American
Motorcyclist Association recommends the following:
* All motorcyclists should be sensitive to community standards and
respect the rights of fellow citizens to enjoy a peaceful environment.
* Motorcyclists should not modify exhaust systems in a way that
will increase sound to an offensive level.
* Organizers of motorcycle events should take steps through
advertising, peer pressure and enforcement to make excessively loud
motorcycles unwelcome.
* Motorcycle retailers should discourage the installation and use
of excessively loud replacement exhaust systems.
* The motorcycle industry, including aftermarket suppliers of
replacement exhaust systems, should adopt responsible product design
and marketing policies aimed at limiting the cumulative impact of
excessive motorcycle noise.
* Manufacturers producing motorcycles to appropriate federal
standards should continue to educate their dealers and customers that
louder exhaust systems do not necessarily improve the performance of a
motorcycle.
* Law enforcement agencies should fairly and consistently enforce
appropriate laws and ordinances against excessive vehicle noise.
* The motorcycle industry and the safety community should educate
customers that excessive noise may be fatiguing to riders, making them
less able to enjoy riding and less able to exercise good riding
skills.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q: What is "excessive noise?"
A: No one likes excessive or unreasonable noise. Confusion arises
because everyone has a different definition of "excessive." Noise
considered excessive in one environment may be acceptable in another.
It's up to you to determine what is excessive. This determination
shouldn't always be based on the rider, but rather the conditions
around the rider. Some factors to consider include surroundings, time
of day, traffic mix, people present, etc.
Q: Why did the AMA suddenly issue this position statement?
A: The AMA has fought motorcycle bans in St. Louis, Detroit, Brockton,
Massachusetts, and Springfield, Illinois. The foundation for each was
tied to excessive noise. More recently we have confronted proposed
motorcycle prohibitions in Chicago and New York City. Motorcycle
noise, again, was the justification for these proposals.
In the past several years, the AMA has spent well over $100,000
defending lawsuits and confronting legislative prohibitions initiated
by zealous legislators responding to their belief that motorcycles are
too loud. In Europe, where road closures to stifle excessive noise are
becoming almost commonplace, anti-tampering legislation and
restrictive sound emission requirements are under serious
consideration.
The position results from the Board's desire to avoid further
restrictions on motorcycling. If the excessive noise problem is not
addressed voluntarily, and in a timely fashion, these restrictions are
inevitable. The Board agrees that failing to raise this warning,
despite the potential negative reception by some, would be shirking
their responsibility to AMA members and the motorcycling community.
Q: If my exhaust is modified or capable of producing "excessive
noise," will I be denied access to AMA or other motorcycle events?
A: There are no plans to do so. However, all motorcyclists need to
become more sensitive to how they affect others. The AMA has
encouraged event organizers to use advertising, peer pressure and
enforcement of event rules to discourage excessively loud motorcycles.
Q: Why should appropriate laws and ordinances against excessive
vehicle noise be fairly and consistently enforced?
A: The AMA believes that if existing laws and ordinances governing
excessive noise from vehicles of all types were fairly and
consistently enforced, the problem of noisy vehicles would be
effectively eliminated.
Q: What good is it to regulate myself if others continue to make
excessive noise?
A: Excessive noise is not the fault of any one brand, any particular
style of bike, or any single segment of the motorcycle industry. It is
a community-wide problem and we all need to be part of the solution.
Q: Is the AMA telling me to replace my aftermarket exhaust with an
original-equipment exhaust?
A: No. However, modified exhaust systems should not increase sound to
an offensive level.
.
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