Have you been woken at night by the sound of loud motorcycles or had your voice drowned out by passing motorcycles when you are trying to enjoy some quiet moments on your deck?
If so you will be interested to know that the Town of Caledon is proposing a noise bylaw amendment that will restrict motorcycle noise to that which is produced by motorcycle manufacturers stock equipment.
Effectively the bylaw will make it an offense in Caledon to use altered mufflers or after market products that create more noise than the stock components of motorcycle manufacturers.
There was a Public Information meeting scheduled for Wednesday Sept 8, 2010 at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers at Town Hall in Caledon East.
This was the result of the meeting that took place in July 2010
Luc Fournier, Director of Policy and Government Relations for the Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council (MMIC), came to Caledon council Tuesday to present an idea for how the Town may be able to determine whether your motorcycle is too loud.
Motorcycle noise has been on the minds of the OPP, councilors and residents in Caledon recently as the debate has raged on what is acceptable, what is too loud, and what to do considering a policy and possible enforcement of the issue. The MMIC is endorsing a test, known as the J2825, that outlines ideal decibel levels for bikes, and allows a municipality to set a standard it can test for. It also sets out a standard for performance of the test, and provides description of the equipment needed to perform that test.
"We’ve been trying to look at innovative ways to combat a problem in town," said Staff Sergeant Greg Sweeney of the Caledon OPP before introducing Fournier.
"Jurisdictions in Canada have had little to no success in measuring and enforcing excessive noise.
"Three years ago, the Society of Automotive Engineers worked to create the SAE J2825 test," said Fournier.
According to Fournier, he’s presented the test all over the country to municipalities dealing with the same issue. "The noise emission issue is rising here (Canada) and in the U.S. This is not unique to your municipality," he said.
He also explained that the MMIC understands why municipalities are having difficulties developing policies for this particular issue. Communities are split between those who ride motorcycles as a hobby, and do so ethically, he said, and those who take advantage of the ability to create noise, and those who do not participate in the hobby and wonder what is proper, and what is excessive.
The MMIC believes this test will not only establish a way for authorities to ticket riders causing excessive noise, but will also establish a standard that will show when riders are not causing a problem, or breaking the law should council create a bylaw for authorities to enforce. They also believe this is an issue in which a small part of the riding community is causing 100 per cent of the problems, and having a set standard will ease the minds and concerns of the members of the community who don’t ride.
"We want to be part of the solution," said Fournier. "We want to improve the image of the sport. What we want is a standardized approach. We want all jurisdictions to use the same approach when dealing with excessive noise."
The test is simply the placing of a sound meter, a piece of equipment that can range between $700 and $15,000 according to Fournier, 20 inches from the rear of the motorcycles’ tailpipe at a set angle. The reader displays the decibel level given off by the bike. The test suggests municipalities look for a decibel level under 92 for a motorcycle at idle, and under 96-100 for certain RPM’s on bikes with differing amounts of cylinders.
To show the council what some everyday decibel levels are Fournier displayed a chart showing that a food blender is 88 decibels, a radio or television is typically 70 decibels, conversation is typically 60 decibels, and a rock concert is 110 decibels.
Ward 2 Regional Councilor Allan Thompson asked if council would support asking Mayor Marilyn Morrison to endorse and advertise the test to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
"Or other agencies to have this enforced provincially," said Thompson. "We need other municipalities support. We need everyone on board."
Morrison said she "would be happy to take this to the AMO."
Ward 3 and 4 Area Councilor Nick deBoer said he could see this being a very effective tool for the community and wondered how many municipalities felt the same?
"I think this is very straightforward. What kind of buy in are you getting in other communities?"
Fournier explained that the municipality of Edmonton has "moved ahead" with the test - passing a bylaw and is beginning to look at community bikes and ticket those that give off excessive noise.
"I also think it’s important to point out that this is in support of the industry," said deBoer. And Fournier agreed. He explained at the beginning of his presentation this was not meant as a deterrent, that any bikes that had not been modified in any fashion were passing the test.
"We would have an issue when customers purchase units with all (the) original equipment and receive (a) ticket for excessive noise," he said. "But, we are not seeing that."
"All brand new motorcycles, or stock bikes at dealerships passed. Those with no after market modifications also passed," he added. "Buy new, keep (it) in good working order, and don’t make any after market modifications and you should pass."
Ward 1 Area Councilor Doug Beffort asked if they had experience with antique bikes because he knew of residents who rode as a hobby and maintained older machines, but he didn’t want to see them run into problems.
Fournier said any testing of antique bikes that had been maintained well had been given passing grades so far.
Beffort also asked what the usual result was of a failed test in the municipalities now restricting noise.
"Do the bikes get taken away?"
"No. They get a ticket," answered Fournier.
Ward 3 & 4 Regional Councilor Richard Whitehead asked Sweeney if the OPP was indeed in favour of the initiative.
Sweeney answered yes.
From what I have heard this will be all in place and testing and tickets will start in October.
Most of this was started by the residents of Belfountian, I live in the area and haven't ridden through Belfountian in years and I ride to Erin 5 days a week to work.
This summer has seen many tickets handed out for pipes and what the OPP deem non DOT helmets in Belfountian every weekend, why even bother to go there and spend $5.00 on a bottle of water and the coffee isn't all that good either.
If so you will be interested to know that the Town of Caledon is proposing a noise bylaw amendment that will restrict motorcycle noise to that which is produced by motorcycle manufacturers stock equipment.
Effectively the bylaw will make it an offense in Caledon to use altered mufflers or after market products that create more noise than the stock components of motorcycle manufacturers.
There was a Public Information meeting scheduled for Wednesday Sept 8, 2010 at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers at Town Hall in Caledon East.
This was the result of the meeting that took place in July 2010
Luc Fournier, Director of Policy and Government Relations for the Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council (MMIC), came to Caledon council Tuesday to present an idea for how the Town may be able to determine whether your motorcycle is too loud.
Motorcycle noise has been on the minds of the OPP, councilors and residents in Caledon recently as the debate has raged on what is acceptable, what is too loud, and what to do considering a policy and possible enforcement of the issue. The MMIC is endorsing a test, known as the J2825, that outlines ideal decibel levels for bikes, and allows a municipality to set a standard it can test for. It also sets out a standard for performance of the test, and provides description of the equipment needed to perform that test.
"We’ve been trying to look at innovative ways to combat a problem in town," said Staff Sergeant Greg Sweeney of the Caledon OPP before introducing Fournier.
"Jurisdictions in Canada have had little to no success in measuring and enforcing excessive noise.
"Three years ago, the Society of Automotive Engineers worked to create the SAE J2825 test," said Fournier.
According to Fournier, he’s presented the test all over the country to municipalities dealing with the same issue. "The noise emission issue is rising here (Canada) and in the U.S. This is not unique to your municipality," he said.
He also explained that the MMIC understands why municipalities are having difficulties developing policies for this particular issue. Communities are split between those who ride motorcycles as a hobby, and do so ethically, he said, and those who take advantage of the ability to create noise, and those who do not participate in the hobby and wonder what is proper, and what is excessive.
The MMIC believes this test will not only establish a way for authorities to ticket riders causing excessive noise, but will also establish a standard that will show when riders are not causing a problem, or breaking the law should council create a bylaw for authorities to enforce. They also believe this is an issue in which a small part of the riding community is causing 100 per cent of the problems, and having a set standard will ease the minds and concerns of the members of the community who don’t ride.
"We want to be part of the solution," said Fournier. "We want to improve the image of the sport. What we want is a standardized approach. We want all jurisdictions to use the same approach when dealing with excessive noise."
The test is simply the placing of a sound meter, a piece of equipment that can range between $700 and $15,000 according to Fournier, 20 inches from the rear of the motorcycles’ tailpipe at a set angle. The reader displays the decibel level given off by the bike. The test suggests municipalities look for a decibel level under 92 for a motorcycle at idle, and under 96-100 for certain RPM’s on bikes with differing amounts of cylinders.
To show the council what some everyday decibel levels are Fournier displayed a chart showing that a food blender is 88 decibels, a radio or television is typically 70 decibels, conversation is typically 60 decibels, and a rock concert is 110 decibels.
Ward 2 Regional Councilor Allan Thompson asked if council would support asking Mayor Marilyn Morrison to endorse and advertise the test to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
"Or other agencies to have this enforced provincially," said Thompson. "We need other municipalities support. We need everyone on board."
Morrison said she "would be happy to take this to the AMO."
Ward 3 and 4 Area Councilor Nick deBoer said he could see this being a very effective tool for the community and wondered how many municipalities felt the same?
"I think this is very straightforward. What kind of buy in are you getting in other communities?"
Fournier explained that the municipality of Edmonton has "moved ahead" with the test - passing a bylaw and is beginning to look at community bikes and ticket those that give off excessive noise.
"I also think it’s important to point out that this is in support of the industry," said deBoer. And Fournier agreed. He explained at the beginning of his presentation this was not meant as a deterrent, that any bikes that had not been modified in any fashion were passing the test.
"We would have an issue when customers purchase units with all (the) original equipment and receive (a) ticket for excessive noise," he said. "But, we are not seeing that."
"All brand new motorcycles, or stock bikes at dealerships passed. Those with no after market modifications also passed," he added. "Buy new, keep (it) in good working order, and don’t make any after market modifications and you should pass."
Ward 1 Area Councilor Doug Beffort asked if they had experience with antique bikes because he knew of residents who rode as a hobby and maintained older machines, but he didn’t want to see them run into problems.
Fournier said any testing of antique bikes that had been maintained well had been given passing grades so far.
Beffort also asked what the usual result was of a failed test in the municipalities now restricting noise.
"Do the bikes get taken away?"
"No. They get a ticket," answered Fournier.
Ward 3 & 4 Regional Councilor Richard Whitehead asked Sweeney if the OPP was indeed in favour of the initiative.
Sweeney answered yes.
From what I have heard this will be all in place and testing and tickets will start in October.
Most of this was started by the residents of Belfountian, I live in the area and haven't ridden through Belfountian in years and I ride to Erin 5 days a week to work.
This summer has seen many tickets handed out for pipes and what the OPP deem non DOT helmets in Belfountian every weekend, why even bother to go there and spend $5.00 on a bottle of water and the coffee isn't all that good either.
