Motorcycles can be quiet

After writing a spring letter concerning noise for many years, I decided to give it up as a lost cause. The editorial on March 23 (“Muffle the motorcycles”) about motorcycle noise gave me hope to try again.

We do have a new mayor and police chief so perhaps in addition to catching speeders, some attention may be given to noise abatement. There are city ordinances concerning overwhelming noise, which involves more than motorcycles. Think of boom boxes and souped up cars and trucks whose decibels exceed all limits.

I have seen motorcycles go by that make no noise. They can be quiet; they aren't designed to deafen, and it isn't just the young who offend in this way. I've seen older people (male and female) showing off in a similar manner.

Much as I detest winter and its many hazards, it's at least possible to sleep then. The other “pleasant” months are destroyed, as is sleep, by completely unnecessary noise.

It is not an easy problem to solve, but I'll continue to hope a way is found eventually.

Martha Sanner

Cedar Rapids