Protect quality of life; stop noisy motorcycles

Picture this: beautiful, late-spring or early summer day; sun shining, gentle breeze blowing; you invite friends over for a cookout. You're sitting around the patio, talking, then you hear it. A small rumble, then louder and louder. You start talking louder, hoping it will end.

It doesn't, as 20 to 30 Harleys pass by, pull into the parking lot across the street and race and burn out the engines before they go inside. You try to continue but realize this will go on all afternoon and into the evening. You also know that what could have been an enjoyable day has been somewhat tainted. This will go on all summer and every weekend.

You've also spent the entire winter inside and would like to get out and enjoy the weather but it gets ruined by inconsiderate people who feel they have the right to noise pollute the city.

I would hope the Cedar Rapids Police Department would take a lesson from our city to the north, Dubuque, and try to enhance our quality of life and enjoy the homes we've worked so hard on since the flood. I hope we can all enjoy the summer of 2010. Any police officer or city commissioner is welcome to visit and enjoy the noise of summer.

Mary Armbrecht

Cedar Rapids