Escalation around street noise
Europe's motorised two-wheelers are too loud. But measurements show that some PWKs are also above the limits.
The Europe-wide discussion about excessively loud engine noise threatens to get out of hand. After countless demos by the biker community with many thousands of participants nationwide against noise protection zones, oil attacks on motorcyclists at popular track sections and an increasing lack of objectivity in the culture of discussion, a new era seems to have dawned. According to a survey, the majority of Germans are also in favour of a political and legal rethink, initially for a limited period of time, and would like to see political intervention in the form of noise protection zones, for example. However, manufacturers would also be obliged to make their own efforts to achieve quieter engines.
"Unnecessary noise ex works is unacceptable on the roads and is a strain on everyone's health and nerves", said Federal Environment Agency (UBA) President Dirk Messner, summarising the situation.
According to a resolution of the Federal Council, there is an "urgent need for action", speed limits for special cases of conflict and "temporary traffic bans on Sundays and public holidays for noise protection reasons". UBA is playing the Federal Council's assessment into its cards. According to recent investigations by the Office, the recently revised international noise licensing regulations are inadequate and will not prevent extreme noise emissions from road traffic.
German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer could get this delicate matter moving by giving a clarifying statement. However, the minister still refuses to accept reprisals from the biker community, sees the scene subjected to a witch-hunt and demonstratively opposes the manufacturers and consumers.
It seems that motor braggers are more important to Scheuer than the health of citizens and nature.