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Letter: Your noisy motorbikes are wrecking my Burnaby neighbourhood

Editor: I was trying to make the best of a summer constrained by COVID safety protocols by relaxing on my condo balcony and reading through a pile of books I’ve been ignoring for far too long.
listening to music, urban, headphones, stock photo
Urban living means being considerate of each other - like listening to music in our headphones, and not being jerks with loud motorbikes, this letter writer says.

Editor:

I was trying to make the best of a summer constrained by COVID safety protocols by relaxing on my condo balcony and reading through a pile of books I’ve been ignoring for far too long. My plans were disrupted, however, when the relative peace and quiet of my balcony was shattered over and over again by the ultra-loud roaring of motorbikes rumbling through my neighbourhood. I couldn’t even escape the nasty noise by retreating inside my condo because the lack of air conditioning necessitates my condo windows being open, so sounds this loud just come right in!

I could have endured it if this had been a one-time occurrence. Unfortunately, I’ve had to endure this ear-piercing rumbling every day for months! Sometimes it starts at 6:30 a.m. (luckily, I’m an early riser), and continues on and off, sometimes until 3 in the morning. It’s horrific, and it needs to stop. No neighbourhood should have to put up with such noise pollution. I can only imagine all the babies awoken abruptly from naps and all the shift workers torn from well-deserved sleep. The deafening guttural roar of these motorbikes is made even worse because the sound reverberates up condo towers.

When I called the noise complaints department at Burnaby City Hall, they were unable to help because I don’t have an address for the offender. I live in a condo tower, which is surrounded by other condo towers, so I don’t know who the offending noise polluter is. In fact, there’s probably several of these viciously noisy motorbikes in my neighbourhood, making it even more difficult to pinpoint the source. It should not fall to the RCMP to try to catch these inconsiderate offenders: overloud motorbikes should simply not be licensed. Nor should factory or after-sale modifications that increase a motorbike’s decibel level be legal.  

I do not want to take away anyone’s right to ride a motorbike; it’s a great way to travel B.C. roads. However, with this right comes the responsibility to be a good neighbour and considerate of others’ right to enjoy the day undisturbed. After all, I like to listen to music on my balcony, but I wear earbuds so I don’t disturb my neighbours.

Thanks,

Susan Jeffery, Burnaby