Commentary: Those tailpipes emit noise pollution along Coast Highway

Thank you for the column “Quiet riot versus ‘Easy Rider’ noise,” (David Hansen, Sept. 22).

I live in downtown Huntington Beach, about 120 feet from Pacific Coast Highway, and have been here since 1997. The Harley noise began as a minor annoyance, but has now become a huge problem and violation of citizens’ rights, especially on weekends, and Sundays in particular.

If our home windows are left open, whatever we are doing within the house requires a volume rise, and closing up the house always brings a sigh of relief.

My husband Gary, who passed 21/2 years ago, was an avid car guy, an automotive engineer, roadster restorer and past dragster racer. And yes, his hearing had taken a major beating from that.

All the same, the constant roar of weekend Harleys was and is an overwhelming and a constant problem. He theorized that with the intermittent stoplights along PCH in the downtown area, we were on the receiving end of the constant throttling up or down of the motorcycles within the flow of traffic.

Gary decided to approach the problem head-on, and contacted the chief of Huntington Beach police. We were told that yes, most Harleys were outside of the law, with decibel levels above and beyond the acceptable level.

But to enforce the law, an officer would need to be stationed at designated entrance points on the city limits, or on PCH as they enter the area. Unfortunately, this position was not in the budget, nor was the cost of the decibel reader. Gary even volunteered to purchase and donate this equipment for the city, but without someone to operate it, the point was moot.

In the last 15 years the noise issue has increased. Seriously, what percentage of the population represents the Harley owners who negatively impact the population of a community?

This not only impacts pedestrians, motorist and passengers, but neighborhood after neighborhood that doesn’t just hear one passing Harley, but the constant onslaught of noise.

Regarding the earplugs Harley riders use, first, isn’t that illegal? Aren’t drivers supposed to be able to hear other vehicles and car horns?

Secondly, earplug use is incredibly hypocritical. If Harley owners want their bike to be as loud as possible, then they have to suffer the consequences. If we have to listen to it, so should they. Otherwise, we may all need earplugs to avoid hearing loss for someone else’s violations.

Thank you so much, David Hansen, for highlighting this issue. Maybe one day, after some significant scientific testing proves unequivocally how devastating this level of noise can be, someone will actually do something about it.

SANDY POPE lives in Huntington Beach.