P.S. Here's some background on the $1,500 per piece meters, one for each district in New Haven:

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/city_noise_ordinance_gets_teeth/

as a motorcyclist louder exhaust than are "legal" let people know you are there . people in cars generally are in their own little world. there are some people who are jerks about blasting them up and down residential streets. the meters are not good bc the police don't know how to set up properly to conform with the state testing layout , you cant just point and shoot and say it failed, there is a lot more to it. the truth is loud pipes do save lives.

East Rock Road and the stretch of Livingston along the park for some reason receive a good amount of motorcycle traffic. I'll ask for some enforcement in this area and look into the noise meters. Mark is right that they were purchased a while back and I haven't heard anything about them either.

The police are overstretched as is and it's difficult to catch the occasional loud motorcyclist that drives through. Nevertheless, the area definitely needs some traffic calming measures.

Justin Elicker
Ward 10 Alderman
justin.elicker@gmail.com

Noise ordinances are notoriously difficult to enforce, even with noise meters, and cops often see it as a low priority. (If you've ever been to a Blue Knights rally, it'll be clear why: Many cops have loud pipes on their own bikes.)

Some bikers, of course, claim it's a safety issue. "Loud pipes save lives" is a piece of fiction, and I've never seen a scrap of evidence to support it. (In fact, the data I've seen suggests the reverse.)

Even if it were true, it's a dumb argument -- particularly dumb when it's uttered by someone who's not wearing a helmet (as is often the case). If you're too scared to ride a legal bike, you should buy a Volvo and leave the two-wheelers to people who can handle them.

It seems every person who has ever cut off /slammed in to a motorcyclist has said the same thing. "I never saw them" usually followed by oops. Guess what? Loud pipes save lives! And I would be willing to bet the people who caused a motorcycle accident wish they heard them coming and never hit them. If you don't ride them don't try to tell the people who do how to ride them. LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES.

what a waste of time-quiet down the hotdog vender who plays the house music in front of the CT Financial building

Ray: You won't hear them, either. No matter how loud a motorcycle is, you don't hear it until it pulls out about even with you -- in other words, after it has passed through your blind side. Additionally, every motorcycle comes equipped with a horn. You'll find it on the right side of your handlebar. You can use this when you're overtaking another driver.

Don't assume that everyone who rides is going to back you up on this. I ride, and I HATE bikers with loud pipes. My own bike rides quietly, as it should.

Biking is dangerous by nature, Ray. If you're too frightened to ride a street-legal bike, I strongly recommend you take up a less dangerous hobby and buy yourself a nice safe Volvo or minivan to get you to the grocery store.

Loud pipes do save lives. Not riding the damned things saves even more so, if you really want to save lives, get off your bike and walk.

More importantly, show some courtesy to the other people quietly minding their own business instead of making noise to demand the whole world's attention. Harp on all you want about rights to using public streets, but give a thought to growing up and exercising your rights with civil decency. There is no constitutional right to be a self-centered, attention-seeking @#$%.

Loud pipes save lives is a bunch or crap! I have been riding for years and not to stereotype but most riders with loud pipes are as annoying as there bikes. Most car drivers are sealed up so well these days with stereos and Bluetooth loud pipes make no difference to them, and perceiving directional sound is not many drivers forte. How 'bout I come by your house as your children are falling asleep and blast my 120dB pipes that rattle your walls and windows, is that my constitutional right? Loud pipes are a problem throughout New Haven and I know the police are busy but it's easy enough to find these idiots just follow the sound. I also don't understand how these guys get through emissions and inspection, if I have a check engine light on I can't drive, I guess they swap the pipes after inspection. So to all of you freedom-fighter loud pipe bikers get out there and ride, helmetless or course because that is your right and when you hit the pavement we can see just how brainless you were, and remember there is on person out there who would love to shove a couple of bananas up you life saving pipes.

Only obeying the speed limit will save lives. Bikes definitely appear farther than they are, try pulling onto a road like Whitney Ave. or Dixwell, take a left, that motorcycle that's about a hundred yards or at least a city block away comes on top of you very quickly.

harleyinnewhaven: I've been riding for 30 years and never have I had loud pipes on any of my bikes. The claim that "loud pipes save lives" is pure BS. Loud pipes are obnoxious, rude and do more to boost your ego than increase your safety. Non-idiot riders save their own lives, your pipes have nothing to do with it. In fact, most accidents, where the car driver is at fault, are due to cars making left hand turns into the path of oncoming riders. Get your facts in order.

blahblah blah,30 yrs 60yrs 90yrs means nothing. u probably dont like tattoos either or guys with beards . i feel safer with pipes even though right now i have factory exhaust on my bike and my ego is just fine. because im good at everything i do with or without louder than legal pipes. besides contributing to all kinds of charities and fundraisers and being quite a good citizen of the city for some 38yrs ive never had a problem with noise that comes from living in a CITY if u dont like living in the city move to the country and listen to cows and chickens. i wish the would put a firing range in the city for all us gun nuts too.

Wealthy whiners? You mean the idiots riding those overpriced HD rattletraps who buy illegal pipes so they can feel big and strong when they drive through quiet neighborhoods, then whine about safety when people insist they obey the law? Those wealthy whiners?

This is for everyone who needs proof loud pipes save lives!!

You havent seen a piece of evidence to prove that loud pipes saves lives because people arent being killed they are being saved. The same way ambulance and police sirens make you move or know they are coming you dont need research its common sense. Matter of fact its one of your five senses called hearing now use your sixth sense to understand that!

Saving lives is not the issue. Using the pipes in a residential neighborhood is the issue.

For motorcyclists committed to saving lives, there are other ways to save lives that do not involve signalling your presence to everyone within three blocks:
- walk.
- take the bus.
- stay home if the journey is not essential.
- reduce speed limit to 5 mph.
- speedbumps everywhere.

We're talking about a tiny number of motorcyclists vs hundreds of people who were otherwise enjoying the peace in the privacy of their own homes. When I do the cost/benefit analysis, it looks like loud pipes save one life at the expense of hundreds. So the net benefit is greater if the motorcyclist dies. That's just how the numbers work out. Sorry.

I have never seen a motorcycle with loud pipes driven by a motorcyclist wearing a helmet. If you're too frightened to ride a legal bike (as I do) then buy a Volvo.

The argument that "loud pipes save lives" is BS and completely meaningless. The fact of the matter is, there are noise regulations that set the dB level that a car, bike, truck, etc. can produce. If you have an exhaust system or stereo that exceeds that level you are breaking the law, simple as that.

its my hope they atleast hear me cause lately all most drivers want to do is TEXT or talk on the cell phone which is putting more and more bikers lives at risk when you stop those people from being distracted and causing accidents and death ill be happy to take my loud pipes off my bike !!

I have loud pipes I wear a helmet and I dont race through residential neighborhoods I respect people and thier homes that doesnt make me a lawbreaker its seems like everyone is targeting all bikers as opposed to the small percentage that give all us bikers a bad name. Now Im no advocate for this behavior but if you have the balls to go up to one of those hells angel dudes and tell them thier bike is too loud and they wake you up at night then have at it and God Bless You

This is going around in circles. But it still comes down to the same thing: If you're too scared to ride a legal bike, then leave motorcycles to the people who can handle them and stick to four wheels.

i think it boils down to a bunch of rich sissies who love to complain about everything.

Since everyone seems to be confusing evidence with personal experience, I think I'll join in. I can think of at least two times when I had close calls with bikers that had loud pipes. These guys weren't saved by my noticing their loud illegal pipes. They just got lucky that I'm only a distracted driver and not a very distracted driver. That is, I noticed their loud pipes only AFTER I nearly hit them.

The only whiny rich folks I can think of are the fools who spend $30,000 plus on noisy rattletraps and then complain that nobody likes them. Hunter, bring your friends to East Rock. I'll be taking license plates -- and if you think I'm afraid to confront slumming yuppie idiots who confuse looking tough for the real thing, you've got another think coming.

put my loud pipes back on just bc of this thread. thank you all.

I was out walking the dog today and i spied a couple of Harleys turn right onto E Rock Ave. And I giggled to myself just a little bit.

Go Harleyinnewhaven! Terrorize these wussies!

"Terrorize"? LMFAO. What makes you think people are afraid of you? Because you're loud? Newsflash: You're not "terrorizing" anyone, just annoying them.

thats fine i have relatives who are cops and know garage owners to sign my inspection slips. be annoyed, very annoyed.

sounds like a bad rider i dont think pipes had anything to do with it.as for u wishing evil on people sounds like an issue between u and ur god.

sounds like a bad rider i dont think pipes had anything to do with it.as for u wishing evil on people sounds like an issue between u and ur god.

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Can't wait for spring so I can tear my harley up and down East Rock Road.

The rich should be made to suffer.

Because you keep sending me email asking me to close it