Comment:
Peaceful Sundays are a thing of the past. I have been listening to a jerk on a dirt bike, unregistered, fly around the [my street] for almost two hours now. This is a small beach loop with children walking along the road, The rider is guilty of what used to be ticketed as "exhibition of speed" I contacted HPD, nothing will be done. Rider in violation of speed laws, safety laws, noise laws........not to mention operating an off road motor vehicle on a city street.
Short of running a clothes line across the road there is nothing to be done. I can only hope he runs out of gas or breaks down.
Not to mention the gang of over 70 moped riders that went past on Farrington Hwy on their way to the "end of the road"....can't wait for their return!!. My guess is half of them are stolen and the rest unregistered. Where is HPD?
Quieter O'ahu Response:
Aloha,
You have our collective sympathy and we each and every one completely understand what you're saying. Particularly this time of the year, and on Sundays of all days, dozens (and often dozens more) band together for motorcycle runs to whatever destination they have chosen - all too often one of our beach parks or their favorite watering hole - and be damned the public, let's make some noise!!! And it's noise ONLY for the sake of noise. Doesn't improve performance of the motorcycle, and if you've read our pages on motorcycle noise EVERY legitimate biking organization AND Harley Davidson have disputed the bleat of "loud pipes save lives." The physics just don't work as responsible motorcycle clubs and Harley Davidson will tell you. Just hogwash mantra to excuse what is nothing more than bad behavior.
And you're right, too, that getting HPD to step in and assist is less than successful on most occasions. But that's the case for ALL forms of noise - not just motorcycles. HPD just turns a blind eye and a deaf ear. And as you've also pointed out, it's not a matter of enacting new laws - we have the laws already - it's a question of enforcement.
Our recommendation here is the same as we have shared with many others: become active in your neighborhood board. There you have a voice - use it. Demand answers of HPD for their abysmal record of enforcement. Have your board have your local HPD District present statistics at each monthly board meeting of how many noise citations they've issued for the previous month in their District. The numbers will typically hover close to 0 (zero) and that should get everyone's attention. Hold them to account for low numbers.
Too, you can simply contact your board and tell them you would like 5 minutes of time during their neighborhood issues period of the meeting to address HPD's lack of response to loud motorcycle noise in your neighborhood. Then stand up when your scheduled time comes and tell your story - you've done your homework and it will be compelling to your neighbors in attendance, and I'm sure most of them will relate. Put HPD on the spot by telling your neighbors at the meeting that HPD isn't concerned about noise. HPD attends all neighborhood board meetings, and holding them to account in this forum will make a difference.
You can find your neighborhood board schedule and their emails at the following link. http://www.honolulu.gov/cms-nco-menu/site-nco-featured/191-site-nco-cat/682-test.html
Mahalo for dropping us a note.
Quieter O'ahu
Peaceful Sundays are a thing of the past. I have been listening to a jerk on a dirt bike, unregistered, fly around the [my street] for almost two hours now. This is a small beach loop with children walking along the road, The rider is guilty of what used to be ticketed as "exhibition of speed" I contacted HPD, nothing will be done. Rider in violation of speed laws, safety laws, noise laws........not to mention operating an off road motor vehicle on a city street.
Short of running a clothes line across the road there is nothing to be done. I can only hope he runs out of gas or breaks down.
Not to mention the gang of over 70 moped riders that went past on Farrington Hwy on their way to the "end of the road"....can't wait for their return!!. My guess is half of them are stolen and the rest unregistered. Where is HPD?
Quieter O'ahu Response:
Aloha,
You have our collective sympathy and we each and every one completely understand what you're saying. Particularly this time of the year, and on Sundays of all days, dozens (and often dozens more) band together for motorcycle runs to whatever destination they have chosen - all too often one of our beach parks or their favorite watering hole - and be damned the public, let's make some noise!!! And it's noise ONLY for the sake of noise. Doesn't improve performance of the motorcycle, and if you've read our pages on motorcycle noise EVERY legitimate biking organization AND Harley Davidson have disputed the bleat of "loud pipes save lives." The physics just don't work as responsible motorcycle clubs and Harley Davidson will tell you. Just hogwash mantra to excuse what is nothing more than bad behavior.
And you're right, too, that getting HPD to step in and assist is less than successful on most occasions. But that's the case for ALL forms of noise - not just motorcycles. HPD just turns a blind eye and a deaf ear. And as you've also pointed out, it's not a matter of enacting new laws - we have the laws already - it's a question of enforcement.
Our recommendation here is the same as we have shared with many others: become active in your neighborhood board. There you have a voice - use it. Demand answers of HPD for their abysmal record of enforcement. Have your board have your local HPD District present statistics at each monthly board meeting of how many noise citations they've issued for the previous month in their District. The numbers will typically hover close to 0 (zero) and that should get everyone's attention. Hold them to account for low numbers.
Too, you can simply contact your board and tell them you would like 5 minutes of time during their neighborhood issues period of the meeting to address HPD's lack of response to loud motorcycle noise in your neighborhood. Then stand up when your scheduled time comes and tell your story - you've done your homework and it will be compelling to your neighbors in attendance, and I'm sure most of them will relate. Put HPD on the spot by telling your neighbors at the meeting that HPD isn't concerned about noise. HPD attends all neighborhood board meetings, and holding them to account in this forum will make a difference.
You can find your neighborhood board schedule and their emails at the following link. http://www.honolulu.gov/cms-nco-menu/site-nco-featured/191-site-nco-cat/682-test.html
Mahalo for dropping us a note.
Quieter O'ahu