motorcycles out of control

[Christine]

The noise is seriously interfering with my sleep. All last night, dozens of these a$$holes were in rare form, circling the park and racing up/down/up/down/up/down the block.

I have nothing against motorcycles themselves, just the blatant rudeness. It's not any more okay on a Fri/Sat night than on a weeknight (not that it matters to these jerks.)

So I didn't hesitate to call 911, twice. The dispatcher asked, "Did anybody get hurt?" and I was like, "It's only a matter of time." So somebody has to die first, I suppose? Doesn't it count that I can't even function during the day from lack of sleep?!! They say that driving while sleep-deprived is as bad as driving drunk, imagine half the neighborhood trying to go about their day like this.

Why can't they all just hit the highway and ride for a couple of hours in one direction, then turn back? Then go park quietly on Shore Blvd. and schmooze. I honestly don't understand why the cops haven't figured out how to control this nuisance.

{{{whew}}} rant over.

[merm]

I too am really annoyed and concerned by this. Both the speed bikes, and the Harleys.

There's another "Noise Pollution" thread on this board. It's important that EVERY time you hear a loud bike, or observe a dangerous situation that you call 311 and report an "Illegal noise coming from outside". It's listed under a "quality of life issue". They'll take the complaint and forward to 114 precinct. It's important that these complaints show up in our neighborhood.

If you see speeding, racing, running a red light etc, then call 911.

[Christine]

Whenever I call 311 about this, they switch me over to 911. This is the first time I called 911 directly. The speed is clearly excessive in addition to the noise.

[Gatorboy]

http://gis.nyc.gov/ops/mmr/pdffiles/311NOISE_401.pdf

The problem is already well known by the precinct and elected officials. Community Board 1 is, sadly, again not in the better half of community boards in Queens. Surprise.

Recall many newspaper stories on this.

Why does this little problem seem to be beyond anyone's ability to control?

Now if they could handle this little noise problem as well as they let those developers in to despoil blocks and sidewalk cafes to hog the sidewalks, well we can all dream!! 

[Mark]

We have the same problem with motorcycles on 30th ave near athens park.  I would say the 3 biggest sources of noise pollution in our hood are motorcycles, garbage trucks and car alarms.  And its great that the motorcycles and garbage trucks always set off the car alarms.  Fun, fun, fun...

[mcdirk]

Has anyone called the 114th on this yet?  Did they give any response?  It's something that could and should also be raised on Tuesday.  Motorcycles can be incredibly noisy, and if they're engaging in exhibitionist behavior they can be a danger as well (not to mention setting off all the durn car alarms).

[futility]

Who are all these loosers on $10K+ bikes anyway?   I guess they're trying to differentiate themselves from the competition: 4 guys in a car w/ lots of neon and interior LCDs pumping euro-techno., cruising for dates to one of the many 'exclusive' velvet rope nightclubs in Astoria.  I guess the only ones who don't instantly see that they all live with their moms & spend their pittance on vehicles are their pool of potential mates.

pathetic.

[okkichan]

i feel you all with the noise, the hogs that set off the car alarms, and most recently we had a guy sitting at the light deliberately living is rear wheel and revving the engine to create a continous skidding out sound while he waited for the light to change... at 6am.

however, is 911 the best route? why is 311 sending you to 911? dudes on bikes is not an emergency. it worries me that i'll have an emergency one day and i'll be on hold because people are complaining about the noise.

[merm]

If a biker is breaking the law (speeding, racing, going through red lights) then this indeed is an emergency as it endangers the public.

But noise related complaints are taken by 311.

I was thinking; with all these extra cops around here you'd think you'd hear less of the hogs. Nope, they are still there. I wish our policemen cared about the noise.

[mcdirk]

They don't seem to be doing much about the motorcycles at all, which is lamentable.
I wish they'd enforce the traffic laws for both motorcycles and bikes.  I love to see people biking, but not on the sidewalks coming right at me.  There are laws to keep bikes of the sidewalks for a good reason.

[anzubird]

There was an article in the sunday times last week (or two weeks ago?) about how many motorcyclists are actually making their bikes louder because they are afraid drivers won't see them. apparently the number of accidents involving motorcycles had greatly increased in the last 5 or 10 years, in part because of the greater number of riders and in part because drivers tend not to be aware of them, so motorcyclists have been adding lights ans making their bikes louder n an attempt to make sure that drivers are on the lookout.

This doesn't mean it's ok to go around revving your engine at 6 in the morning for no apparent reason, but it's somewhat reassuring to see that there is a valid concern behind some of the loudness

[mcdirk]

I've heard this argument being made, but I'm not sure I buy it.  Motorcycles have horns and if a car is coming too close, they can honk as well, or move out of the way, just like cars and trucks do for each other, without having to be loud.  Straight pipes, which have to be installed on the bikes in order to make them louder, are illegal in NYS, though when the bikers are given tickets, they just remove the straight pipes, appear in court with a document to that effect, the ticket is dismissed and they re-install them.  Most of the motorcycle groups do not advocate installation of straight pipes and feel they only serve to promote "exhibitionist" behavior - revving of the bikes, lots of noise, drag racing.  When I worked at the City Council, the head of the New York State Motorcycle organization came down on a few occasions to testify against straight pipes.

[Newtownian]

The sport bike set drive me nuts.. They go up and down astoria park seriously going in cirlcles for about an hour at a time driving like a-holes. Just waiting for a time when one of these losers falls off or someone gets hurt. Personally, I think they should close off that strip by the park.

[Rapture]

I've heard this argument being made, but I'm not sure I buy it.

I completely don't buy it.  Motorcycles are MUCH louder than they would need to be "to alert other drivers."  When motorcycles go by my apartment, I can hear them for a LONG time afterwards - until they are VERY far away.  It's overkill. 

[Christine]

dudes on bikes is not an emergency. it worries me that i'll have an emergency one day and i'll be on hold because people are complaining about the noise.

The way they tear it up, it's dangerous all right. As I type there they are outside, being assholes as always, speeding up and down and up and down and up and down...........

Removing the risk of some pedestrian or biker being run over by them will make for one less 911 emergency call. It's not like I call every week or even every month, but it's dangerous and should be taken seriously.

[mirki2]

I guess they're trying to differentiate themselves from the competition: 4 guys in a car w/ lots of neon and interior LCDs pumping euro-techno., cruising for dates to one of the many 'exclusive' velvet rope nightclubs in Astoria.  ...

pathetic.

This is the start of a beautiful friendship (lol),
unfortunately guys with gelled up hair and wannabe uber clothing in small cars (preferably mitsubishi or nissan sedans from the early 90's) with flashing neon pulsing out techno at the same beat that the car bounces is a phenomenon not unique to just astoria.

it is even well documented in Black Cat White Cat (with the wannabe gangster whose sister was supposed to marry our protagonist hero).

Anyways, In Israel, we call this genus species the ARS (borrowed from the arabic slang phrase Arsawat). 

as for the motorcycle phenomenon, they are loud and noisy and a nuissance even in daylight

[okkichan]

The sport bike set drive me nuts.. They go up and down astoria park seriously going in cirlcles for about an hour at a time driving like a-holes. Just waiting for a time when one of these losers falls off or someone gets hurt. Personally, I think they should close off that strip by the park.

cheers! the road lining the shore is pointless. that road would serve much better purpose if it was strictly for kids on bikes and such.

and i watch those crotchrockets go up and down, up and down. i sit on my fire escape and see the same guys over and over again.

maybe we should organize a "get the bored bikers some girlfriends" convention. that should stop this nonsense. all they're really doing is trying to strut their stuff for non-existant ladies who did this charade.

[Handyman]

I'm guessing that a happy medium between closing shore drive and stringing piano wire accross it would be to install more of those speed bumps.   (and make them go from curb to curb so the bikes can't just go around them. 

OOOh, forget the piano wire....   sound-triggered land mines!!    *evil, diabolical laugh*

[Jtrane]

I'm guessing that a happy medium between closing shore drive and stringing piano wire accross it would be to install more of those speed bumps.   (and make them go from curb to curb so the bikes can't just go around them. 

OOOh, forget the piano wire....   sound-triggered land mines!!    *evil, diabolical laugh*

I like your thinking.  Or, maybe we could use pellet guns do some target practice and try to take out their tires.  Or, throw spears and try to get them in the spokes of their wheels, so they go over their handlebars at 70 mph.

[Handyman]

I like your thinking.  Or, maybe we could use pellet guns do some target practice and try to take out their tires.  Or, throw spears and try to get them in the spokes of their wheels, so they go over their handlebars at 70 mph.

OK... there are two flaws with your ideas... but it's good that you're trying.

One:  There's no way a pellet gun would take out a motorcycle tire.  I doubt it would do much to a bicycle tire.

Two:  I'm willing to bet they go a lot faster than 70mph.

What if we painted a road leading up to, and a tunnel on the Hellgate supports.  Works for Bugs Bunny.

[Jtrane]

OK... there are two flaws with your ideas... but it's good that you're trying.

One:  There's no way a pellet gun would take out a motorcycle tire.  I doubt it would do much to a bicycle tire.

Two:  I'm willing to bet they go a lot faster than 70mph.

What if we painted a road leading up to, and a tunnel on the Hellgate supports.  Works for Bugs Bunny.

Or put in speed bumps, and camoflage them so the bikers don't see them when they speed over them.  Or laser sensor ramps that elevate when they see the bikers coming.

[Handyman]

Three words JTrane...



Severe    Tire     Damage




only we have them FACING traffic and allow "Motorcycles Only / No Speed Limit"

[Jtrane]

Three words JTrane...



Severe    Tire     Damage




only we have them FACING traffic and allow "Motorcycles Only / No Speed Limit"

I like it.  So who do we talk to to impliment this? 8-)

[Handyman]

I like it.  So who do we talk to to impliment this? 8-)

Hmmmm, maybe we could ask Pete Jr.     Once he's thru telling everyone "I told you so" about ConEd downplaying the crisis.

Sorry about that.   He just didn't come off as concerned as the other two guys, just more "look at me.. I was right".   I don't even know the other two guys names...  how pathetic is that.

Back on topic.... do you think we could make quicksand look like concrete?

[futility]

This is the start of a beautiful friendship

nichts dagegen.

Anyways, In Israel, we call this genus species the ARS (borrowed from the arabic slang phrase Arsawat). 

please explain, I like etymology.  Oh, wait.  Maybe it's Hebrew?  http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ars

[newbie]

OK, while some of these complaints are valid, some are just plain psychotic...

Why are some people so anti-motorcycle?  I also think it's lame that they ride around Astoria park all night and rev their engines at 6 am (if that's even true).  However, there is nothing wrong with owning and riding a motorcycle.  And engine revving IS in fact a good way to alert other drivers to your presence, as they are more likely to ignore a honk among hundreds of honks.  As a motorcycle owner myself (not a crotch rocket, but a standard bike), I can assure you that the pathetic horns they put on motorcycles are not likely to get anyone's attention, whereas revving will make that left-turn-happy driver think twice.  All too often drivers turn left in front of motorcycles or pull out in front of them because of simply not seeing/hearing them, or not accurately judging their rate of approach.  Revving takes care of these two issues.

I also don't advocate the muffler mods, but if it makes riding any safer, I can't say I'm against it either.  But you're right when you say that most people just do it for getting girls' attention rather than drivers' attention.

[goldfish boy]

I also think it's lame that they ride around Astoria park all night and rev their engines at 6 am (if that's even true).

We wouldn't complain about it if it wasn't true.

[okkichan]

certainly not. i live by the park, and i don't have a/c. so my windows are open all the time these days... i hear them.

[Handyman]

Even if revvVVVing their engines was 110% legit for making other drivers aware of them, what's their excuse for wheelies and burn-outs??

[newbie]

Even if revvVVVing their engines was 110% legit for making other drivers aware of them, what's their excuse for wheelies and burn-outs??

Fun?  :-D

But I understand it must be annoying if you live by the park.  Just call the police to come break them up if it's really so bad...  But even then, I'm sure they'll be back the next night.  Just try not to let those guys sour you to motorcyclists in general.  Some of us are (more) mature.

[mcdirk]

Newbie - what complaints about the motorcycles did you find valid, and which did you find to be less so?  Just curious.

[okkichan]

But I understand it must be annoying if you live by the park.  Just call the police to come break them up if it's really so bad...  But even then, I'm sure they'll be back the next night.

exactly. i complain about it here and around the house, but really i just live with it. i don't think calling the cops is going to do anything but waste time. i feel it's part of the deal of living with 8 million other people. if it really made me crazy, i'd move.  :-)

[newbie]

Newbie - what complaints about the motorcycles did you find valid, and which did you find to be less so?  Just curious.

Well, it was more the suggestions on dealing with motorcyclists and the general attitude toward them that I found to be disturbing.. 

I think people should cool down just a little bit.  The park is probably the best place for these guys to meet up, so you can't really loathe them just for that.  It's a relaxed area with limited traffic, not to mention the great view.  That said, dangerous/disrupting exhibitionist behavior is still not acceptable.

And not every guy with a nice bike is a "pathetic loser" who lives with his parents.  They are just spending their money on what they find to be fun.  There's no comparison to the sense of freedom, not to mention the rush, from riding a motorcycle.  It's a recreational activity, and for some it's even a primary means of transportation.  So like I said, don't hate on motorcyclists in general--just the annoying ones as you would any other annoying person.

[mcdirk]

I'd agree that there are many responsible motorcyclists and the park, further away from people's houses, is a good place for them.  I just wish they wouldn't make so much noise with the straight-pipes and set off all the car alarms.  It takes time to get back to sleep after the irresponsible ones zoom up 33rd Street.

[Handyman]

Well, it was more the suggestions on dealing with motorcyclists and the general attitude toward them that I found to be disturbing.. 

Wow!  I have nothing against motorcycle enthusiasts, or even "bikers"... in fact, I don't even live close enough to the park for the noise to bother me that much.   The real disturbing thing is that you couldn't tell that those suggestions, however extreme, were meant to be anything other than humorous.   

And for the record, I'd impliment those obviously unserious suggestions on not just purposely noisy, obnoxious, look-at-me! bikers, but also the guys with the sound systems that can vibrate my rear-view mirror from four cars away, any incosiderate driver at all, and especially that a-hole with the red vette convertable that parks on the strip most days.   

[daisy]

or any of those darn kids on the motored scooters that look like skateboards with handlebars.  Those suckers are real loud too.