They're at it again tonight up near Ditmars. Saw a pack of 6 or so on the kawasaki-style motorbikes with colorful jackets and helmets. They go way to fast and the lead bike was popping a wheelie the whole way up 21st street RIGHT NEXT TO PS122 when kids were getting out of the after school program there. Saw and heard them again on Ditmars and down Crescent I think.
Called 911, told them. "Well send assistance right away" the operator said. "I don't need assistance! Go get these bikers!"
Hello? Any cops in Astoria these days?
oh--I see some people got parking tickets today. :roll:
That's just dumb for those guys to be riding like that in a neighborhood, let alone near a school, and even further alone the fact that it's right AFTER school where the chances of a kid running out are even greater. More than a few bad apples give us sportbike riders a bad name.
On July 1st, the new noise code takes effect that allows the NYPD officers to ticket motorcyclists if their vehicle is audible at 200 feet:
SUBCHAPTER 6
SPECIFIC NOISE SOURCES
PLAINLY AUDIBLE AND OTHER STANDARDS
§24-236 Motor vehicles.
(b) Motorcycles. No person shall cause or permit any motorcycle to operate on a public right-of-way where the muffler or exhaust generates a sound that is plainly audible to another individual at a distance of 200 feet or more from the motorcycle.
First off, while I think obnoxiously loud bikes in an area this populated (although mine could probably be considered close, it's not Harley-without-mufflers-loud), this law will be really tough to enforce and hold up in court. Plus, the fine is something ridiculous (IIRC $440 bucks).
On top of all of that; ever heard one of the police motorcycles? THOSE things are loud enough to fail the 200' test.
Trust me, I ride a sportbike that has an aftermarket exhaust and even I think the way some of these guys ride is pretty obnoxious. There's no need to be revving the thing constantly or testing its redline when you're riding through a neighborhood. It's just inconsiderate. But, no matter where you are or what you're doing, there's gonna be a-holes in this world.
We live in a noisy city and it's part of the cost/charm/experience of living here. When I hear a dump-truck bed/semi-trailer crashing onto it's frame as the driver goes too fast over a bump, the trash trucks that seem to be driving by my window, the sound of jackhammers at 8 AM, the neighbor's dog barking as the million (it seems like) people pass by, the bus going by (which is probably 500', and two streets away, but I can hear it every time), the gypsy cabs honking outside someone's house, motorcycles flying by at redline and constantly revving their engines, etc., I realize and understand it's just part of living in New York City. That's why there's "No Hoking. $350 fine." signs with cabbies laying on the horn and cops doing nothing.
Noise it the universal language of NYC. I don't agree with an obscene amount of noise or ANY of the unsafe riding practices in the neighborhood and I wish you guys the best in your fight. All I ask that you please don't let it get to the point of a crusade against all motorcycle riders. We're not all guilty by association.