Mark Forsythe - Right on Bikes
Mark Forsythe is a candidate for the Kansas City Council, and he is maintatining an honest-to-goodness blog, free-ranging and interesting, as opposed to the blog-as-collection-of-press-releases which have become the standard on politicians' sites.
I don't know whom he's running against, but he may have won my vote yesterday with his blog entry on the pathetic losers who ride loud Harleys. If he will pledge to introduce an ordinance requiring individuals caught on loud motorcycles to surrender their licenses and go to self-esteem classes, I'll work on his campaign!
posted by Dan at 8/25/2006 06:24:00 AM
5 Comments:
Dan:
I'm surprised that someone who advocates individual rights as you do would take this position. I don't always like the noise, either. The noise has two purposes, though. It helps some men compensate for "not measuring up" in other areas of their lives.
Seriously, though, it can be a safety issue. "Loud pipes save lives."
Are you more likely to unintentionally change lanes into a quiet Honda motorcycle or a Harley?
Loud pipes save lives
The same could be said for blaring radios and screaming children. And if everyone went with noise as a vehicle safety precaution it would simply create more noise that would then make it difficult to hear emergency vehicles. Safety is not an excuse for noise pollution, especially in residential neighborhoods. What if everyone just made a smidge more effort at safe driving?
Mark Forsythe is also an advocate for pedestrian safe streets and walking environments. What a radical!
Dan,
Thanks for the nod. I appreciate it. So does my blog!
anonymous 10:37AM,
"Loud pipes save lives" is a smokescreen. Even the American Motorcyclist Association has come out against. Let's be honest. "Loud pipes sound cool." That's the real reason. I think they sound cool too, but so does the launching of the Space Shuttle. I don't want either in my neighborhood!
When I was a kid, all the parents were putting neon orange bike flags that stuck up about four feet in the air off the back of your bike. Remember those? If those orange whippy flags were proven to reduce accidents do you think motorcyclists would be clamoring to install them? I know I wouldn't!
Loud pipes don't save lives, they endanger them.
Because they make me want to rig up some completely transparent, high-test, deap-sea-fishing line across the street to "clothesline" the inconsiderate assholes when they come roaring down my street.
And the loud pipes only "sound cool" to the people riding the bikes who are thinking to themselves "I bet THIS is pissing people off!! HA HA!!"
Anonymous - What makes you think "individual rights" favors people assaulting my ears?
And my opinion of "loud pipes save lives" is somewhere between Mark Forsythe's and XO's.
Post a Comment
<< Home