BVDM terminates membership in “Silent Rider”

Posted on by admin

Table of contents

Motorcycle noise

Debate about the volume of motorcycles

BVDM terminates membership in
Welcome event company

counselor

traffic & business

BVDM terminates membership in “Silent Rider”

BVDM terminates membership in “Silent Rider”
Noise Initiative loses an important member

The Federal Association of Motorcyclists (BVDM e.V.) distances itself from the noise initiative “Silent rider” and resigns from the board of directors.


Dina Dervisevic

06/07/2021

“Silent rider” is the name of an initiative against motorcycle noise that was founded in the Eifel and tries to win over cities and communities. At that time, in March 2019, the mayors of the Eifel National Park region emphasized that the campaign “Silent rider” targeted against the “black sheep” judge among the motorcyclists. The Federal Association of Motorcyclists (BDVM) supported the initiative. Until now.

Goals match, measures don’t

Michael Lenzen, Chairman of the BVDM: “Silent Rider joined BVDM because we agreed on the goal of reducing traffic noise and had the hope of developing solutions to the noise problem in a dialogue and constructive discussion with Silent Rider (as a representative of the residents).” It was already clear in mid-2020 which course the initiative was going when the printed matter 125/20 was published in May based on the “Silent rider”-List of demands was decided by the Federal Council. Even then, the BVDM made it clear that it was with the goal of “Silent rider” agree, but not with the catalog of requirements.

List of requirements from “Silent rider”

The catalog of demands from “Silent rider” included, among other things, stricter legal frameworks for the noise development of motorcycles, owner liability, higher penalties for manipulating the exhaust system and additional information about who the motorcycle driver is – on the helmet or on the front of the vehicle.

Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer rejects further bans and restrictions for motorcyclists. He told dpa at the beginning of July 2020: “We have sufficient, applicable rules. During the protests, the bikers show their stance against tightening and bans. That is also my attitude. I will not implement the resolutions of the Federal Council, i.e. the federal states.”

Reasons for termination

Specifically requested “Silent rider” limit the noise emission for all new motorcycles to a maximum of 80 dB (A). In August 2020, Michael Lenzen, Chairman of the BVDM, commented on this as follows: “We have long been calling for a fixed upper noise limit that applies in all driving situations. The Federal Council has not defined whether the 80 decibels are intended as stationary or driving noise, nor what a measurement method should look like at all. Such a blanket requirement that has not been coordinated with experts is of no use.”

Despite membership, according to BVDM, the professional expertise of the association was ignored. In addition, one does not stand behind poster and banner campaigns that discredit motorcyclists.

The termination of the BVDM at “Silent rider” should take effect on time at the end of 2021, but the BVDM is resigning from the position of assessor on the board of Silent Rider with immediate effect, as can be seen in the letter of termination. In addition, the BVDM prohibits the “Advertising with the name and logo of the association” as of June 14, 2021.

BVDM termination letter

Dear Mr. Hermanns [Mayor of Simmerath, editor’s note. Red.],

The Federal Association of Motorcyclists (BVDM e.V.) hereby terminates its membership in the Silent Rider association in due form and in due time at the end of 2021. The BVDM resigns from the position of assessor on the Silent Rider board with immediate effect. We prohibit advertising with the name and the logo of the association with immediate effect and ask you to remove our logo from the homepage by June 14, 2021.

Silent Rider joined BVDM because we agreed on the goal of reducing traffic noise and had the hope of developing solutions to the noise problem in a dialogue and constructive discussion with Silent Rider (as a representative of the residents). Unfortunately, the hope has proven to be deceptive. The Silent Rider board of directors has rejected specific joint actions, deliberately ignoring the professional expertise of the BVDM in relation to the catalog of requirements (which we have put forward both orally and in writing). The board of directors also deals exclusively with noise in relation to motorcyclists.

In statements made to the press, most recently in the Durener Zeitung on May 29, they adorn themselves with membership of the BVDM, which gives the voice of Silent Rider more weight, but continues to adhere to demands that are neither adequately defined nor technically tenable such as the requirement for a noise limit of 80 decibels. In addition, the recently distributed banners, which can hardly be described as successful, discredit motorcyclists.

Unfortunately, the Silent Rider board has proven to be resistant to advice and has taken a path to achieve the goal – to reduce traffic noise – which we do not consider to be expedient, on the contrary, to be counterproductive and which we will not go with.

I ask for written confirmation of the termination.

Michael Lenzen
Chairman BVDM

Conclusion

At the beginning you might have thought it was behind “Silent rider” I put in a promising concept, especially because it looked as if different interest groups were working towards a common goal in a solution-oriented manner. That does not seem to have been the case.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *