Motorcycle noise initiative in B-W and interview with Minister of Transport

Posted on by admin

Table of contents

Motorcycle noise

Debate about the volume of motorcycles

Motorcycle noise initiative in B-W and interview with Minister of Transport
Baden-Wurttemberg Ministry of Transport

counselor

traffic & business

Motorcycle noise initiative in B-W and interview with Minister of Transport

Baden-Wurttemberg’s initiative against motorcycle noise
An interview with Transport Minister Winfried Hermann

Over 80 cities, municipalities and districts in Baden-Wurttemberg are calling in a joint campaign that motorcycle noise must be reduced. The state’s transport minister, Winfried Hermann, supports this.


Uli Baumann

04/01/2020

Baden-Wurttemberg’s green transport minister Winfried Hermann calls for quieter motorbikes and threatens to close the roads. He wants the industry, the legislature, but also every single motorcyclist to be accountable. In the interview, MOTORRAD wanted to know exactly what its plans are.

Minister, drive your own motorcycle?

Hermann: When I got my driver’s license, it was clear that one would do the A’s. I rode it on a Vespa. I had too much respect for big motorcycles. Unfortunately, I also lost a good friend because of a motorcycle accident.

So you are not a motorcycle hater. Nevertheless, you build with the “Quieter”-Campaign in Baden-Wurttemberg put a lot of pressure on against motorcycling and put all of us in kin …

Hermann: There can be no talk of kin liability. We know that there are many motorcyclists who ride responsibly. The ten demands of the initiative, which incidentally received an extremely positive response, are not directed against motorcyclists across the board. We are of the opinion that motorcycles generally have to be made quieter and tamper-proof, and that manufacturers and legislators are particularly in demand.

Nevertheless, the initiative also advocates road closures.

Hermann: That is correct, but it refers to extreme cases. There are popular routes that are regularly used by large groups with motorbikes, although the group as a whole is usually slow and therefore quieter. But there are also many lone drivers on the tracks who really accelerate. And if you live on a route like this, then you simply can’t sit in the garden in the afternoon and talk, it’s that loud. By the way, there are also restrictions for trucks and routes on which trucks are not allowed to drive. We don’t want to issue general driving bans for motorcycles. If the manipulation stopped and motorcyclists simply drove through places more quietly, then a lot would be gained. Our goal is to create awareness and a more considerate motorcycle culture.

We could sign the latter right away. But in our opinion, road closures that you ultimately demand, even if you say that you do not want them, will not work.

Hermann: I say that as long as the noise problem persists and, in view of the increasing number of registrations, the pressure to issue traffic bans will grow from year to year. There are alternatives. Keyword electric motorcycle. This is still at the beginning, but the more there are, the more likely it is that we will say that we will only let electrics through.

From our point of view, this must not happen. We are by no means opponents of electronics, on the contrary. Electric motorcycles are extremely strong and fun. But combustion will still be the vast majority for a very long time. MOTORRAD also has an impact on the industry and says it makes things quieter.

Hermann: Yes, motorcycles can be built and driven quieter. That would take the pressure off. But valve exhaust systems basically only have the purpose of making the engine louder, and that shouldn’t really be. There is also manipulation of the exhaust that is not immediately apparent. The police already have specialists here who are familiar with it. But it takes more of it.

The problem is the few black sheep among motorcyclists. How do you intend to take targeted action against these without restricting everyone else?

Hermann: It will not work without increased controls. Incidentally, we also need more controls in completely different areas. With motorists, for example. Many stick to the rules. But some don’t, especially not at speed limits. Or the ban on cell phone use. A certain control pressure is required, especially with manipulated exhaust systems. If people drive around with it, then it must be clear that it will be expensive. How many people disregard rules also depends on how many follow them and stand up for these rules. Let me give you the following example: If a biker who drives too loudly and at high revs is from other motorcyclists because of that “turned on” then it works more than when seniors or cyclists do it. Basically, I believe that the vast majority of motorcyclists ride sensibly. I promote a fair mobility culture on our roads, characterized by consideration and caution!

MOTORRAD thanks for the interview.

To the “Motorcycle noise initiative” in Baden-Wurttemberg:

The starting signal for a joint initiative by the state and municipalities against motorcycle noise was fired in July 2019 at a meeting of the noise protection officer of the state government and municipal representatives. goal of “Motorcycle noise initiative” it is that everyone in his or her responsibility and competence contributes to the fact that motorcycles become quieter, that they are driven more quietly and that reckless driving has clear consequences. This also means that the state and the municipalities are given more legal opportunities to curb motorcycle noise.

Legislators called for

For this purpose, among other things, a catalog of requirements was presented to curb motorcycle noise. Among other things, it calls for an amendment to the approval and licensing regulations that are intended to induce manufacturers to build quieter motorcycles, more drastic penalties for manipulation of exhaust systems, a switch to sustainable and low-noise mobility, especially motorcycles with electric drives, a general owner liability, a stronger police force Traffic monitoring as well as a simplified imposition of speed limits and traffic bans on weekends and public holidays for reasons of noise protection in special conflict cases. The initiative also wants to encourage motorcyclists to adapt their driving style so that there is less noise.

Basically, the members of the initiative already see that motorcycles can generally be moved quietly and considerately. So-called black sheep, however, stand out with reckless behavior such as rapid acceleration and high-speed driving, which leads to high levels of noise pollution for local residents. They damage the reputation of all road users on motorized two-wheelers.

These districts and communities are there

The 81 members of the initiative include 74 cities and municipalities as well as seven rural districts. These include Abtsgmund, Aichtal, Albershausen, Amtzell, Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach, Bad Saulgau, Bad Schonborn, Bad Urach, Baden-Baden, Badenweiler, Barenthal, Berglen, Bernau in the Black Forest, Beuren, Beuron, Biederbach, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Blumberg, Bodman-Ludwigshafen, Dachsberg (southern Black Forest), Eschenbach, Essingen, Feldberg (Black Forest), Freiamt, Freudenstadt, Fridingen an der Donau, Gaggenau, Gammelshausen, Geislingen an der Steige, Gerlingen, Gernsbach, Goppingen, Groberlach, Gutenbach, Heidelberg, Herbolzheim, Jagsthausen, Kappel-Grafenhausen, Karlsbad, Kernen im Remstal, Kiblegg, Lenningen, Leutenbach, Lichtenwald, Mainhardt, Muhlheim an der Donau, Munsingen, Nusplingen, Nussloch, Oberwolfach, Oppenau, Ottenbach, Ottenhofen in the Black Forest, Owen, Romerstein, Rudwalersberg, Sasbachberg , Schelklingen, Schwabisch Gmund, Seebach, St. Blasien, St. Margen, Stuttgart, Todtmoos, Todtnau, Trochtelfingen, Untergruppenbach, Vaihingen an der Enz, Waiblingen, Wangen im Allgau, Weinstadt, Wiesen asc, Wildberg, Zwiefalten and the districts of Alb-Donau-Kreis, Hohenlohekreis, District Lorrach, Rems-Murr-Kreis, District Schwabisch Hall, District Waldshut, Zollernalbkreis.

opinion poll

Voted 50235 times

How do you feel about motorcycling and noise??

There is no need for excessive noise, so I adapt my driving style.

This is not noise, but sound – and it is part of riding a motorcycle, no matter how loud.

read more

Leave a Reply

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