But the most significant change in modern science is not just about the amount of noise, but how we experience it. Noise is no longer understood solely as a problem that affects hearing, it is also recognised as a systemic environmental pollutant. Transport noise is now one of the leading environmental cause of illness in Europe, second only to air pollution.
This logic falls apart because the only time I ever hear motorcycles is when I’m not driving.
Whenever I’m driving, I’m generating my own road noise and listening to music. Just like most other drivers. People around here barely react to emergency sirens, they’re not hearing the busted pipes on an abused Harley. Motorcycle guys just like making loud noises, if they cared about safety? They wouldn’t ride a motorcycle.
I think motorcycles are cool as hell. But since the introduction of modern workplace safety laws, motorcycle crashes are the leading cause of amputations in the USA, so I’ll never ride one. I don’t think they should be banned, but it blows my mind that people choose to ride them given how dangerous they are.