DELRAY, FLORIDA PROPOSED BAN ON MOTORCYCLES BECAUSE OF NOISE

> > Brothers and Sisters,
> >
> > We were among the of hundreds of people that turned out for the City of
> > Delray's meeting to enact an ordinance banning motorcycles in a 5 block
> > area of Atlantic Ave. from Swinton Ave. to Federal Hwy.
> >
> > The commission had received a barage of complaints from restaurant
owners
> > and their customers claiming that the noise from motorcycles parking in
> > front of the outdoor cafe's and restaurants as well as those passing by
> > revving their motors was a serious problem. The council apparently took
it
> > serious enough to propose an ordinance banning motorcycles from
traveling
> > down Atlantic Ave. between 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM 7 day's a week.
> >
> > A protest was organized by The Enforcers MC. ABATE P.B.C. and Wings of
> > Gold MC had also gathered supporters within their organizations and were
> > supported by members from local Clubs and independents totaling in the
> > hundreds Tuesday night 10/16 at Delray Beach City Hall. The news media
was
> > present and several interviews were conducted through out the evening
and
> > aired that night on channel 12 and channel 5. The Sun Sentinel, The Palm
> > Beach Post ran stories and gave us a rare opportunity to communicate our
> > views to the general public.
> >
> > Inside the chamber those who wished to speak were asked to sign in, they
> > were starting a third page when I signed in. The council appeared to be
> > completely amazed at the number of motorcyclists in the audience and the
> > list of three pages of people wanting to speak. The concil moved quickly
> > through items on the agenda and brought before us the proposed ordinace
> > with a genuine sense of concern. The members of the council seemed a
> > little apprehensive at first but as it turned out they spoke very
frankly
> > about their desire to work with us before having to enact the ordinance
as
> > it was proposed.
> >
> > This was probably the first time any of them have ever seen us face to
> > face. They see us on our bikes as we ride by or at a light but they
never
> > see us sitting next to them and as Deputy Vice Mayor Brenda Montague put
> > it "judging by your behavior, you are here to listen, your here to help
> > and support, and your here here also to get us to understand what you're
> > feeling. But I think it's mostly supported help". I guess they just
didn't
> > know what to expect.
> >
> > Commissioner Eliopoulos, who is also an architect pointed out that there
> > is a section of Atlantic Ave. with two story buildings on either side.
> > This is also where the outside cafe's and restaurants are located. He
> > mentioned that any noise is going to amplified between those buildings
and
> > thats were the complaints are coming from. A recomendation was made by
> > Commissioner McDuffie to conduct a 90 day study and a survey and a
review
> > before enacting the ordinance to include the ban. It was accepted
> > unanimously by the Board.
> >
> > Commissioner McDuffie stated, "There's no doubt that in downtown we have
> > some noise problems. Right now those are pointed toward you. You have
been
> > identified as the problem". He also stated " If you work with your
fellow
> > riders and just present the fact that in downtown Delray Beach where the
> > buildings are close together people will be sitting on the sidewalk and
> > that noise is objectionable". I implore you as Commissioner of this city
> > so that we don't have to enact something that's knee- jerk legislation
> > that particularly singling out one group of people to approach the city
> > and embrace the laws of the city. He is asking us, very sincerely to
help
> > them, to work with them. An unusual but intellegent approach taken by
> > government at any level.
> >
> > Commissioner Eliopoulos also commented that they were inundated with
> > emails, faxes and phone calls from all over the country in regard to the
> > Ordinance and basically said, if your able to contact that many people
to
> > respond you should be able to explain that we need your help to resolve
> > this problem.
> >
> > I feel this is as close as we might ever get to actually having an
> > opportunity to have a say in matters like this ordinance. This is a
> > tremendous opportunity for us in the motorcycle community to open a line
> > of communication and dispell a lot of the myth and misunderstandings
> > associated with being a motorcyclist. I think some of that was evident
at
> > City Hall. You could see the uneasiness and feel the aire of uncertainty
> > from the Board but I think it faded quickly when they understood why
were
> > there in number. A presentation was made to a soldier just returning
from
> > a tour in Iraq and we stood to applaud in honor. After that the mood
> > shifted to one of genuine open communication of their willingness to
work
> > with us to settle this problem without adopting more useless
legislation.
> >
> > I think we all know it's not the pipes on our bikes that are loud it's
the
> > part that connects the seat to the handlebars that make them loud. I'm
> > asking all of my Brothers and Sisters of the Motorcycle community and
> > especially members of ABATE Palm Beach to join with me in an effort to
> > educate and communicate with other riders that this is not over by a
> > longshot. We need to be more vigilant and aware of this during the next
90
> > days than ever. We need to get the word out to everyone that we need to
be
> > considerate when traveling through Delray Beach. Use common sense and be
> > aware that we will attract even more attention because of this noise
> > ordinance, people are going to be straining their ears to try to hear
your
> > bikes over all the other noise.
> >
> > Don't give them the satisfaction of being able to go back to City Hall
> > November 6th with all the ammunition they need to halt the study and
> > abandon the surveys and brake the line of communication by enacting the
> > full strength of this ordinance. The consequences for our inability to
use
> > restraint and common sense while riding through Delray Beach will
without
> > question open the door for every municipality to to the same. This why
we
> > need to make an all out effort to come together like we did at City Hall
> > an gather even more support from all motorcyclists in maintaining this
> > relationship to avoid any similar actions from other commuities.
> >
> > It is my committment to represent our chapter and ABATE of Florida, Inc.
> > in taking advantage of this rare opportunity to work with the City of
> > Delray in resolving this problem or at least proving to them that we are
> > capable of policing ourselves. I have been in contact with city
> > Commissioners and I am going to make it my mission to do all I can to
> > bring this to the attention of as many members of the motorcycle
community
> > as possible. ABATE P.B.C. will be meeting next Saturday at 11:30 AM, at
> > the VFW Post 4143 located at 2404 Broadway Riviera Bch. 561-844-5718. As
> > always, our door is open to everyone and you're always welcome to join
us.
> >
> > Delray Beach has a noise ordinance, they intend to enforce it and the
> > penalty for loud pipes is $200. I would be willing to bet that the
police
> > will be directed to look for EPA stickers even on older bikes with stock
> > exhaust systems if you are stopped. What they might not be aware of the
> > fact that only until recently did these EPA stickers start appearing on
> > the pipes. It's not going to be easy to explain all this while they're
> > writing you a $200 ticket.
> >
> > Please use discression, consideration and courtesy when riding down
> > Atlantic Ave. a little respect can go along way right now, let's not
blow
> > it.
> >
> > Ride Free, Ride Safe
> > Your Brother at Arms
> >
> > Strongbow President
> > ABATE Palm Bch. Chapter