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How Noisy Is Your Neighborhood? Now There's A Map For That (npr.org)

Posted by msmash on from the now-you-know dept.

An anonymous reader share an NPR article: There's no denying it: Los Angeles isn't exactly gentle on the ears. That's one lesson, at least, from a comprehensive noise map created by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. On the interactive U.S. map the agency released this week, which depicts data on noise produced primarily by airports and interstate highways, few spots glare with such deep and angry color as the City of Angels. Blame the area's handful of major airports and its legendary snarls of traffic -- ranked this year as the worst in the nation.

3 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. Add THIS to the map by markdavis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Airports and interstates don't bother me much; and I am near both (2 miles from an International airport, 1 mile from a major interstate).

    What DOES bother me are:

    * Motorcycles and cars/trucks with illegal exhaust modifications
    * Dogs barking from neighbors
    * Boom-box bass cars, which I can hear a MILE AWAY sometimes
    * Unnecessary sirens

    None of that is on the map.

    1. Re:Add THIS to the map by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

      Add military operations to the list, too.
      I used to live in Fallbrook, CA. Even miles away, artillery sounded like a thunderstorm. Try to sleep with the windows open at night and the sound of machine gun fire, helicopters, and artillery going off every hour until morning.

    2. Re:Add THIS to the map by markdavis · · Score: 2

      >"Illegal exhaust and boom boxes are a law enforcement issue. e.g. compare Santa Ana with Irvine."

      And here nothing is done about it, and it won't change.

      >"Dogs are subject to ultrasound, easy to manage."

      Not easy when not your dogs. Trust me, I tried.

      >"And the sirens are new to me. You are suggesting that running the siren when going to fire is unnecessary? Or that agencies without need run their sirens?"

      Yes. I estimate 75% of the time they are running with sirens unnecessarily; the lights are enough. In fact, often the sirens just scare people and are actually counter productive. They are a major source of unnecessary noise pollution. Many studies corroborate this.

      http://www.jems.com/articles/2...
      http://noiseabatementsociety.c...
      https://www.emergencydispatch....
      https://www.emergencydispatch....
      http://gradworks.umi.com/35/54...