IG Wild beim Wild demands driving ban for noisy motorcycles
Road traffic noise disturbs and makes humans and animals sick.
They cause unnecessary noise, pollution, waste of resources, and danger to other road users.
In fine weather, they roar for pleasure over the Alpine passes, along lake shores, through valleys and villages. Residents and animals feel severely disturbed. Even cyclists feel uncomfortable next to the noisy and forceful emissions. From Andermatt towards the Oberalp Pass, for example, the traffic is as heavy as on a motorway — and this in Alpine terrain, where people and animals seek peace and relaxation.
Motorcycles are permitted to be significantly louder than passenger cars. This unsportsmanlike pleasure-seeking society disturbs and endangers itself, residents, the environment, animals, and nature. Nothing of any use is being transported either. Some riders apparently prefer the louder the better. And their numbers keep growing — as do the fatal accidents.
Over a million people and animals along Swiss roads have to live with excessive noise. They bear the health risks while a handful of noise-makers want to have their loud fun.
In 2021, motorcycles reached a new record high with 56’375 new registrations. The noise pollution affecting the population is still not adequately captured by noise level measurements averaged over the year. Police checks on the passes are virtually non-existent.
In Switzerland, excessively loud motorcycles have been a major nuisance for years, particularly on popular mountain pass roads, in the pre-Alpine and Alpine regions, but also in the Mittelland.
Tyrol is doing better
Since June 10, 2020, motorcycles whose stationary noise level exceeds 95 decibels have been banned on popular excursion routes. The restrictions also apply to tourists. Anyone who violates the ban faces a fine of 220 euros. This is Tyrol's response to noise pollution caused by loud motorcycles. Especially on summer weekends, the thundering noise of motorcycle traffic — with high-rev riding during acceleration and braking — disturbs the peace in the Alps. This noise-based driving ban, the first of its kind in Austria, is intended to bring about noticeable relief for both people and nature.
Noise places an excessive burden on people and nature alike. Various motions in the Swiss parliament have so far failed on the argument that noise levels must comply with EU directives in order not to jeopardize the land transport agreement with the EU. Since the driving ban in Tyrol is evidently possible in an EU-compliant manner, motorcycles with a stationary noise level exceeding 95 dB/A should no longer be permitted to operate on Swiss roads either.
Noise stresses the population and other living beings and causes illness. Motorcycle noise devalues Switzerland's natural landscapes and drives away tourists seeking rest and recreation. We should not have our well-being disturbed to such a degree by a minority (Art. 15 EPA), and avoidable nuisances should be prevented (Art. 42 RTA). Causing unnecessary noise for pleasure is already prohibited today.
Many people living along busy mountain pass roads have had enough of the noise. So has the Swiss Noise Abatement League. In a petition, they are calling on the Federal Council to take action. The federal government should provide noise speed cameras, introduce a noise limit of 81 decibels, impose higher fines, and ban rattling sounds.
IG Wild beim Wild also calls on politicians to finally take decisive action and stand up for the well-being of people and animals – to put an end to the noisy epidemic of motorcyclists on our roads! On mountain routes, a supplementary speed limit of 60 km/h should be introduced.
