The MIC is opposed to minimum noise levels from electric motorcycles? Seriously?

<span style="color: #e69138;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In today's news feeds comes an article out of the US that has me scratching my head.</span></b></i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /> <h1 class="title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/component/content/article/25550-mic-opposes-minimum-noise-levels-for-electric-motorcycles"><span style="color: red;">MIC opposes minimum noise levels for electric motorcycles</span></a></span></h1> <h1 class="title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></h1> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>According to the article: The NHTSA has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for FMVSS No. 141, Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. The rule would set minimum sound requirements for hybrid and electric vehicles, including but not limited to, motorcycles. Pursuant to the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act in 2010, FMVSS No. 141 is designed to ensure that blind, visually impaired and other pedestrians are able to detect nearby hybrid and electric vehicles in a range of ambient environments</i>. <b>End quote.</b></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It seems reasonable that in today's noisy world there should be some noise emitted from all vehicles in order that person's who are visually impaired and blind be able to detect the presence of a vehicle.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why would the manufacturers be opposed to a minimum noise requirement from electric motorcycles?</span></i></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">According to the article the manufactures are concerned that the addition of a stereo system to an electric motorcycle would shorten the range of the motorcycle and that riders are better at detecting danger than the average motorist:</span></div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the MIC’s comments, the organization argued that because of the unique attributes of motorcycles, the NHTSA should not need to require a minimum sound for them. The MIC says that motorcycle riders are better able to see and avoid pedestrians because their sight is unobstructed, and motorcyclists are more alert because of their vulnerability. The MIC also stated that electric motorcycles are not quiet, so they shouldn’t need to be subject to minimum sound requirements.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The MIC stated further that adding a speaker system to electric motorcycles to emit sounds would be an issue because motorcycles have less space to add such a system, the weight of the system would have a large effect on the motorcycle’s low-speed stability, energy consumption of the speaker system would have a greater impact on a motorcycle’s range and the price of installing the system would be higher than with automobiles. <b>End Quote.</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am confused - I get that the electric motorcycle's range might be shortened - but seriously - motorcycles have less space for a sound system? I guess the MIC has never ridden a full dressed H-D or many of the other motorcycles that have onboard stereos.  And what's this idea of holding the motorcyclists responsible for the safety of others?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>I sometimes wonder at the wisdom of the Manufacturers Industry Council - these are the same people who brought us the J2825 SAE test...</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What are your thoughts on this topic? I'd dearly love to know.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are numerous articles in the news feeds today that may have interest to you, check them out at <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/"><span style="color: red;">www.beltdrivebetty.com</span></a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We are getting some great name suggestions for my Beaver Mascot - <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/enter-the-beaver-contest"><span style="color: red;">have you recommended a name yet?</span></a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We have a week left for you to get your machine entered in our <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/home/show-n-shine"><span style="color: red;">online show 'n' shine</span></a> - it's free to enter and we have some great prizes up for grabs!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I leave you with a few funnies shared with me by friends from Facebook and via emails...</span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/7lOqiri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://i.imgur.com/7lOqiri.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/images/Canadian_Survivor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/images/Canadian_Survivor.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/images/Canadian_Survivor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/9CmXC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i.imgur.com/9CmXC.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Have a great day everyone.</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Editor & Rider</span>

The MIC is opposed to minimum noise levels from electric motorcycles? Seriously?

Belt Drive 1 8:52 AM

In today's news feeds comes an article out of the US that has me scratching my head. MIC opposes minimum noise levels for electric motorcycles According to the article: The NHTSA has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for FMVSS No. 141, Minimu… Read more »

Read more »

Here we go again....

<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/british-columbia/293-news-british-columbia/25487-sturgis-north-still-owes-creditors-over-200000-">Sturgis North was in the headlines again and it breaks my heart</a>.  (The story begins at 2:05 into the newscast)</span></b><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I resent having to give these people any airtime at all - but we have to. </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Is there a way to prevent the people who run Sturgis North from hurting anyone else in our community? How about the businesses and regions they move to?</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The latest is the saga of Sturgis North involves a group of Salmon Arm businesses who would dearly love to get the money owing to them but according to the TV report, President - Joan Hansen, says it could take 5 years for those people to get their money back. I personally don't understand why these people who are owed so much money don't band together and just shut them down.  A lawsuit is what is needed here - something that will shut Sturgis North down for good. But that's only my opinion - I do not believe that anyone is going to get their money - call me a pessimist - but I just don't see it happening.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://beltdrivebetty.blogspot.ca/2012/11/sturgis-north-2013-will-you-support-it.html"><span style="color: red;">In the research I did on Ray Sasseville</span></a>, I had uncovered a series of what appears to be fraudulent activities and what appears to be smoke and mirrors that have been put up by naming Joan Hansen President of Sturgis North...the last time I did a search, Ray Sasseville was still very much the CEO of the event company.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's not bad enough that people are left owing money from the 2011 show or that there is also - from what I have been able to learn, a boat load of debt from the 2012 show but they are going to try it again and this time the people with the largest potential to be hurt? The poorest first nations band in all of BC.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The more people talk about this event and the experiences that have devastated so many, the greater the ability there is to prevent the devastation of the previous two years from repeating itself.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The protection of our community is now in your hands....</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There is a ton of news in the feeds today that might affect your day and or life as a rider...check them out at <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/"><span style="color: red;">www.beltdrivebetty.com</span></a> where our work is keeping You informed!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Have a great Tuesday everyone.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span></i></b><br /> <b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Editor & Rider</span></i></b><br /> <b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b> <b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b> <b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><i>Disclaimer:</i></b></span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Belt Drive Betty Blog makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site & will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.</span>

Here we go again....

Belt Drive 3 9:15 AM

Sturgis North was in the headlines again and it breaks my heart.  (The story begins at 2:05 into the newscast) I resent having to give these people any airtime at all - but we have to. Is there a way to prevent the people who run Sturgis North from … Read more »

Read more »