Selectmen to bikers: A little less noise, please

KENT — The motorcycles have returned to town with the warm weather. And along with the softer sounds of spring, they have brought the throaty roar of their exhaust systems.

Town residents might be under the impression that the merchants are glad to have the business brought in by the cycle tourists.

But in fact the merchants have been and continue to be particularly vocal  in the ongoing annual discussions about the loud noise the cycles make as they parade through the village and the rural corners of Kent.

The Board of Selectmen discussed how to deal with the problem at the regular meeting on Tuesday, May 4, at Town Hall.

First Selectman Bruce Adams said he has been approached by three merchants about the noise levels.

“I reminded representatives from the state police at Troop L that they are supposed to enforce [the noise ordinance],�Adams said.

He then recounted a conversation he had recently with a group of eight bikers parked on Main Street.

“I told them I wanted to ask them a question and they looked at me like ‘Who the heck are you?’� Adams said. “I told them who I was and that merchants were concerned about the noise levels from the motorcycles.

“They suggested that several very visible signs throughout town asking to reduce the motorcycle noise level would be effective. I have no idea what the signs would say.�

“Please be quiet!� Selectman Karren Garrity suggested.

Adams said only five merchants in town benefit from motorcyclists riding in town, but would not specify which ones.

“Most of the other merchants have told me that they do not benefit from them at all,� Adams said. “A good majority of the merchants have told me that all the bikers do is take up parking spaces and make noise, and they don’t even shop at the stores.

“Nevertheless,� he stressed, “we want Kent to remain a welcoming, inviting town.�

Adams said he wanted to make it clear that the problem has nothing to do with the bikers themselves or even the number of motorcycles. The concerns center around the noise that many of the bikes make — especially those with the customized exhaust pipes that intentionally elevate the noise level.

“The police will come in, not with decibel meters, but they can pretty much tell,â€� Adams said. “They told me to keep in mind that they will also be ticketing, say, young local drivers who have  a jacked-up pickup truck or an older guy who needs a new muffler. Noise is noise.â€�

Adams said there are state laws about excessive noise from motorcycles, but no local ordinances.

Latest News

Water main cleaning in North Canaan

NORTH CANAAN – Aquarion Water Company today announced a water main cleaning project in the company’s North Canaan system. The project is scheduled to take place from Monday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 16, and is being undertaken to ensure customers in North Canaan continue to receive the highest quality water.

The cleaning for April 1 and April 4 (subject to change) will take place on the following streets:

Keep ReadingShow less
Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less