Ban loud motorcycles from National Parks!

In case you hadn't noticed, there are a whole bunch of Harley riders in the area for a National Harley Owners Group [1] rally.

Earlier last week, the Maryville Daily Times had an article on local noise ordinances [2] and how riders are against them.

According to the article, "All motorcycles sold for road use in the U.S. are subject to federal noise laws keeping them within a certain range of decibels, below 80 decibels from 50 feet away." This apparently doesn't apply to aftermarket equipment, so it's pretty much useless.

Every time we are up in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we encounter the incredible noise from a pack of these guys roaring by on bikes with straight pipes. Even one can hurt your ears. We were up at Townsend yesterday, and it was awful.

Loud motorcycles or any other types of vehicles with loud pipes should be banned from National Parks. It ought to be a $500 fine if you get caught. I guess the wildlife is used to it or has simply fled deeper back into the forest, but it sure is annoying for people trying to enjoy a quiet respite with nature.

What do you think?

(And on a related topic, those guys up on the "Tail of the Dragon" ought to have to sign in at a checkpoint and provide proof of insurance, a medevac deposit, and contact info for their next of kin before being allowed up on the mountain.)