The Editor,
I am writing in response to a letter to the editor that was published in your paper on December 15 by Kristy Liashenko. In her letter, Ms. Liashenko, stated that since living in Estevan she has been bothered by the retarder brake noise and wishes that Estevan would create a law that engine retarder brakes would not be allowed in city limits.
After my husband and I got married we decided to move into Estevan for convenience and we would be closer to activities and family, we decided after long thought and consideration to purchase a home on Fourth Street. We were well aware of all the negatives and positives of living on the busiest street in Saskatchewan, but we decided we could live with our decision.
Now I have been a resident of Estevan and area all my life and I am fully aware of engine retarder brakes, the many trains that travel our city (mainly through heavy traffic times, it seems) and the increase of general traffic noise in our fine city.
Since moving into Estevan three years ago, we have noticed a definite increase in traffic and noise. Again, we are well aware of our location and general street noise and traffic does not bother us. What I am writing this letter for is to bring to light the other noise that is not only bothersome, but disrespectful and downright rude.
I have been doing some research into traffic noise levels and bylaws in other Canadian cities since being bothered by the other extra noises I have discovered while living on Fourth Street. And, I have discovered that there are very few cities in Canada with traffic noise bylaws. Edmonton was one of the first cities in North America (according to an article in the National Post, June 11, 2010) to create a traffic noise bylaw that makes excess traffic noise a fineable offence. Calgary soon followed with their version of a traffic noise violation bylaw. I do not think it would out of line for the councillors of our city to take a look at their traffic noise bylaws as an example of what we could do.
I have gone through the bylaws of our city and I cannot find one that specifically enforces the issues I have with the traffic in our city. I also, know that to enforce said issue would cost us more money, but when it is disruptive to many residents of our city, I think it is worth looking at. Because I live on Fourth Street, I know the issue is here, but discussing my aggravation with friends, I know it is an issue in residential areas as well.
With the oilfield business and population increases comes with extra traffic noises and, hate to say it, but with increase of oilfield employees comes larger, faster and louder vehicles. Since my husband and I work in our main industry, I don't believe I am being prejudiced to this particular industry, I believe it is a fact.
So, to address the letter Ms. Liashenko wrote a few weeks ago, the above cities enforce their noise bylaws by using the following as the measurement:
Loud and excessive noise can be characterized as noise that becomes a nuisance to the general public, taking into consideration the nature, location, time and proximity of the source to residents and members of the public. An example of this would include a loud auto stereo or car, truck or motorcycle exhaust emitting sound to the extent it disturbs patrons at a café, nearby residents or other motorists on the roadway. (From the City of Edmonton website)
Noise can include, but is not limited to, yelling, shouting, loud music, horns, power tools and air conditioners.
You have the right not to be disturbed by noise.
You have the responsibility to not make noise that disturbs others.
Between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. on Sunday and holidays, you may not operate:
A hand lawn mower
A motorized garden tool
A power tool outside of any building or structure
A model aircraft driven by an internal combustion engine of any kind
A snow clearing device powered by an engine of any kind (snow clearing devices are exempt during the 48 hour period following a snowfall)
A motorized snow or leaf blowing device
You may not operate an outdoor speaker system within 150 meters of a residential development between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday through Sunday. (From the City of Calgary website.)
My personal opinion is that I would rather hear engine retarder brakes all night than the questionable music stylings and sound level, squealing of tires and the (hopefully) unofficial Fourth Street racetrack.
Now to clarify that it is not all traffic on Fourth Street that has me irritated, as I chose to live where I do, but it is a select few that have shown they have no regard or concern for their fellow citizens and neighbours. There are only a few drivers on our streets that are so disrespectful that they have woken our baby, rattled our windows and the largest bother is the fact that quite a few mornings in a week, I have to readjust the pictures on my walls.
When the traffic noise and stereo levels are so loud that through triple paned windows I have to readjust my wall hangings, I happen to believe our city has a problem.
I know that this issue also brings to light the summer hobby of many friends which causes me some concern as well; but, to clarify, I love motorbikes and believe that the sights and sounds of motorbikes are the true sign of perfect weather, but when my neighbours feel it appropriate to rev their engines for over five minutes (there are times it has been up to 45 minutes) on a quiet and peaceful Sunday afternoon, I have a problem. They would be put in the same category as the disrespectful drivers that I started this letter about.
The solution I have come up with may cause some issue in the city, but in my moments of frustration I think it would be a delightful idea, so if you are driving down Fourth Street and later see that you have a pink paint splat from what appears to be from a paintball gun, you may have disrupted at least one citizen.
Carmella Mack
Estevan
