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GEORGE NEWS - George Herald has received numerous complaints about excessive motorbike noise in the city. 

"George is being ruined by noisy motorbikes. Authorities are doing nothing to control this behaviour. I'm sure I am not the only resident who feels this way," one complaint reads. 

Bikers often race at breakneck speed down CJ Langenhoven Street late at night and early on Sunday mornings.

The complaints started pouring in after a neighbour of the Bikers Church in George-East contacted the George Herald about the noise at the premises in Third Street.

Director of Protection Services Steven Erasmus said it is an offence to operate a vehicle on a public road causing excessive noise due to accessories or methods being applied. 

"The excessive noise is measured by means of specialised equipment. The traffic department is aware that in some instances motor enthusiasts do improve the performance of their vehicles, which then leads to a much louder noise from the vehicle. 

"In the case of motorcycles, which have high revving engines, the noise would then be much louder than in the case of motorcars - which leads to complaints of noise pollution," he explained. 

According to Erasmus, the traffic department will continue to monitor the situation and he encourages complainants to help them address the issue by contacting them directly with as much detail as possible of the noisy incidents. The current fine is R500.

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Paul Williams, Bikers Church pastor, said while many Georgians focus on the negatives of motorbikers, they fail to see the good deeds done by the motorbike community to contribute to communities, such as their affiliation with charity projects within schools, and blankets and toy handouts.

But the question remains: Is it necessary to chase good deeds at 160km in a 60km zone?

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