But the most significant change in modern science is not just about the amount of noise, but how we experience it. Noise is no longer understood solely as a problem that affects hearing, it is also recognised as a systemic environmental pollutant. Transport noise is now one of the leading environmental cause of illness in Europe, second only to air pollution.

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[–] 4 points 1 day ago (1 child)

The stats sound about right, based on general world experience.

What those don't address is quantity per category. There's way more cars than motorbikes on the roads (in Switzerland and most EU/North America areas).

The loudest part of a car is usually (assuming it's got a legal muffler) the wheels in contact while rolling at speed. So, while few cars might be breaking a sound law individually, the sheer quantity of cars driving fast makes for the general cacophony you hear in the city. It's then punctuated with motorbikes, car horns, and leaf blowers. That basic rumble you can never escape is just the tires of the cars rolling along.

Also assholes playing loud music. The only reason for that is because you're attention starved. Turn the music down and go get a hug you dicks.

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  • [–] 1 point 12 hours ago*

    What those don't address is quantity per category. There's way more cars than motorbikes on the roads (in Switzerland and most EU/North America areas).

    This is an important factor. Most of the comments seem to be fixating on motorbikes as one of the biggest sources of noise pollution based on sound intensity. I understand this, but it doesn't speak to my experience.

    From my apartment I can rarely hear a motorbike, while the car noise is near-constant. I sometimes close my windows during the day specifically because of this. I find it overstimulating not due to its intensity, but due to the unending nature of it. 'That basic rumble you can never escape' is a good way to put it.

    So, for someone in the same situation (which would be most people living in a city) removing noise caused by cars would lead to a much more significant quality-of-life improvement compared to removing its motorbike counterpart. Even if motorbikes are louder.

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