The city is alive. Not alive in the sense that there are millions of people in it. Not alive in the sense that there are millions of vermin, insects, and other parasitic pests and pets. No, alive in the sense that the infrastructure itself directly affects us and our daily routine. Do you live in Manhattan? Yes? Okay, lets run a tiny little experiment. Turn off all of your appliances, music, etc. Don’t worry, I’ll wait….Back from that? Okay, now…open your window…if its’ already open sit quietly for 30 seconds and listen. Do you hear that? Okay…now close your window…big difference huh? That’s what I mean by the city is alive – we’ve got so much infrastructure that the city is literally buzzing with sounds and noise. The bus motor, the taxi cab whizzing by, the car alarm that just went off for the sixth time today, the air conditioning fans at the hospital across the street, the ambulance sirens, the bus again, the drug-addled woman who is screaming out loud while she is on her way to the psychiatry ward, the kneeling bus warning klaxon, the slamming cab doors, the reverberations of the crosswalk signal as another pedestrian bangs on it again, the same car alarm that is now going off for the seventh time today (I’d really like someone to just steal the damned car already), the garbage trucks, the streets sweepers, the traffic, the heavy chains dangling off of the bicycle deliverymen’s waists as they deliver greasy, overcooked Thai food and pizza.
The city is truly alive – this level of noise isn’t good for patients attempting to recover in a hospital. This level of noise isn’t good for students trying to study. The city is constantly marching on time to a cacophonous symphony of transportation, signals, warnings and devices of conveniece.
So how could a city dampen this noise? Well, for starters, better architectural design would help – putting noise shields on HVAC fans and towers, and if possible – locating HVAC equipment in some type of dampening chamber built into the exterior of the building, yet lined with dampening material – or better yet, some type of garden/pond area. Strategic park areas, trees lining the streets, noise shields along the streets, and exterior facades enhanced with greenscapes all could combine to make the areas immediately adjacent to the noisy streets more amenable to a peaceful nights rest.
Now about those damned car alarms. Car alarms should not sound unless the doors have been opened already. They should either page, or telephone the car owner. Car alarms should be able to include some type of mild shock – I truly believe that if you have made the choice to steal someone’s property, you have also disregarded your own bodily safety, and if you get shocked in the middle of the street – well…that’s no one’s fault but your own. Car alarms that go off multiple times per day should be subject to noise ordinance violations. But how you might ask – simple…Around the country, cities are installing microphone/camera combinations. Yes, this is slightly disturbing, thinking of “big brother” watching and listening – but instead it can be used for some good. Anytime a car alarm goes off – the microphones will hear it. The cameras can then swivel to take a picture. Automated license plate readers can see which car it is – if the same car alarm goes off several times per day/night – then a ticket can either be issued by mail – or a parking enforcement officer can be sent to the scene with a cache of the pictures. The officer can then write a ticket in person for the vehicle.
Lastly, on street parking should be completely eliminated for large areas of the city – instead large city-sponsored and run parking garages should be built for the purposes of allowing people to park and ride.
Trains and buses should travel in tunnels – the only places they should ever communicate with the outside is at stops. By designing bus and train stops to minimize noise, we can keep the city much quieter (or at least my street) Also by sequestering buses and trains to their own little areas of the roads, we can make transit MUCH more efficient than driving or taking a taxi – which cuts down on the need to do either one.
Lastly, the taxi cabs. Taxi cabs should have their horns disabled…flat out. I think that would go very far to solve the problem of taxicabs…
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