Motorcycles with a noise level above 95 dB will not be able to travel on certain Tyrolean passes. Taken last year, the decision was also confirmed for 2021 and future years, but the correlation between the drop in noise recorded in 2020 and the drop in tourism due to the health crisis remains unclear.
Tyrol confirms the decision taken in June last year, announcing that the noise limit set at 95 dB will remain in force for the coming years. The decision was taken to prevent motorcycles deemed too noisy from traveling on specific sections of road located between the passes.
According to the Austrian decree, “Due to the considerable noise pollution for the population residing in the Reutte district, from April 15 to October 31 of each year from 2021, driving bans for particularly noisy motorcycles will be valid (Emission of 95 dB or more )”.
The decision to extend this ban also to the coming years is based on the evaluation of data collected with residents of the Ausserfern region, where last year motorcycle traffic decreased by around 36%. This reduction having led to a reduction in the noise level of around 2 dB, the clear majority of those questioned declared themselves in favor of the traffic limitation, while admitting for 46% of those questioned that this on the other hand implied losses for the tourism sector. However, given the health emergency, the role played by the ban is still doubtful both in terms of noise in the neighborhood and in terms of loss of turnover for hoteliers and restaurateurs.
“The results of this evaluation were predictable and do not surprise me,” said Karin Munk, general secretary of Arge 2Rad (an Austrian motorcycle association). “In Tyrol, around 70% of motorcycle tourists come from Germany. To the dismay of traders and tour operators, also for reasons related to Coronavirus, many groups have canceled their reservations, regardless of the noise level of the motorcycle. It is evident that the reduction in the influx of tourists has also led to a reduction in noise emissions.”
Regarding the possible extension of the ban to other regions, Karin Munk emphasized that the current one should be understood as a ban limited both in space and time and, therefore, “any extension thereof must necessarily be preceded and followed by new evaluations, for which the European Court of Justice is responsible”.
To be continued!
