LebGeeks

rolf

Member

How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

This is a geek forum, but people have been posting other stuff here.
Since I am not sure where to start, I figured I'd do the same.

My room has a door to a balcony, and directly in that axis, there is a small roundabout where 3 roads intersect.

It seems that every once in a while, cars driven by great people who are very intelligent and have a lot of interesting things to do in their life, power drift their car on that roundabout, at late hours of the night, creating amounts of stress, annoyance, anger, unrest for no useful purpose except maybe them living out some kind of racing champion delusion.

I would also get annoyed (with the whole neighborhood, no doubt) by motorbikes, with their exhaust removed (or fallen off or whatever), also driving up and down that road (surely for very important reasons) at late hours of the night.

Once I saw one of these on the street, they were ridden by a couple of teenagers. I don't hear them anymore now. Now that winter has come and school has started, I guess their mommy makes them sleep before 9 PM. They also don't like the cold wind to dry their delicate hands.

So anyway, now that I have painted a picture of the situation, I am wondering if anyone knows what to do about this

I fantasize about dropping rocks on them and other creative "solutions", however fantasizing does not seem to change anything to the situation.

Maybe I can take a video and try to capture the license plate, then something can be done.
Does anyone have experience or stories to tell or ideas on this topic?

Last edited by rolf (November 23 2017)

Draguen

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

hey, easiest answer would be investing in double glazing windows and a good pair of ear plugs. i'm sure that by doing that, you will greatly reduce the annoyance.

now one step above would be to get noise cancelling earphones that can be used for sleeping such as these :

https://www.nosleeplessnights.com/headp … -sleeping/

however be prepared to pay a lot of cash and not be fully satisfied, if a friend has a good pair of active noise cancelling headphones, i'd advise to try them out for a night, just to make sure that they block well the sound that bothers you.

if this is still not enough, research "white noise" and either put them through speaker or through earplugs.

Finqlly if all of the above is still not enough, you can go to the dark side, buy or rent a good night cam with infrared, get the drifting cars number and send it to the traffic management unit on facebook, those are the guy that can fine asshole drivers :

https://www.facebook.com/tmclebanon/

yalla good luck

ironman

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

I fantasize about dropping rocks on them and other creative "solutions"

I do that as well....

chosen2k

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Man I understand what you're saying and I have it worst than you. I live next to a major intersection and the quickest honk I hear on average is around 45 seconds. People have serious anger and superiority issues thinking the world evolves around them. I've seen how people drive in other countries and how they respect each other. Once while traveling, I saw a guy closing an intersection and the fight between drivers was like watching a silent movie, it was surreal. During a vacation in Dubai, I didn't hear a horn once.

Thing is, the people just do not care nor have the self control or even driving ethics. (Let's face it, I'm one of them; however i do not use the horn ;) )

I've already installed double glazing, didn't work as expected because when you have 20 cars blasting their horns for 30 seconds at the same time after seeing the light go green no amount of soundproofing will work. So if you find a solution, I'm all in.

samer

Admin

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Instead of reducing the noise, mask it. Distracting noises are not loud on an absolute scale, they are loud relative to the average sound level.  So how do you raise the sound level? Blast some white noise.

I tried many white noise apps but the sound didn't feel right to me. Now I sleep with a fan on, regardless of the season, and it works wonders to mask street noise.

I've also made a project about this a few years ago that took the idea a bit further: https://samer.cc/projects/hover/

I hope this helps–

nas93

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Instead of reducing the noise, mask it. Distracting noises are not loud on an absolute scale, they are loud relative to the average sound level.  So how do you raise the sound level? Blast some white noise.

I tried many white noise apps but the sound didn't feel right to me. Now I sleep with a fan on, regardless of the season, and it works wonders to mask street noise.

I've also made a project about this a few years ago that took the idea a bit further: https://samer.cc/projects/hover/

I hope this helps–

sleeping with a fan on greatly reduced the noise, installing double glazing windows helps as well

rolf

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Thanks for the advice, but I don't want to go out of my way, investing in double glazing and expensive headphones, putting things in my ear, creating noise when I want silence. It would not be an easy solution as it costs money, and not the right way to go down as it enables antisocial behavior.

I dont see what is dark about reporting a nuisance. They must be filmed because they only come a few minutes, so there is no point in calling 999.

Last edited by rolf (November 25 2017)

beezer

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

The fan is the quickest solution, you report their license plate, so what? Think they'll go to their house and arrest them? Take away their license? More will come.

A few years ago a wedding hall opened up 500m away from my place, they built walls which are lower than the speakers so during the summer I hear music until 2am and fireworks anywhere between 11-1am. No one cares about anyone but themselves.

My kids sleep at 8pm, I had to get fans and blast them so they could sleep.

rolf

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Did you try reporting them?
I know that police are not really proactive in this country, however with a little pushing sometimes things get done.
I have to say, the few times that I tried doing something I was greeted with negative attitude. But things changed eventually and I partly contributed. So if you complain, don't expect to be thanked, however it can have an effect especially if several persons complain.

Last edited by rolf (November 27 2017)

nefe_lpmk

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

I live on the Highway , loud sound all day / all night.

My room has a small balcony, so I installed closable curtain glass on the balcony + double glazing on main window.
When both are closed --> it will reduce noise level by 95%.

My opinion is is investing in doing one of these at a time then the other ( start with well installed double glazing). you spend 40% of your time in your room so investing money in your welfare should be priority.

Good luck

rolf

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

My opinion is is investing in doing one of these at a time then the other ( start with well installed double glazing). you spend 40% of your time in your room so investing money in your welfare should be priority.

Definitely, especially if you live next to a highway.
However if you live in a quiet street, and every once in a while a "za3ran" bothers everyone in the middle of the night, I think that's different.

I just want to say, thank you to you and everyone else for the tips.

Last edited by rolf (November 28 2017)

Guitaret

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

This problem is difficult, complicated and all over the globe. Noise pollution is a real dangerous problem and as severe as cancer some may argue.
Reading your feedback helped me feel less desperate about my situation:
3 years ago a tribe of refugees moved in to the apartment beneath mine and it has been difficult ever since especially to someone sensitive to random loud noises like I. Hoard of savage kids running around day and night and so double glazing will not help since the noise is inside the building. The saddest part about the situation is the fact that I paid much of my money renovating the whole place and so I find it difficult to leave it all behind and move in to a new place.
Living in this country feels like filling water in a basket: no matter how much you work hard and plan your life right something will screw it up sooner or later.

Mitigation:
Fan noise is the best but sickly during winter no matter where you point it.
Foam earplugs during sleep but you will feel congested waking up. Those ear plugs are cheap and very effective but it takes a while to know how to use them: You need to master how to shape it right to fill up your ear canal perfectly.
Listening to music.
Leaving TV on.
Having a quiet backup place to escape to. I sleep at my parent's few times a week.
Hoping and praying efficient cheap sleeping capsules get produced :)

Good luck.

chosen2k

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Your post reminded me of this youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IRB0sxw-YU

Guitaret

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Your post reminded me of this youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IRB0sxw-YU

Thank you so much, this video made my day. The dark sarcasm in this piece is hilarious and bone chilling. Cheers.

samer

Admin

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Fan noise is the best but sickly during winter no matter where you point it.

Assuming you have a heater on, wouldn't the fan more effectively circulate the heat in your room and therefore make the temperature more uniform across space?

Guitaret

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Fan noise is the best but sickly during winter no matter where you point it.

Assuming you have a heater on, wouldn't the fan more effectively circulate the heat in your room and therefore make the temperature more uniform across space?

I am not imformed of the thermodynamics behind this but it never felt that way in our cold concrete buildings. Perhaps in a well heated insulated place this can take place.
Anyway thanks for pointing that out.

Jerome

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Fan noise is the best but sickly during winter no matter where you point it.

Assuming you have a heater on, wouldn't the fan more effectively circulate the heat in your room and therefore make the temperature more uniform across space?

I am not imformed of the thermodynamics behind this but it never felt that way in our cold concrete buildings. Perhaps in a well heated insulated place this can take place.
Anyway thanks for pointing that out.

You can think of it like this: Moving air is a great thermal conductor. Non moving air is a great insulator, that is how double glazed windows work.

xazbrat

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Fan noise is the best but sickly during winter no matter where you point it.

Assuming you have a heater on, wouldn't the fan more effectively circulate the heat in your room and therefore make the temperature more uniform across space?

I am not imformed of the thermodynamics behind this but it never felt that way in our cold concrete buildings. Perhaps in a well heated insulated place this can take place.
Anyway thanks for pointing that out.

I think it is the second law p.  Keep in mind that hot air rises and cold air sinks---all you want to do is get the cold air which pools near where you sit to the warmer air which is hovering near the ceiling being useless to the occupants in the room.  Just point the ceiling fan slightly upwards and you will be amazed on how much the room gets warmer.  If otoh you have a ceiling fan, reverse the flow ie, have the fan go counterclockwise, and you get a similar effect.

Guitaret

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

I am sure the generic theory here is not enough for your claims as you need to try harder with the parameters at hand.
So for a room of 4m2 x 4m2 x 3m2 using an electric heater of 1000W (if the generator subscription allows it) in a cold night temperature of 10°C and humidity of 75%, you are telling me that I won't wake up feeling cold and sick. Please guys do the setup and let me know how it feels or you can re-quote what I said earlier:

I am not informed of the thermodynamics behind this ... Perhaps in a well heated insulated place this can take place.

Anyway to get back to the main issue at hand, the fan thingy is not a good solution for noise pollution when it is cold.

samer

Admin

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

I already have that setup and it works pretty well for me with an outside temperature of 0ºC and 80% humidity. My heater is constantly on the lowest setting and the fan does a great job at blocking street noise. I have to mention that my room is very well insulated so your mileage may vary.

Just point the ceiling fan slightly upwards and you will be amazed on how much the room gets warmer.

Good point. I'll try that tonight.

rolf

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

I always believed that this was not an acceptable place to live, be based in, have a family, during the civil war years.

However I now realize that the war ended, but no progress has been made. The government is as negligent and absent in filling it's duties nowadays as it was back then.

A logical outcome of this reasoning is that it is still not acceptable to have a normal life in this country nowadays. Yet I am here now, so as long as I am staying here, I cannot accept this status quo, so I guess I have to do something about it.

The sound nuisance problem previously discussed is one of the symptoms of this root problem that I was talking about. Another symptom is the "garbage crisis" that was had here a few years ago.

This feels reasonable to me. Does anyone have something to suggest, or is able to help in some way?
After all most of us live in Lebanon, we would all benefit from some progress.

Last edited by rolf (February 3 2018)

Jerome

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

This feels reasonable to me. Does anyone have something to suggest, or is able to help in some way?
After all most of us live in Lebanon, we would all benefit from some progress.

Start with yourself. That is what I'm doing.

Even if everyone is throwing his trash on the street, keep it till you find a bin.
Even if you feel everyone will judge you if you say you support (gay rights, civil marriage, whatever..), say it like it should be the norm.
Even if your whatever relative third cousin is running for elections, and all your family is pressuring you to vote for him, don't unless you think he is the best candidate.

Now imagine everyone forcing progress like this. We might get somewhere. To change society change yourself, or else everyone is just nagging about it.

Guitaret

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

This feels reasonable to me. Does anyone have something to suggest, or is able to help in some way?
After all most of us live in Lebanon, we would all benefit from some progress.

I am not sure if you are referring to the main issue of the thread or the poor quality of life in this country. All in all, you should focus on changing yourself not the world. To tell you the truth, I have been always keen on the idea that it is possible for one to reprogram his brain to better fit his environment without letting go of his standards. To be honest, I couldn't be satisfied in my attempts of doing so. I am always in a struggle, always telling myself that I can be more immune and less sensitive like some folks I see. Maybe I am wrong and all are in the same or similar struggle, maybe I have to learn to live with this struggle and accept as part of my identity. What are we exactly without our past and current struggles? I could not guess. Sometimes I wish I suppress less and that I shouldn't back down on what irritates me, my time is limited, I could not wait for my inner peace forever.
Sometimes we forget that we pursuit satisfaction and not the absolute justice, otherwise why we only care about what causes we only perceive and not the other billion causes on this planet? It is all about perception and this is why we suddenly feel better about life after going out and having fun with friends. Please remember to have fun as it always alters your perception, and teach yourself how to have fun because no one knows what that is to you except you.

Regarding noise pollution, I suffer from same problem and I wish my brain did not care about this like other members in my family but now I teach myself to be more relaxed about it. The key thing I found out is that I find the noise to be personal and that I did bind it with other grudges I have towards the people that makes this noise and so I did contribute in amplifying my torment. This is very interesting because I found out that this noise did not bother me, nor I even noticed it on many occasions while I was outside home. I am truly convinced that my pain is personal and is dominated by my dislike towards the people who make it and this is why I only notice it at home. Home is the place where you anticipate bad stuff to happen only because you want it to be your safe heaven and because major part of you bad memories has taken place in it.

Someone suggested Mantra to me and so I will try it, and I will keep you posted about my progress in my struggle and hopefully I can make an achievement without waiting years.

Jerome

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Regarding noise pollution, I suffer from same problem and I wish my brain did not care about this like other members in my family but now I teach myself to be more relaxed about it. The key thing I found out is that I find the noise to be personal and that I did bind it with other grudges I have towards the people that makes this noise and so I did contribute in amplifying my torment. This is very interesting because I found out that this noise did not bother me, nor I even noticed it on many occasions while I was outside home. I am truly convinced that my pain is personal and is dominated by my dislike towards the people who make it and this is why I only notice it at home.

That also applies to getting angry at traffic. Some just view cars as moving objects, others view them as people who intend to make your life difficult.

rolf

Member

Re: How to deal with sound nuisance from cars and motorcycles

Uh both of you tell me to change myself, not the world.
I don't see how that helps.
We all share the space. Some persons try to make the world a better place, to improve it, maybe make it cleaner, greener and improve the quality of life for everyone.
Others shit on everyone by being bothersome, very selfish and making the quality of life worse for everyone.

Who would you like to change?

And also which one is more practical/cheaper/feasible?
To control sound nuisance levels in a neighborhood from 2 or three persons, or to install double glazing in all houses in the neighborhood (20+ buildings)?
To control air pollution level, or to research genetic solution for growing a third lung, or finding a cure to lung cancer?

It's all good, to be zen, to try to adapt. However we are all affected by our environment, we don't live in a void.
If you are satisfied with the environment and your relationship to it, then be it. I am not, on the other hand.

If we accept to live in bad conditions, then it is only logical that we would accept to make others live in bad conditions, in a way contributing to reproduce this problem.

By the way, I'm glad that you would not be throwing trash on the street, being tolerant, etc. I am like this too, and I am happy that more are like this and appreciate it.

Last edited by rolf (February 5 2018)