Cruise night noise irks area residents

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/09/2021 (1482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

We have been receiving many complaints over the needless noise disturbing our neighbourhoods on Sunday cruise night.  

People in Wolseley and the West End can’t even sit outside on some Sunday nights because of the noise created by the vehicles during night cruises. Residents say that stopping and starting and the revving roar of engines can be extremely noisy.  

Most often the noise complaints stem from vehicles that have been modified to purposefully make noise. There are a range of after-market exhaust systems car owners can buy to produce an increased roar.  

At City Centre community committee, I moved to have the Winnipeg Public Service look into the costs of noise-monitoring technology and its potential use to inform and guide traditional enforcement measures.

I understand from my fellow councillors that this is also a problem in other wards.

In Edmonton, police have linked noise-monitoring technology to photo enforcement to issue tickets for noise pollution.  In Winnipeg, photo enforcement falls under provincial jurisdiction and the province has told the city it will not consider bringing in a similar program.

This motion directs the public service to look into testing the technology, to see how it is used elsewhere and how it could be implemented here. We hope it can be used as a deterrent to supplement the enforcement we have in Winnipeg and help crack down on this noise problem.

I am not looking to end Sunday cruise night but I certainly want to find ways that motorists can enjoy the night without disturbing residents who live along Portage Avenue.  

Now that our kids are back in school please slow down on our streets – no one wants to see our children injured.  Remember that reduced speed limits in school zones, with a maximum speed of 30 km/h, are in effect from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday from September to June.

We all want our neighbourhoods and communities to be safe and work for everyone whether you are walking, cycling, or driving a car. Let’s look out for each other.