Living in the City : What makes the city loud? Obviously it is Cars and Motorcycles!
Living in a large, populated city full of skyscrapers in Indonesia could be one of the greatest things we could dream of because it is full of facilities such as healthcare, lifestyle, education, and a lot of work possibilities. However, there is a significant downside that some of my friends around me are considering leaving the city because of one thing.
That thing is the quietness and peaceful vibes they seek, which makes them want to leave the city. Personally, it could be one of the reasons if I ever decide to leave a big city, such as Jakarta, Surabaya, or any other metropolitan city with a high population density in Indonesia. What exacerbates the situation in Indonesia is the dependence on self-driven transportation, such as cars and motorcycles (if it’s Indonesia).
It makes cities more crowded and harder to live peacefully. Cars passing through the streets make people wary of the emissions from the internal combustion engines that produce them. It becomes really hard to breathe when the pollution is coming directly to my face, and it is hazardous to my health in the long run.
However, one major aspect that truly irked me during my time living in a densely populated area with many car and motorcycle owners was the noise.
Yes, the incessant noise and din from cars and motorcycles genuinely infuriated me, even after living in one of Indonesia’s most populous cities for nearly 26 years. Based on the video from Just Not Bikes, where it discusses what makes the noise of the city, I can relate. Imagine living in the city and walking in the crowded streets without any cars or motorcycles; sure, it is still loud, but it is still manageable. However, when cars and motorcycles are involved, it becomes another story. The sound coming from the horn, the engine sound, as well as the sound from the muffler, becomes irrelevant for humans to hear.
On some Saturdays, I plan to visit one of the renowned universities in my city for my jog since the jogging track I usually use is currently reserved by the government. Since it’s a university, there are often people there, either running, engaging in activities, or simply enjoying the lake’s scenery. I’ve noticed that even when there are around 30 to 50 people present, the atmosphere remains relatively quiet. However, whenever motorcycles and cars pass through the area, it becomes abruptly noisy.
Based on the video from Just Not Bikes, it is stated that long-term exposure to high noise can lead to heart disease, hypertension, elevated stress levels, and faster cognitive decline. Noise also disrupts sleep and can impact its quality, eventually contributing to cardiovascular issues, focus problems, and even obesity. Where noises over about 85 dB can cause hearing loss.
The primary culprits behind urban noise pollution are cars and other vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines.
How can we effectively reduce noise levels in our cities, enhancing our quality of life and reducing stress?
References :
- Not Just Bikes Youtube Channel : Cities Aren’t Loud : Cars Are Loud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTV-wwszGw8&t=54s
