So, I anxiously await summer. That time when bees buzz, birds chirp, gentle breezes blow and I can sit on my deck and enjoy the lovely summer sounds while I read in relative peace. Then came the new expansion joints on the McKay Bridge. Now, with each car that passes over the bridge, you hear two sets of thunderous “ka-chunks” as the wheels pass over these horrible, evil, deafening widgets that are supposed to make the bridge “new and improved”. Did anyone TEST these things before they were installed? An internet surf uncovered cities far and wide also encountering this form of noise pollution, and some of the cities were able to rectify the situation. Why didn’t the Bridge Commission know about this flaw? Or did they and simply did not care? To our Bridge Commission and the powers that be – DO SOMETHING. North Enders are now barraged with this horrendous cacophony of thumps, multiplied by a thousand each day. Sleep is disrupted, backyard enjoyment is now impossible. I bet if this were happening in the South End, it would be solved in a jiffy. Happy Freakin’ Summer. —Ear Plug Girl
This article appears in Jul 21-27, 2011.
I’m not feeling much sympathy here, it’s a city, there will always be noise from all angles and that will never change. Once the bridge commission fixes this problem undoubtedly there will be some other nuisance that you will find to complain about. You knew that noise from the bridge would be constant, clanking, sirens, horns, and the loudest of all the exhaust brakes on tractor trailers. If you didn’t foresee this being a problem you are an idiot!!!
Yes OP, I can see that bridge noise drowning out the summertime symphony of sirens, gunfire and the bass-laden stylings of some urban artiste who “got rich and died tryin” would be a major quality of life issue. Props for trying to bring class war into the argument, as well. Have you considered spray painting “Die Yuppie Scum” on the bridge pylons.
OMFG…seriously? You’re honestly going to bitch about this? FFS, what do you expect when you live under a bridge?? I think I would much rather hear the “thunderous ka-chunks” and the “horrendous cacophony of thumps multiplied by a thousand” as traffic moves along safely over new expansion joints, than the thunderous ka-booms and horrendous cacophony of thuds as cars fall into your backyard when the bridge deck fails and collapses. Do you even know what an expansion joint is? It’s designed to prevent the bridge from shaking itself to oblivion with the vibrations of passing traffic and high winds. They move and therefore, wear. They have to be replaced on a regular basis or they fail. Shame on the bridge commission for not speaking to you first before installing these VITAL STRUCTURAL AND SAFETY COMPONENTS! And if they HAD gone for an unnecessary, less noisy but more expensive alternative, you’d probably be the first one to complain that they didn’t look for a more cost effective solution and are wasting money and “fuck, now they’re increasing the tolls again!” Expectation of a serene, peaceful, idyllic summer time scene where you only hear buzzing bees, chirping birds and gentle breezes when you live under/next to one of two bridges that service a busy metropolitan centre is fucking ludicrous. Get over yourself. If you don’t like it, MOVE! BTW, when they start replacing the deck on the MacDonald in the South end next year, the MacKay is going to be a shit-load more noisy than it is now. Hope you can somehow cope.
I love city noise 🙂 really! I can’t stand when it’s quiet, it freaks me the fuck out and I feel like I’m going to get raped at any moment. More noise = people alive = more people to get raped that aren’t me = 7.6
lolz And noise also lets you know that the zombies haven’t taken over yet. 😛
I’m in the North End and I don’t hear this.
don’t leave home… or live in fairview… without it.
http://gizmodo.com/5815033/ka+bar-zk-knive…
avast0 – “what do you expect when you live under a bridge??”
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/431843…
that book scared the bejeesuz out of me when i was little and what clint said
completely unrelated, but any news on when/where the next bitchers summit is planned? I think there was talk about one at some point in July; must have missed it if it did happen.
we haven’t had a major summit just minis, i think we have a new place. pretty kitty is our summit leader
Oh, how could I forget that one, B!
thanks! Off to sea again at some point next week so I’ll keep an eye out. (here’s where I was on the previous trip; just got back. https://picasaweb.google.com/pmeslin/Tully… )
Maes,
By the looks of things you’re having far too much fun at work.
Alright bitchers: if I don’t have your contact, either on FB or email, email me at prettykittylady@gmail.com to get details on the next summit if you’re interested.
For the rest of y’all who I do have contact info for — check your FB messages or your email if you don’t have facebook (Ivan — I’ll getatcha through ms bread lady; wheelie — I’ll email ya).
Once I have availabilities, I’ll choose a date that fits best with everyone’s schedule. I’ll also give some details on the proposed location. Said location has a patio AND an alcoholic beverage is included with brunch.
I expect to have a flurry of responses from each and every one of you!!!
<3
Comandante, alas I am usually on the night shift. While I do love my work, 12-14 hour workdays (6PM-6AM, usually) 7 days a week do not offer much margin for leisure. Most of those shots were copied from the daywalkers.
Have a doobie.
OP, they did do SOMETHING: they re-branded, cuz you know they need new logos, they bought new SUV’s to match their egos, they hiked the fees, added more cameras, raised fines and fucked you at the drive-thru.
You expect them to deal with an issue the public may have? The last time a government official dealt with a public concern, hmmmmm, I’m going for a swim at Black Rock Beach while I ponder this.
Hmmm…what’s more important: one person complaining about the noise from a bridge and demanding peace and quiet, or the tens of thousands of people who easily cross over that bridge each day and bringing in revenue. Which is more important? I vote for the bridge. If the OP wants peace and quiet, go to a park. There’s two very close to where he/she lives.