Urban Mobility 2011 | September 25, 2011 | 4 comments

Noise Pollution and Personal Rapid Transit

Traffic noise is a common complaint among urban commuters. Along with the many damaging physical health problems, prolonged excessive noise exposure can also cause severe psychological problems including aggression, high stress levels and depression. Crowded cities suffer the most from noise polluting issues from construction machine to sirens to honking horns it would seem escaping the daily noises in your average urban area would be impossible. However, some cities have taken a harsh position against noise pollution in an effort to promote green living.

Portland, OR, is known as one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world, in fact it has some of the strongest investments in alternative transportation systems, including light-rail projects and bio-diesel fueled buses. It is no wonder, then, that Portland also has some of the oldest noise-pollution laws in the country. These laws limit everything from the decibel levels of your leaf blower to regulations on the sound output on a construction site and with fines of upwards of $5,000 per infraction; Portland has some of the toughest noise ordinance laws on the books.

As seen in the Personal Rapid Transit video, transportation services like the PRT, monorail or light-rail systems are quieter modes a key component in urban mobility innovation. Aside from tough fines and alternative transport, what are some other steps we can take to minimize noise pollution in our neighborhoods?

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    Community,   News and Politics,   Music,   Tech,   3 more
  2. tags:
    Transportation,  Urban,  City,  Urban Planning,  3 more
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