Council urged to take bold moves to eliminate motorcycle noise downtown 

Downtown residents had a message for Springfield City Council at its meeting last night: Something must be done about motorcycle noise. 

During the public comment portion of the council meeting, four speakers told council that motorcycle noise had become intolerable.  

James Wilson, who said his apartment faces Park Central Square, said the problem was not a minor one as he described what he called a pack of 15 motorcycles that roars down St. Louis Street starting around 5:30 p.m. 

“They make it impossible for pedestrians or patrons sitting at sidewalk tables to hear one another – also in my kitchen,” he said. “Those of us who by choice live or work downtown are not easily disturbed, but this is a bridge too far.” 

Wilson had a bold proposal: to close the square to motorcycles at night. 

“I hear nothing but motorcycles,” he said, noting the noise is the worst between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. “I don’t hear a car – I barely hear an ambulance – but the motorcycles are just incredibly noisy.” 

He added that he moved to the square because he wants to encourage downtown, and he would like to see the most traffic possible. 

“It seems to me that it’s high time that the latter-day Bald Knobber night riders lose their practically unrestricted immunity,” Wilson said. 

Councilmember Brandon Jenson said he heard similar concerns during a meeting with residents of the Heer’s Luxury Living apartment building on the city’s square. 

Jenson said the noise is a quality of life and public safety issue, but it is also an economic issue. 

“I just wanted to make sure that we underscored that point, because I’ve heard folks in the community and some folks on staff respond to these concerns, saying that you live in an urban environment; this is what you should expect,” he said. “But this is, I think, to a level that is actually holding our downtown back from being the best it can be.” 

Councilmember Abe McGull, a former resident of New Orleans, said that city closed streets in the French Quarter to traffic, and he added that he has been talking to the Downtown Springfield Association about the possibility of closing off the square to all traffic at night. 

“That’s what we did in New Orleans, and I think it would work here, too,” he said. 

Asked by Mayor Ken McClure about the feasibility of closing the square to traffic during specified hours, City Manager Jason Gage said it was possible. 

“Practically, I would think you could,” he said. 

City Attorney Jordan Paul agreed. 

“The streets are yours to regulate how you wish,” he said. “I would think there would be significant enforcement challenges.” 

Duane Keys, a resident of the West Central neighborhood, said the problem is more than an inconvenience, but a threat to health and well-being. 

“For many of our residents, these disturbances go beyond a mere nuisance,” he said. “The relentless noise and constant presence of these vehicles can lead to a heightened stress, anxiety and other mental health issues, particularly for those who are already vulnerable.” 

He suggested Springfield pursue solutions other cities have used. For example, he said in New York City, law enforcement officials confiscate and destroy illegally used dirt bikes and ATVs. 

Councilmember Monica Horton said the issue is really a conversation about the philosophy of urban design around the city center. 

“There’s a line of demarcation in terms of do we want to become more car-centric, motor-centric, or do we want to become more pedestrian friendly and pedestrian focused?” she asked. 

Public input received during the Forward SGF comprehensive plan process revealed that a public common spaces are a community standard, she said. 

Council did not announce any action on the suggestions during the meeting.