November 20, 2015 – Barking dogs, beeping vehicles backing up, construction, garbage trucks, helicopters, horn honking, idling buses and trucks, loud talking, motorcycles, music and noise from businesses, and seemingly ubiquitous emergency vehicle sirens.

Noise is now on the radar of four downtown neighborhood advocacy groups, including River North Residents Association. RNRA is asking residents to answer 15 questions, online, by Monday, about noise in River North. The questions are about which, if any, noises bother residents, how the noise affects them, and what, if anything, they did about it.

Results of the survey will be used, says RNRA president Mike Riordan, “in our future discussions with public safety leaders, both fire and police, and city agency and elected officials to see what we can all do to reduce noise pollution.”

A quieter downtown could be achieved, says Riordan, through enforcement, such as ticketing racing motorcyclists, or education – perhaps emergency vehicles don’t always need the siren.

The responses will be compiled and published on RNRA’s website. Other organizations participating in the survey include Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, Cityfront Center East Maintenance Association, which represents the mixed-use building at 401 East Illinois Street, and New Eastside Association of Residents.

 Website: Community survey on noise