Tulum Residents Demand Stricter Motorcycle Noise Controls

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Residents in Tulum are speaking out against worsening noise pollution from motorcycles, especially those with open or modified exhaust systems designed to produce louder sound.

The problem goes beyond the racket, according to Mariano Sosa Dorantes, a local resident, who said the increasing number of motorcycles poses risks to public safety due to street racing and vehicles that fail to comply with regulations.

“I have always been against anything that is not legal. If you do something outside the law, obviously the authorities have to intervene,” Sosa Dorantes said.

He said the city needs specific rules for motorcycles covering noise, circulation and road safety. He also warned that bikes endanger pedestrians and drivers, particularly at intersections without traffic lights, and called on authorities to step up patrols to prevent frequent accidents.

Sosa Dorantes also pointed to the growing number of workshops that repair and modify motorcycles, a trend tied to the rapid increase in bikes across Tulum.

“Motorcycles are proliferating. They are cheap, because anyone can buy one, but there has to be control,” he said.

Another resident, Eduardo Cruz, recalled that months ago officers launched an operation against motorcycles with excessively noisy exhausts and warned owners of possible penalties. But he said enforcement has not been consistent.

“What is the point of having regulations if citizens ignore them and authorities ignore them? Then those regulations do not exist. They have to be enforced,” Cruz said.

Cruz described the motorcycle noise as “tremendous,” adding that it is the municipal government’s job to enforce existing rules and keep inspection operations running.

Residents agreed that the fast growth in motorcycle use in Tulum makes stronger regulation necessary, particularly on exhaust noise, traffic and road safety, in order to reduce disturbances to the public and prevent crashes.