>I find it amusing that people purposely move into dense urban cities, then complain about all the noise. Like what did you expect?

This is a defeatist attitude. You could have made the same comment a hundred years ago except replace "noise" with "smog", yet clean air regulations improved the lives of billions. Cities aren't necessarily loud; most of the noise comes from cars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTV-wwszGw8

Yes, I agree. Visit at any big German city on a Sunday. It is a semi-religious tradition to be quiet on Sundays (and national holidays). Even as a tourist, it was impressive! And, Germany also heavily regulates aftermarket parts for cars -- so there are almost no "rumblers" to be heard.

Tokyo is also amazingly quiet for its size and density. Just one block away from any major thoroughfare will be pleasantly quiet, but can have a lively high street with shopping, restaurants, bars, and cafes (called "sho-ten-gai").

A long time ago, I read a study about noise from high speed roads (freeways, expressways, auto-bahn, etc.) and the effect on people who live near them. They have (statistically significant) higher levels of stress, and all of the negative mental and physical effects that come with it. This is one of the major benefits from using special low-noise cement or asphalt, or trees / shrubs / barriers to reduce noise effects on people who live very close.

Finally, I'm excited for a future where more cars, trucks, and buses are electric. It will certainly make cities more quiet and livable.

> Finally, I'm excited for a future where more cars, trucks, and buses are electric. It will certainly make cities more quiet and livable.

What makes you think electric cars are not going to be modified? Have you ever unwound an electric motor to increase its performance and heard the noise it makes? It’s much louder. Have you heard the electric drag cars? They are also not very quiet.

A significant percentage of the noise is being generated by people who live outside the city and drive in.

Rural person here. My personal favorite is when people move to old subdivided farm properties, then bitch endlessly to their township supervisors that the remaining farms around them generate manure smells. Also, they're used to city lights, so they put up dozens of external lights on poles and light up the whole countryside because they're scared of the dark. It's night, people. The deer and the raccoons don't care about you.

This one made me laugh yesterday

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/golf-ball-causes-6-000-damage-to-...

What about those of us born in New York who have found that it's gotten significantly noisier recently, particularly during covid