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Zürich voters ban noisy leaf blowers

swissinfo.ch

101–110 of 149 posts

Re: Zürich voters ban noisy leaf blowers

#101

I live in a very leafy area with a lot of deciduous forest cover, so we're no stranger to leaves. I have never understood leafblowing. It seems like such busy work. It's not hugely common here but I have seen people carefully shepherding leaves into little piles on pathways, battling against the entropy of a light breeze. I'm sure there's a good reason but it always just seems like the ultimate expression of man tryi…

I basically live in the forest and get an unreasonable amount of leaves each autumn. Most of these leaves are also from oak and do not decompose well, leaving the lawn a mess in the spring. Using a rake is unreasonable for me, and a leaf blower saves me many, many hours each year that I can spend better elsewhere.

Re: Zürich voters ban noisy leaf blowers

#103
post #67

Are many HN members in Zürich? I was suprised to see this type of news with so many points, though it's quite amusing to see the mixture of different topics in the front page.

I think many HN readers have a sensitivity to noise.

[dead]

Re: Zürich voters ban noisy leaf blowers

#104

I live in a very leafy area with a lot of deciduous forest cover, so we're no stranger to leaves. I have never understood leafblowing. It seems like such busy work. It's not hugely common here but I have seen people carefully shepherding leaves into little piles on pathways, battling against the entropy of a light breeze. I'm sure there's a good reason but it always just seems like the ultimate expression of man tryi…

I basically live in the forest and get an unreasonable amount of leaves each autumn. Most of these leaves are also from oak and do not decompose well, leaving the lawn a mess in the spring. Using a rake is unreasonable for me, and a leaf blower saves me many, many hours each year that I can spend better elsewhere.

> Using a rake is unreasonable

Why though?

It's generally a lot quicker unless you're a very old person

It's however infinitely more fun with the leave blower, I admit to that!

Re: Zürich voters ban noisy leaf blowers

#105
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly, it's barely enforced.

Depends on where you are. Thun and Bern started to enforce it much more just recently (with great success), afaik Zurich has their own task force as well. Our street control systems are just getting started. Most people seem to have no idea whats to come.

I live near Zurich and sadly the noise from luxury sports cars and motorcycles can be unbearably loud (even through noise isolated Windows and away from the street). I don't think anyone really enforces it.

Re: Zürich voters ban noisy leaf blowers

#106
post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I basically live in the forest and get an unreasonable amount of leaves each autumn. Most of these leaves are also from oak and do not decompose well, leaving the lawn a mess in the spring. Using a rake is unreasonable for me, and a leaf blower saves me many, many hours each year that I can spend better elsewhere.

> Using a rake is unreasonable Why though? It's generally a lot quicker unless you're a very old person It's however infinitely more fun with the leave blower, I admit to that!

If you can clear my driveway faster with a rake than I can with a leaf blower, you are a superb athlete. Like John Henry.

Re: Zürich voters ban noisy leaf blowers

#107
I moved to a neighborhood where a surprising majority of the residents do not outsource their lawn care and I think this makes the biggest difference. The noise reduction of simply not having beaten up landscaper trucks with muffler deletes driving through the streets every day is a massive help.

Letting your landscapers blow nutrients off your property is insane when it's difficult to find good quality top soil. The stuff you buy at Home Depot is essentially trash and rocks now. What comes out of the mower bag each spring can yield an incredible amount of dirt after it's had a full summer to cook in the pile.

Re: Zürich voters ban noisy leaf blowers

#108
post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Using a rake is unreasonable Why though? It's generally a lot quicker unless you're a very old person It's however infinitely more fun with the leave blower, I admit to that!

If you can clear my driveway faster with a rake than I can with a leaf blower, you are a superb athlete. Like John Henry.

Did you try rakes like this?

https://www.joom.com/products/681aed59eda2b001310d4e2c

Re: Zürich voters ban noisy leaf blowers

#109
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you can clear my driveway faster with a rake than I can with a leaf blower, you are a superb athlete. Like John Henry.

Did you try rakes like this? https://www.joom.com/products/681aed59eda2b001310d4e2c

A better rake will help me outcompete a leaf blower as well as better shoes will help me outcompete a car.
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