Noise In The News: Weekly Round-Up

by Quiet Communities Staff

Photo credit: Andrea Piacquadio

Company turns subway noise into music

Inspired by the hustle and bustle that would drive just about anyone else crazy, designer Josh Wolk is the mind behind Train Jazz, a company using NYC’s open map data to turn intersecting train lines into a symphony. By assigning an instrument to each line and mapping their journeys as notes, Train Jazz turns each user’s journey into a sonic adventure. Healthy soundscapes aren’t just about silence. Music can be healing, too — and Wolk’s work is a reminder that music can be made of anything, even transit noise. 

Metrolinx falls short on its promise of quieter trains

Toronto residents are complaining that transit officials have gone back on their word to upgrade trains to quieter, more energy efficient electric trains from the noisy, polluting diesel ones.  Residents living near the planned Bloor-Lansdowne GO station say they were promised electric trains, but leaked documents have revealed that there is no real plan to implement electric service on that train line. Instead officials will conduct a noise and pollution study of the diesel trains.

Havila voyages proposes a “quiet cruise”

As an answer to the loud and fast pace of our current world, Norwegian travel company Havila voyages is proposing a wellness cruise focused on quiet. Citing the negative health impacts of unwanted noise, Havila aims to take advantage of Norway’s natural quiet to promote wellness, boasting low-noise natural soundscapes and quieter ships to travel them with. Compare Gierenger in Norway which has an average background noise level of 37 dB, to New York City which reaches 86 dB on any given day,  and a quiet escape seems like something we all need.