Darn tootin’: Uncertainty over record attempt
Wellington’s ‘‘world record’’ tunneltooting attempt has been postponed but thousands of eager honkers may have missed the memo.
The event, which was scheduled for today, is in response to Wellington City councillor Chris Calvi-Freeman’s call for people to stop tooting in the Mt Victoria tunnel because it was unpleasant for pedestrians and cyclists who also used it.
That got drivers enraged and, shortly afterwards, a Facebook event popped up encouraging as many people as possible to drive through the tunnel, tooting in protest.
But after 3000 people had committed to the cause, and another 15,000 said they might attend, the event was postponed until July 31.
Organisers confirmed the toota-thon, originally set down for a full 24 hours, had indeed been pushed back but would not say why.
One person who was not interested ‘‘in the slightest’’ was Calvi-Freeman, who said he could not care less whether the event went ahead or not.
‘‘I won’t be there on Saturday and I won’t be there on July 31.’’
The Eastern Ward councillor said he was still receiving emails from constituents reinforcing the need to do something about the incessant tooting.
But he had also been on the receiving end of some abuse from pro-tooters.
‘‘I’ve had my fair share of what one might call social media haters but for me, that’s just water off a duck’s back.’’
For the record, there is no actual tunnel-tooting ‘‘world record’’.
The toot-fest has, however, caught the attention of police, who will be monitoring the area today.
They would not confirm how many officers would be stationed there but said a counter event encouraging people to throw rotten fruit at tooters’ cars was also on their radar.
As of yesterday afternoon, that event had attracted exactly zero followers.
Vehicle horns should only be used as an emergency warning device but police have turned a blind eye to tooting in the tunnel because it is ‘‘part of Wellington culture’’.
Residents living near the tunnel were divided on the tradition.
Kate Southorn said the tooting kept her awake at night.
‘‘I always thought it funny to toot in the tunnel – I guess people don’t really think about how annoying it can be, but I invite anyone who likes tooting in the tunnel to come stay a day or 24 hours at my house and tell me at the end of it if you still enjoy tooting.’’
Mike Kooiman wasn’t bothered by the tooting and thought trying to stop it was futile. ‘‘It’s just been going on for so many years now – it’s a ritual . . . You get used to it.’’
But Hearing Association Wellington is unimpressed with today’s stunt, and has called on the council to close the tunnel to non-motorists or provide industrial-strength hearing protectors for them.
‘‘While this might seem fun to motorists, for any pedestrian or cyclist using the tunnel during this event it could have catastrophic effects on their hearing.
‘‘Background noise in the tunnel typically measures 80 to 85 decibels. A single vehicle sounding its horn close to the pedestrian walkway takes this up to around 90 decibels.
‘‘The prospect of dozens of vehicles constantly sounding their horns in that echo chamber of a tunnel is horrific.’’
Exposure to 115 decibels would cause hearing damage in just 30 seconds, it said.
A city council spokeswoman said it would have staff in the area to let people know there could be more tooting than normal, and to suggest alternative routes.