A proposed noise ordinance is on the "back burner" after scores of motorcyclists flooded the Casper City Council chambers on Tuesday.

The council voted unanimously and to a raucous applause to table the proposed change to a noise ordinance, which means it will not be discussed again unless a council member brings it back.

The proposed change read:

"No person shall operate any motor vehicle in the city in such a manner that the public's attention is drawn to the noise created by the motor vehicle."

Motorcyclists and the council plan to work together to help solve "irresponsible riding" through residential neighborhoods, both groups agreed.

One biker after another spoke before the council to testify about how "loud pipes save lives."

David Brewbaker, a Casper motorcyclist, told the council, "I would rather be heard and be a nuisance in someone's ears than flattened like a pancake due to someone's negligence."

Loud pipes keep drivers aware of bikers and prevent accidents, said Jim Siri, a member of Wyoming Central A.B.A.T.E., a motorcycle advocacy group. Many things distract drivers, and if they aren't paying attention they won't always see motorcyclists, but they may still hear them.

Abuse of a motorcycle on city streets is unacceptable, but motorcyclists also don't want to be unfairly targeted, said Russ Reddick, vice-president of Wyoming State A.B.A.T.E. and co-director of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists in region three.

He wants to educate riders on how to ride respectively and also educate drivers on how to be more aware of motorcyclists.

Some council members ultimately said the proposed ordinance would not be enforceable the way it read.

What the council wanted, said Council member Paul Bertoglio, was for the community to have a discussion about loud bikes riding through town in the middle of the night.

"The riders in Casper got the message that there's a problem out there," Bertoglio said. "What we have accomplished tonight is more than what we would accomplish with words on paper."

Council members said they hope to work with riders and associations like Wyoming State A.B.A.T.E.

"It's up to us to deal with this," Siri shouted back toward the crowd of motorcyclists after the meeting.

To keep the proposed ordinance from coming back to a vote, he said, the groups need to work together.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com