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I had to disable the Apple Watch high decibel alerts feature because it was triggering way too often: at train stations, when taking the subway, walking in the city center, any type of construction work, etc. Before that point I didn’t realize how crazy loud cities are, somehow my brain just dealt with it, and now I feel I cannot unsee it.



Not all cities are like this, but when I go to the USA I am always shocked by how insanely loud the major cities are. New York being the worst, but Philly and LA aren't significantly far away.

Germany also seems to have this problem, at least in Munich, where there are 6 lane roads in the middle of the city and no sound isolation at all for construction.

I think London for me is too noisy, but it's a far cry from New York which felt like an assault on my ears the entire time I was there; such that when I returned to London I felt bad for complaining about it.


Worth always remembering (and a trip to many major European cities will confirm): it’s not cities that are loud, but cars.

Of course trains are pretty bad too but you don’t tend to be surrounded by trains all day every day, even in NYC and especially in Philly, DC, LA, Seattle, Boston, Phoenix, Houston, Vegas, etc, all of which are extremely loud.




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