Advocacy & Safety - What audio equipment do you use to help garner motorist attention?

What audio equipment do you use (if any) to help garner motorist attention when necessary?

Please explain your experiences. Thanks.

I've never had a need for anything beyond a shout and a wave. And I'm from Oregon. We really aren't that used to using horns around here.

You all think I'm kidding, don't you? ;)

I've never had a need for anything beyond a shout and a wave. And I'm from Oregon. We really aren't that used to using horns around here.

You all think I'm kidding, don't you? ;)
I know you're not kidding. That's why my airhorn is so effective. :D

I voted air horn, not because I have one, but because if I were to get the attention of motorists; that is what it would take. My wife's bike does have bell. In some European cities, they are required. Seems I read Ontario requires a bell or whistle.

Maracas

Unique and easy to throw.

For anything important, my loud mouth. But I do have one of those little "ring-ring" bells for politely announcing my presence.

Its unbelievable how universally understood that little bell is. Many times, pedestrians just move over without even looking back at me when I approach them from the back.

A whistle is usually illegal for bicyclists. I guess I forgot to mention a whistle in Deputy Jones' thread about "breaking laws for your safety." I use one, because it works so well, even when windows are rolled up. The drawback is not having it in your mouth when you need to use it. So you have to learn to put it in your mouth when you are entering problem areas.

But I'll have to be ready to take a ticket for it, if necessary.

Airzound for motorists. Also my voice.

Bell for pedestrians. Also my voice.

I really wish I could use my cockatoo for cars. She's really loud!

I voted nothing, but 3-4 times I year I find myself hollering to get a drivers attention.

The poll was about motorist attention. I do use my voice often for pedestrian attention.
Al

I have a bell, but that's for pedestrians/other bikers, cars wouldn't hear it. I also have a voice like a drill sergeant when I want to, so that's effective enough for me.

12-volt car horn. Motorists think it is another car when they hear it. Much better than a AirZound.

I have an AirZounds which I usually use. It gets a less negative reaction as opposed to yelling. Of course, it doesn't help that what I holler out isn't very positive. Sometimes I do both depending on the mood.

I use the bell exclusively for pedestrians and other bikers.

What audio equipment do you use (if any) to help garner motorist attention when necessary?

Please explain your experiences. Thanks.

I use whatever seems to work, that often is a bike bell, or a yell, a whistle is legal here, but I don't have one, what I would really like is an air horn, preferably off an F59PH locomotive, although most idiot cagers would probably drive right over me looking for the train.....

LBM what whistle are you using? I recently bought one of these http://www.stormwhistles.com/. It is incredibly loud. I agree that an air horn (EDIT: or electric car horn) would work great, but I don't really want all that extra junk on my bike. My commute only has a few trouble spots where I would need to have the whistle ready to go, otherwise I'll just yell. I haven't checked if using it is legal or not, so I may end up in Deputy's lawbreaker thread also!

On a side note, how do you guys post a url link with regular words in it instead of the actual address? I haven't been able to figure that out. Thanks. :)

On a side note, how do you guys post a url link with regular words in it instead of the actual address? I haven't been able to figure that out. Thanks. :)
Type the words you want. Highlight (select) those words. Then click on the 'URL inserting' button above and enter the URL.

Al

Type the words you want. Highlight (select) those words. Then click on the 'URL inserting' button above and enter the URL.

Al

Sweet. :o Thanks noisebeam!

Voice. Occasionally in a polite tone and without profanities :)

I'd really like a police siren tough.

Voice. Occasionally in a polite tone and without profanities :)

I'd really like a police siren tough.

http://i2.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/84/b5/a0ba_1.JPG

Even comes with a microphone! (http://cgi.ebay.com/BICYCLE-SUPPER-SIREN-ALARM-HORN-WITH-MICROPHONE_W0QQitemZ120090714415QQcmdZViewItem)

I have used air-zounds in the past, but they died on me.
I've used a 12 volt car horn, but the darn thing draws too many amps.

I now use a 12 volt 115 decibel piezo alarm, with a toggle switch on my fairing.It sounds like a truck's back-up beeper, so it gets attention.

I use a bell to let the pedestrians know I'm there.

One of my bikes has a bulb-horn, which is not an air-horn in the sense of a Zounds Eco-Blast.

So I put "other" down in the survey.

LBM what whistle are you using?
Just a metal sports whistle with a rubber bit. Sharp and shrill is best for short distance, lower pitches are better for long distance (like boating whisltes.) That whistle you mention is probably pretty loud!

I use a bell (or my voice if I'm wearing mitts and can't make the bell work). Wierd I guess...

Ooh I like the cute thing with the scary teeth. I want one of those mounted on my helmet.

I really wish I could use my cockatoo for cars. She's really loud!

That would work. My macaw rode with me on occasion, although real slow. No problem getting people's attention though.

I can't recall needing to get someone's attention in a situation where I was close enough where yelling would be effective. By then it's too late. I want their attention long before then. If I don't have it by the time I'm close enough for yelling to work, I'll avoid being in a position that requires their attention.

I'm a bell and yell man mysellf. :)

12-volt car horn. Motorists think it is another car when they hear it. Much better than a AirZound.


Same here, 134db 12v Fiamm Freeway Blaster horn.

Check out the thread I made about it >> HERE << (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=273885)

I use a hand-held air horn that is strapped to the handlebars of my bicycle mostly for other motorists. I also carry a whistle if the air horn runs out and also to scare dogs and other animals away if I have to.

Voice, which if ignored , sometimes leads to palmslap on vehicle. That usually works.