jawnn

I used to have a an air zound horn, once I blasted it at an off duty cop, he screached to a halt, got out and biched me out for honking for no reason. I had to explain that he was driving too fast and too close.

He never did explain that he was a cop, but really did act like one. He told me to call the sherif department and verify his BS claims. I should have called a lawyer then the cops.

After the horn froze and would not work again I went with out a horn for many years. But recently I got an electric horn, but can't figure out how big of a battery to use. 1.5 amp draw.

So the question is "is this horn legal for a bicycle?" And has any one else had any experience with horns, to rave about?

Loud 100-110 decibel !

cvskates

I use this: Hornit Bike Horn - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available

I only use it in traffic - I have a regular bell for MUPs and paths.

If bike horns were illegal, Mr. Cop probably would have given you a ticket. Sounds like you caught a DB having a bad day who gave you a line of BS.

tsl

Check your state bicycling laws.

Here in New York State, vehicle and traffic law section 1236(b) requires that Granted, this is honored mainly in the breach.

phughes

A bell capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least 100 feet... That would be a very big bell!

BobbyG

Putting A Car Horn On Your Bicycle! : Soldering to the plug

ItsJustMe

If you want to wire up an automotive style horn, keep in mind that they have very high current requirements. I used a small lead acid cell to power one once, that worked fine. A bank of 10 AA rechargeables would probably do it, they can discharge at 2.5 amps or so just fine, but at that point it'll weigh more than the lead acid cell probably and would definitely be larger. Three LiIon cells (18650) would do it easily as well.

Leisesturm

Assuming this is even a serious thread, I don't think the question is whether the horn is legal, so much as is it practical to use on a bicycle. Obtaining the 12 volts will be the least of the o.p.'s problems. Mounting, actuating, fusing... these and other details make the project... unwise.

Leisesturm

A hundred feet isn't all that far. A dinner bell could easily carry 100'. Audible at 100' and extremely loud at 100' are very, very different things. I ride without a horn. This afternoon someone tried to right hook me. I stopped. I would have to stop anyway even if I had a horn to give the driver a heart attack with. People with horns think they are magic. They get right hooked and instead of stopping they lay on the horn. You cannot do both. In the instant that your hand is going for the horn you are wasting precious micro-seconds that could be put to much better use reducing your forward speed. Look at all the horn equipped vehicles that have been involved in awful wrecks. FWIW.

chefisaac

Keep with an air horn. No battery needed and very effective.

Clyde1820

A horn isn't unlawful for a car, a motorcycle. Can't imagine any criminalizing for a horn used on a bicycle is legal.

Used with discretion, it's more valuable than a little 'dinger' bell some folks have. Myself, I'd rather have both. Tool suited to the purpose, and all.

Matariki

Why do you think this is odd? I just tested my 2 bells and I could hear them 300 ft away.

Tundra_Man 

I have an Airzound and don't use it that often. The times I have were in situations that no witnesses would have faulted me for blasting the thing.

phughes

I don't think a standard bike bell at 100 feet would be enough to get someone's attention. Yes, you may hear it, but it wouldn't be enough to attract attention. Of course I wasn't truly being serious with my post.

phughes

I wasn't really being serious, but a bell isn't going to be heard inside a person's car.

10 Wheels

Get a small marine horn and attach it somewhere.

Matariki

At 300 ft (the distance from my garage door to the end of my driveway), I can hear the bell but only if I am trying. At 100 ft, it is perfectly audible. Will it attract attention? Not if you are plugged in to mp3, or in a running car, but you should react to it at that distance if jogging even if chatting with a friend. Hearing is highly variable as is filtering out distractions so YMMV. My wife has many opinions about my ability to hear and pay attention. In any case, a bike bell easily meets the law.

When I really want to get someone's attention I yell.

phughes

So true.

I had to do that the other day. I had made a right turn onto a four lane, but used the shoulder since a car had just passed me right before the turn. I was doing right at 25mph on the slight downhill. She came around the turn and went onto the shoulder. I was a little over 4 feet onto the shoulder. I yelled and she moved. I found I was a very effective horn. What aded insult to injury is that she had a bike rack on the back of her Prius. She did pull next to me to say she didn't realize how fast I was going. I assume she meant when she passed me before the intersection. I wasn't too upset, but it bothers me that someone cannot manage to pilot a Prius around a ramp without going off the road. It was at that moment though that I entertained notions of buying an AirZound. I haven't though.

TheManShow

Wow now tell me the Cops write tickets for this non sense. I have a very loud deep voice, I can say look out, or don't step off that curb, faster than fiddle for a bell.

mystang52

[QUOTE=cvskates;18034605]I use this: Hornit Bike Horn - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available

+1 I use this as well. I feel a lot safer with this on the streets of Bergen County NJ where there are too many drivers that are oblivious to bikes on the road. I also use local MUP's but generally avoid using it on them - it's loud and either scares the pedestrians or they just don't recognize the sound and don't move anyway. I just slow up until I pass them.

ItsJustMe

Really not difficult at all. I was able to fit everything but the button and the horn itself into the smallest wedge bag I could find. A tiny 12v lead acid gel cell, a horn relay and a fuse holder goes in there, the horn bolts to the seat post underneath, a wire goes to the horn button on the bar. Really pretty small.

ItsJustMe

I have an airzound and a DIY car horn mount. I don't ride with either of them, I find I just don't use them enough to bother having them on the bike.

Also in the summer I like having my bike as light and simple as possible. I took the rack off too.

jfowler85

It's not.

tsl

Jeepers. I don't even worry about that level of vocabulary.

YO! does it for me.

On a group ride I once went through a police blockade. I don't recall whether it was checking cars for inspections, or an accident or a parade or what. (It was a long time ago.) But the cop that waved us through said "Where's your bell?" as I passed by. I said, "Ding, ding!" He laughed.

As I said, it's honored (by both sides) mainly in the breach.

GovernorSilver

Reads almost identical to DC bike laws ( Section 1204.2 ) including the "must be audible up to 100 feet". "Must have a bell" doesn't seem to be enforced though. I have a colleague who has been commuting for years without a bell. He prefers the "On your left" thing.

I can't find any mention of sirens or horns though. I don't know any bike commuter at work (yet) who uses a horn or other special audible device to get the attention of motorists.

I like these. I probably won't get them anytime soon because some pedestrians already feel like I use my bell to tell them to move out of my way, rather than appreciating it as a safety/courtesy signal, but i like the whimsy.

Trueblood

Yeah, in NYC they will, especially if they've stopped you for another reason and want to add icing. $200 for riding on the sidewalk if you are over 14, I've seen it happen. Most locals don't ride on the sidewalk, but I've seen a fair number of tourists on citibikes doing so. No bell=ticket.