I've also used a hand-held marine horn to alert people that I'm approaching and that they need to move.
I strap it to the handlebars with elastics. Although the horn needs to be replaced once a year or so, it's been very effective with pedestrians, dogs, and motorists. It's so loud that even truckers take notice.

Try a simple whistle, like the old traffic cops used to use...get right up on their tail and let loose...Watch 'em scatter!!!


Woe

Same concept as an Airzound horn. Just the Airzound is adapted for bike use and is rechargeable with a compressor or pump.

the only "MUP" i ever use is a bike/pedestrian lane on a local bridge. it has a dividing line, one side for peds and one for bikes. it has pictures of a biker and a ped on the corresponding sides of the line.

so none of the peds can manage to stay on their side, of course.

i'm liking the car horn idea. (and the shotgun, but the bridge is "patrolled" by police. on Segways, no less.)

maybe i'd manage to frighten them over the side.

why not a nice little truck horn such as this one... would look classy too (maybe mounted on a chrome front rack?)


(whats the most compact way I could power this... hoping that i would not need to use it all the time)

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...160043311&rd=1

Best place for a bell is in your pocket- Then when they don't hear you yelling at them- Throw the bell at them.

Best by far is an air horn- that works

I do also carry a whistle that is clipped to my jersey. It's been effective on pedestrians and some people in stopped motorized vehicles. However, a horn is what I need to use to alert people in vehicles...especially truckers.

Well, I know that I would get out of the way!!!

I have the Airzound which works well, and as someone else noted, can be recharged with a pump. It works VERY well, and can be kept attached to the bike.

I don't use it unless there is someone who is just being inconsiderate, or rude, as others have described them. It does happen, and only if necessary, I'll give 'em a blast from the horn. On the path, I've only used it three times in the two years I've owned the horn. I've used it more times on the street though to alert vehicles to my presence.

https://www.deltacycle.com/product.php?g=1

I used my horn the other evening on a flock of geese. They were resting on the MUP. Slowing down and beeping got them to move out of the way and towards the canal.

Blocking the path is rude.

I am not saying horn should be your #1 signalling device, but when a bunch of *****holes take up the whole path and refuse to move after you ring the bell or say something, then a horn is very justified.

In fact, taking up the whole path is very inconsiderate even if you do move after you hear the bell. But I'll still use a bell on such a group first. Cause I'm a nice girl.

I concur. I just started using a fox 40 whistle the other day. It saved me from colliding with a jay walking pedestrian in downtown Toronto. This guy was yapping on his cellphone as I was riding down the road with a buddy of mine. The dude looks for traffic, looks right through me and steps out into the road about ten feet in front of me. I gave him a blast of the whistle and he jumped back onto the sidewalk. I keep it on a long chain around my neck and let it hang until I'm in a busy area. Then it gets clenched between the ol' teef, ready for the dopes not paying attention.

I have a natural whistle that I can get loud enough to hear over a jet engine, and I don't even need to use my fingers. It has always worked until one day I tried to whistle and warn someone and I couldn't because I was so out of breath.

I now have a ding, dong bell. It sounds cool to me and annoys my son.

Steven

The one thing I've found that is guaranteed to get people to hop outta the way, is to briefly skid the rear wheel. Works best if you have a fatter tire (Town & Country) to get a nice loud sound. You can be half a block away, and the lawyer breathing onto his cell phone will hear it and scurry.

Bells don't work. Mine never has. People are off in a fog and only YELLING "passing" or a horn will work.

I have a cheap little bulb type horn on one of my old Schwinns, and if I'm feeling naughty, I'll come up behind some fool who's taking up the whole path and honk it. Surprising how high some people can jump!
I've had a couple of jerks who will stay all over the path, when I know they are aware I'm there. I've passed so close that I "accidentally" banged their elbow as I went by. Works for golf carts with people hanging over the sides, too.

Are whistles legal? Is there a risk that one might resemble an officer of some kind?

https://www.stormwhistles.com/

These are very loud. If blown from a distance it can be heard without having to startle people up close. The extra distance also gives dog owners more time to reel in their pet. They work good in traffic too. They aren't accessed quite as quickly as a horn, but are less expensive, lighter, and don't require putting any extra junk on your bike. I keep mine on a key card recoil attached to my waist band.

For those of you who may be interested in acquiring an air horn, check the earlier posts to purchase the Airzound or look in bicycle shops. You can also buy air horns at www.falconsignalhorns.com They sell air horns for marine or personal safety use. Some falcon horns can be found as accessories in marine or boat shops.

Bon Chance and Good Luck on the trail, everyone.

I have a bell and regularly ride on MUPs. What really amazes me is how many people can be walking in my direction and be completely oblivious to the fact that a cyclist is coming straight at them. I ring the bell to catch their attention - and they look behind them. I have fewer problems generally passing a pedestrian if and when I ring, than if I am going straight at them. Strange but true.

+1. Works great with knobbies, too.

[QUOTE=csr;5474727]Are whistles legal? Is there a risk that one might resemble an officer of some kind?[/QUOTE

Illegal in Indiana. Or, used to be and probably still are.
I use a Honka-Hoota horn, which is more noticeable than a bell but not loud enough for motorists, in many cases.

You mean this?
https://www.amazon.com/Honka-Hoota-Ho...dp/B000OF6JQ0/

sounds an awful lot like you are just doing the same thing most of hate cars for doing ... that is, trying to startle or scare us when they believe we are moving to slow, or are in the wrong position on the road. In many states (i'm not familiar with the laws of all), such use of a horn, bell, or other noise-making device is a no-no.

in any case, if there are signs saying that you should yield, wouldn't it just be better to take a different route if it's too crowded?

After several near disasters recently (hit twice), I'm finally going to yield and buy some sort of signaling device. Frankly, I don't care what the laws state. I'm trying to preserve my life and my bikes. The storm whistle looks interesting, but I'd rather not have to carry more items around on my person. The AirZound seems like an option, but it looks gaudy. I'd prefer an electronic horn of some sort, maybe with programmable skid sounds that would awaken the dead.

(falsetto)" puff the magic draaagon lived be the seeeaaa....."