What horn?

Orion

I've not done a lot of cycling recently but I am getting back in to it slowly but surely. For short journeys I'm walking or cycling instead of getting into the car which is a good start anyway

One thing that has always annoyed the crap out of me is pedestrians in cycle lanes. Fine walk in them but at least have some knowledge that cyclists may be using them too. In Maynooth the cycle lanes are $hite but at least they're off the road (like some of the drivers should be) but they're full of pedestrians all the time. I see it in Dublin all the time too. I have to cross two offroad lanes from the train to work and I do look right to make sure there are no cyclists coming. But many many people don't bother and even when I'm walking I want to scream at them.

I've come to the conclusion that the only way to get people out of the way is to get something loud. I've resisted getting a bell before but now I want one that's going to get people out of my bloody way. CRC have this one which should do the trick. Any comments on the effectiveness or other recommendations? I plan on starting cycling to work again - which involves doing down the north Quays and through the city centre so something to warn morons who just walk out in front of you on the road is desirable.

kenmc

airzound.

buffalo

Why not try a bell first? It's more friendly, and less likely to make people think you're a arsehole.

07Lapierre

Orion wrote: »

even when I'm walking I want to scream at them.

Don't think about it...Do it!...;)

Orion

buffalo wrote: »

Why not try a bell first? It's more friendly, and less likely to make people think you're a arsehole.

Because I want it to be heard through their headphones while their walking listening to music. And for cars too who inevitably pull out in front of you. I'm not talking about giving granny a heart attack - just something that will be heard.

seamus

Orion wrote: »

Because I want it to be heard through their headphones while their walking listening to music.

A loud horn is just as likely to make someone freeze in their tracks or do something really unpredictable IMO, as you'll scare the bejaysus out of them. A decent bell should register with most people, even with earphones in.

And for cars too who inevitably pull out in front of you.

Tbh, sounding a horn at drivers who pull out in front of you is going to cause more trouble than it saves you. People get annoyed when you beep at them while you're in a car, imagine what a taxi driver will do if a pesky cyclist has the audacity to dare do it.
If you beep a horn at cars, you will find a number of people decide they need to "teach you a lesson" and try to run you off the road, or jam on the brakes to get you to run into them.

Do what I do. Brake, then if the driver can see you you give the universal body language for "WTF" and shake your head. If their window is open, it's also helpful to say, "Nice driving" in the most sarcastic tone possible.

Orion

That came out wrong - I meant as a warning to cars who are about or stating to pull out that I'm there not retaliation for doing it. I have done the WTF and Nice Driving thing - small satisfaction from it.

As for loud - that 120db one is too loud as you say. But the 70db one I linked to first should be ok shouldn't it?

Frere Jacques

Well this morning the "Watch out" I roared at the pregnant woman would have been enough to make the baby cry. She was standing in the middle of the road, the car in front of me passed her, I was 5 yards behind the car flying in the cycling lane when without so much as a glance she strolled across the lane head in air. Close one.
The lady who pulled in to the cycle lane to make a left turn whilst I was in it just got a slap on the car and "the look". It happens most mornings. I have to cycle past one of the largest secondary schools with Ireland with no off street drop off zone and 1 km down the road there is a major turn to the left. For years people filtered into the hard shoulder to take this left as traffic for the straight on gets backed up. Now it is a cycle lane which fills up with cars close to the junction but if someone is further back and sees a gap in front they don't register that a cyclist could be inside them and they just swing left into the lane. I'd be temped to throw a camera on the handlebar some day. The montage I could make with just a weeks cycling would be worth a watch, (although I wouldn't show the wife).

manwithaplan

Abandon the cycle lane to the pedestrians and relax. The horn has its place and it's not on the handlebars.

kenmc

manwithaplan wrote: »

The horn has its place and it's not on the handlebars.

Think you'd be done for assault in that case Besides, then you'd have to stop

doozerie

Personally I just use my voice if I need to try to wake someone up. It's loud enough, it's fast, it's versatile (it ranges from "Thank you!" to "F*ck you!" at will), it's free, and more importantly it doesn't require that I take my hands away from the brake levers or put them in a position (e.g. towards a bell) which might compromise my steering.

mp31

More ideas on this thread.. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=79249921

rp

Orion wrote: »

In Maynooth the cycle lanes are $hite but at least they're off the road (like some of the drivers should be) but they're full of pedestrians all the time.

Most of the 'cycle lanes' in Maynooth (e.g., Straffen rd.) are not legal cycle lanes, so pedestrians can of course walk on them (you can't legally ride a bike on them, but a Guard told me that they wouldn't bust anyone for it).

Zyzz

I would suggest adding 1 of these horns to your bike!

cdaly_

Frere Jacques wrote: »

I have to cycle past one of the largest secondary schools with Ireland with no off street drop off zone and 1 km down the road there is a major turn to the left. For years people filtered into the hard shoulder to take this left as traffic for the straight on gets backed up. Now it is a cycle lane which fills up with cars close to the junction but if someone is further back and sees a gap in front they don't register that a cyclist could be inside them and they just swing left into the lane.

Sounds like you need to take the lane outside the school and stay there until the junction...