I spy with my little eye a new trend developing..
LOUD bike horns!
It seems the humble bicycle bell is no longer enough for people. We need something louder.
The Orp bike horn – 96db
As I type these very words you are currently reading, 422 people have backed the Orp bike horn Kickstarter project.
The Orp has two modes. Loud and very loud. The quiet one would be great for when you are riding down Regents Canal and you want to alert pedestrians. The other one is for when a car starts to head in to your path.
There’s an impressive set of features for the Orp. It’s small, waterproof, it’s a bike light and it is USB chargeable.
For early backers, the Orp costs around £27. Which seems reasonable to me.
However, it remains to be seen whether the project will receive enough backers to be funded.
Car horn for your bike
Sticking to the Kickstarter theme, a project that is set to meet its funding goals is the Loud Bicycle. This is a fair bit more expensive at around £50 for early funders. However, it does have one rather logical feature. It sounds like a car horn.
Drivers are obviously used to hearing the sound of a car horn and therefore more likely to respond.
Indeed this project makes me ask the question:
Why hasn’t somebody already invented this?
That’s the hallmark of a great idea. The only downside that I see so far to the Loud Bicycle is the sheer size of it. The Orp is something that I’d be happy to attach to my handlebars. I don’t think the Loud Bicycle would fit on my bike.
Airzound bike horn – 115db
It’s not all about Kickstarter of course and there are already some excellent options out there. One of them is the Airzound which claims to be the world’s loudest bike horn. At 115db it certainly comes close.
Fortunately, all that ear deafening loudness isn’t that expensive. The Airzound currently costs just £16.68.
Of course you don’t always have to pump out 115db worth of sound. The levels can be adjusted on the handlebar mount.
The Airzound bike horn is rechargeable. You simply use your bike pump to fill up the reservoir that sits in your bottle cage.
Hornit loud bike horn
The Hornit is even louder than the Airzound. When in full blast mode it can pump out 140 decibels of sound. That’s pretty extreme but could certainly be useful in a tricky situation.
Unlike the Airzound, everything is contained inside a small unit that fits on your handlebars. Thanks to a trigger that can be fitted close to your hands, you can sound the horn without taking your hands off the bars or brakes.
I’ve been sent a Hornit to test by the manufacturer so I’ll get back to you with my thoughts on it soon.
Do you need a loud bike horn?
I personally can’t see myself using a bike horn any time soon. For my safety on the road, I rely on good road positioning and good awareness of the drivers around me. Having said that, I can certain think of scenarios where a bike horn would be useful. When a car is pulling in to your path to soon or when a car starts to pull out of a side road. Then it would be good to give them a loud blast to get their full attention.
I’d be interested to hear what London Cyclist readers think. Would you use one? Leave a comment below.
I feel the safest and politest way to cycle is without any horn or bell. A loud horn is likely to encourage a rider to take risks that create situations where a horn is needed. I sometimes say ‘excuse me’ to pedestrians ahead on shared paths and I occasionally shout !$&&()¿!! to particularly thoughtless drivers.
I agree! IMO its the same with cyclist with cameras. most of the times they can avoid accidents but since they can prove that the driver is at fault.
but because the cyclist is “recording the incident” it makes them take the risk because they have evidence. it is not always the case though but most of the vids on you tube that i see is just lame.
Yeah mate I ride with my camera and I want to get hit .
Me too Andrew! 🙂 Like your style.
Are you for real Dennis Omg???!! Are you suggesting I can “avoid accidents” when I am cycling at 30mph and some ‘white van man’ pulls out a couple of metres in front of me??
I do NOT take risks, I just try to get to work safely and reasonably quickly.
I agree, some vids on YouTube are lame, but I have not uploaded my vids yet and I can assure you they will make you scream at the drivers like I did!
And John Rawlins… you say “excuse me”…?? REALLY? What are you doing… 3mph? You definitely DON’T need a horn. But when travelling at 30mph along the busy A34 dual carriageway with no cycle lanes I can assure you it is a lifesaver as my voice would not be heard.
[[[[[ SIMON A34 DUAL CARRIAGEWAY——your irritation is entirely justified, squire. These clowns (no names mentioned) who allow other road-users to walk all over them are doing NOBODY any favours—least of all other cyclists.
P.R.
my camera is for protection, touch wood nothing ever happens, but if im in a crash i want to prove im not at fault! as i believe i am experienced and not a risk taker i know 100% sure that should i get hit it wont be my fault….
so thats what the camera is for.
im thinking of getting a horn becuase in the event that someone comes too close to me or begins to pull out in front of me because they havent seen me*, then i can warn them of my presense and hopefully avoid a collision . by doing that i dont need to use my film footage to report a collision either! 🙂
* note, im covered in reflective gear and lights, but drivers sometimes “scan” across the road, see you, but their brain simply doesnt recognise you as being there!
I commute 15 miles daily West-Central London and see my fair share of Darwin Awards nominees on 2-wheels every day.
As already mentioned in the article and the previous comment, maintaining excellent situational awareness and being assertive with lane positioning, along with a generous dose of courtesy for fellow road users and pedestrians, are all highly effective measures to proactively avoid getting into sticky situations. If you are not equipped for high visibility or positioned in the blind spot of a car/bus/lorry or riding the ego of righteousness, 99% of the time you only have yourself to blame for getting into the predicament where a loud horn maybe your final act. Since no one is perfect (including me), I would consider installing a compact loud horn such as Hornit as a mitigation measure for the 1%.
Too true Joe! I do see cyclists regularly who have no helmet or lights (at night) dressed in BLACK and cycle in the gutter just waiting for a car, van or lorry to force them onto the path. Muppets! I believe in telling them what I think of them.
But perhaps if there were more cycle lanes (conspicuously missing from my section of the A34) then there would be fewer altercations with motorists.
There is no substitute for confidence and road positioning in cycling on the roads (as they are at the moment)… but if the UK adopted more cycle-friendly practice then the problem would not exist.
The problem with horns like the Orp and Airzound is that they don’t seem to give access when you are braking at 100% – ie. in a real emergency. Ideally they need a trigger (such as those used by the hornit and car horn) so that riders can simultaneously brake fully and sound the horn. I would hate to have to choose between using the brake and sounding a horn! Though I like the idea of a car horn as the hornit sounds pretty piercing. Not that there’s anything wrong with that I’d just prefer a car horn sound myslelf.
I think this is part of a worrying trend that seems to encourage agressive cycling, PPAAAARP! out of my way! Don’t cut me up cos I will chase you and film myself shouting at you and put it on youtube!
Cycle carefully and cosiderately, be aware of what’s around you, ring a bell if you are one a shared footpath/towpath and you probably won’t need these things.
I guess I am one of these “agressive cyclists.” I record my rides and I do post incidents on YouTube and sometimes I report them to the Police too.
Personally I like to get home from my rides to see my partner, I like to spend time with my kids, I also don’t want to be held liable for incidents that are not my fault … so yep I will use a camera and yep I will post to YouTube and yep I will report some matters to the Police.
I also try to ride my bike in a courteous manner, considerate of all path and road users, just as I drive my car in this manner too. Using a camera does not change that position.
Funny thing was that yesterday I had a person pull along side me ( I was riding along in the “cycle lane” maintaining good position, not holding anyone up etc on Marine Parade, Fremantle at the time and was not aware of the existence of the vehicle of note until they came along side) and then they pulled just ahead of me before they then turned left across in front of me.
What did happen is that I avoided hitting them, I did post the video on YouTube and I did comment about being considerate of cyclists. Does that make me an agressive, trouble chasing cyclist?
You see I like to get home from my rides to see my partner, I like to spend time with my kids, I don’t value stupidity by cyclists or motorists and I have not desire to have to battle insurance claims and the like because it comes down to my word against their word.
With that incident, would have used a horn had I had one on the bike? Maybe. Why? To simply let the driver know that their driving was not okay. As it stands I suspect they don’t even realise how close they came to causing a crash and worse injuring another person.
If all that makes me an aggressive trouble chasing cyclist so be it; I will continue to use my cameras thanks.
LOVE your attitude Andrew and completely agree.
well said andrew! 🙂
Can’t help but think that cyclists would start to act like drivers. They would use the horn, not to warn other road users as intended, but to express their irritation and anger.
people who bike are usually concerned about noise pollution, not to worried they will start picking up the habits of people who drive sitting in their little cocoons.
Perhaps, Richard B., we have very good reason to be “irritated and angry”….our lives are being put in danger, and our rights as road-users are flouted. Some drivers and pedestrians—and cyclists—sometimes need to be made aware of their dangerous habits around other road-users, and our use of the audible warning might be a useful—and embarrassing—deterrent.
P.R.
The thing about using a horn or bell is that it means taking one hand off the handlebar to use it, usually at the exact moment when you need maximum control of the bike to stay safe.
A spoken “beep beep” to pedestrians gets their attention, and usually a smile. With a loud “Oy Oy” to inattentive motorists. Instant, and no hands needed.
Recently I’ve been giving a thank you wave to motorists that don’t behave like dicks. I figure it’ll encourage them to continue not to be dicks.
This is not the case with the Hornit, a small cable runs from the hornit to the grip where a small button is attached, so it can be operated with your thumb while your hands have a firm grip of the handlebars, so the hornit would be my choice if I bought a horn.
yeah, same thing with the LB horn – can be operated with your thumb while braking. Orp photo looks the worst, like the hand is just barely gripping the handlebars, a bump might knock it off.
Um, same thing with a bell?
I am getting a hornit as a xmas pressie – and so I will get a chance to see how effective it is.
A horn has a three fold purpose. The primary purpose is to create a startle response in other road users, so that they will either hesitate or stop what they are doing – you need to consider this whenever you intend to use the horn. The secondary purpose is to alert another road user to your presence – this is what the highway code thinks horns are supposed to be used for. The tertiary purpose is as a form of abuse/insult for other road users – which is how horns are mostly used.
I am mostly interested in a horn’s ability to generate a startle response – take incident that happened just 3 days ago. Two lane feeder lane at traffic lights – inside lane is left turn only, right lane is straight on only. I am in the left lane and a car is waiting in the adjacent lane. Lights change, and my body is level with car’s front wheels (I am slightly infront) and car without indicating begins to enter my lane. I respond by shouting, and waving my right arm in front of windscreen – driver halts maneouvre and sounds horn. Now a loud shout is around 90 decibel, while the hornit puts out around 140 – so it’s a much louder shout.
140 DB, man that is by far the loudest of all these horns! Damn …
I use a classic old school horn (metal tube with a squeezy rubber ball). Mostly to stop/warn peds; as noted, if you’re using a horn to stop cars/buses, you’re doing it wrong.
I find the advantage to the old school horn is the distinctive noise. Not only do people hear it, they take note, and get out of the way. Sometimes even with a smile on their face.
Honk Honk, Andrew!! 🙂
I find the comments here most interesting. I have been Bromptoning to and from the station at both ends of by London commute for over 10 years and have seen my fair share of madness from all forms of road user – including cyclists.
For me, having the ability to warn other road users (mainly pedestrians to be honest) that a bike is approaching at between 10 and 15 miles per hour (about half the speed of a car) falls into the same camp as enabling other road users to see for themselves that a bike is approaching through the use of high vis clothing and fancy flashing lights etc. Why then, do we recommend one, while suggesting the other will make us all cycle like idiots?
To date I have had the Brompton “ding, ding” bell, or the “oy-oy” (or similar) at varying volumes depending on the urgency. To be honest, you can ding your bell for as long as you want and pedestrians don’t hear you or don’t care, so having a “bell” that is actually loud enough to get someone’s attention before they walk out in front of me, while watching a film on their phone or whatever, seems a good idea.
I quite like the idea of the ORP as it looks as though it should be fine when the Brompton is folded but the Hornet might also be an option – something to do a bit more reading on thinks I.
I cannot understand the views expressed favouring the use of loud horns on cycles. I myself suffer from rad rage and ‘righteous indignation at the inconsiderate actions of othe road users including pedestrians. I feel sure that I too do not always illustrate the brst in cycling etiquette nd continue to work hard at suppressing te feelings of indignation at the actions of others. As has already been said, the bet way to arrive at one’s destination safely and calmly is to accept that defensive riding is, ‘the order of the dy on UK roads. Hopefully this will change in the future with greater acceptance of cyclists by other road users. However I do think ta if we cyclists began riding around blasting other road users with too loud horns this would only further alienate motorists and pedestrians toward cyclists. Highlighting to motorists the difficulties and dangers facing cyclists from inconsiderate drivers will hopefully eventually positively change the attitudes of drivers toward cyclists.
I had a nasty cycling accident earlier this year which was caused by a pedestrian who stepped out without looking:
https://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/what-happens-if-you-have-a-collision-with-a-pedestrian/
I’m still recovering (one knee operation down, two to go) but am thankfully still able to cycle.
As a result, ensuring that cars and pedestrians notice me is really important to me. To that end, I recently armed myself with an AirZound.
A few notes:
1. There isn’t a lot of room on a Brompton M handlebars for an Air Zound – I’ve had to remove my bell altogether to make space. Because of its size, the horn itself is not in the most convenient position and, as others have pointed out, it requires a concious hand movement off the brake to fire, which is less than ideal. Also, the only place the bottle can live on a Brompton is on the handlebar stem, which sometimes gets in the way of your knees.
2. Having an AirZound sometimes feels like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, specially since it’s replaced my bell altogether. It’s brilliant for making a point, but not so great for that gentle ding we give to pedestrians so they notice us before stepping out. I’ve gotten a lot of dirty looks from people who have been scared out of their wits by my horn.
That said, it’s allowed me to feel safer on the roads and is pretty much guaranteed to get me noticed when it counts. I could never go back to a mere bell now.
It seems odd to be reading an article about loud horns when most cyclists seem not to bother with a bell. On shared paths, cyclists who haven’t, or won’t use, a bell or at least give a spoken warning are a menace to pedestrians. I usually give a ding when twenty or so yards away, it alerts peds to my presence without seeming aggressive or making them jump.
I’d consider a horn for warning drivers, but in practice I’m not sure how much use it would be. Just looking at how drivers use the horn, it’s usually about displaying annoying rather than alerting others to their presence, so it is seen as aggression – not something a cyclist is in any position to indulge in.
I can imagine using a horn in those situations where you know the driver about to set off across your path just hasn’t looked at you properly; but would they see you even then? Worth a try I suppose, though it could be logistically difficult to fit one on a Brompton.
I was motivated to buy an AirZound when I watched my wife pulling our daughter in a bike trailer almost T-boned by a car turning into a parking lot. It was on a busy four-lane street where we are often are forced to travel along the sidewalk. Motorists turning across opposing lanes are watchful for on-coming cars, but rarely notice cyclists in crosswalks, either traveling in the same direction or in opposition. Whether it is because of our higher rate of speed on sidewalks, or not being recognized by motorists, the AirZound has made me more confident during my travels. I have both the horn and bell on my drop handlebars. I have interrupter brakes, with bell and horn within easy reach. I agree, in that I cannot reach either from the drops, but seldom ride in that style along busy intersections. The hose of the Zound is fairly fragile, and I have replaced one during winter commuting. Having lived for two years with the horn, I typically use it 2-3 times per day, commuting to work, picking kids up from day care and groceries–sometimes out of frustration, but mostly by getting attention of distracted drivers. My horn has allowed me to avoid the situation that nearly injured both my wife and child. If that sometimes makes me appear as an angry cyclist, I’m perfectly okay with it.
Not sure how I missed thise article, have been on the market for a decent small horn for a while, will definitely be looking into these.
Sadly my use of a horn will be more for pedestrians than cars. Those pedestrians that think its ok to automatically step into the road, earphones blaring without even looking in the direction of the incoming traffic. Sorry but to me that deserves a 140DB blast to scare the living bejeezus out of them.
Its either that or they cause an accident which has happened to me in the past so I am all for taking extra measures to keep safe.
It sounds like your road speed is inappropriate for the road conditions and so the onus is on you to respond by slowing down and keeping away from the curb. Otherwise, there is little difference between your behaviour and the impatient BMW driver who hovers two feet behind cyclists while hitting the horn.
No, Rawlins—-you can cycle at walking pace, and pedestrians will STILL step blindly—and deafly—into your path. The speed you’re riding has nothing to do with it. I’ve been riding in city traffic for many decades, and in my experience the oblivious walker who just uses his or her ears, without LOOKING before stepping off the kerb, needs a loud beep—-especially if wearing headphones, as many of them do.
P.R.
Agree 100%. If Mr Rawlins logic was valid, then the same applies to motor vehicles as well more so given I suspect that the number of pedestrians seriously injured or killed are substantially higher for interactions with motor vehicles than with bicycles.
If you find that many pedestrians are stepping into your path even when you are cycling at walking speed then I suggest you go with the flow, dismount, and push your cycle; or find an alternative route. Scaring people with a loud horn is just going to end badly.
This is a situation for a bell, not a horn. So I guess we need both…?
TOTALLY agree Phil.
I use my bell a fair bit to alert pedestrians and stationary drivers to my presence. I’ve been thinking for some time that there are occasions where a motor vehicle is acting dangerously and your bell (or an OY!!) is simply not loud enough.
I don’t think a wheep would do it – the instinctive reaction to a vehicle horn would be ideal here. So I’ve been thinking for some time about making for myself a Heath Robinson version of the Loud Bicycle horn. Those car horns are too bulky though.. I’d use motorbike horns, they’re more compact – and actually probably have a more appropriate tone as well.
Alan M.——-or you could take Mr Rawlins’ advice (see above) and, whenever there’s a hint of danger, simply stop, climb off, and walk with your bike along the pavement—what a genius solution!
Or maybe utilise Mr Rawlins’ other big idea—-“Find an Alternative Route” !! You know the one…..where texting walkers always look before stepping into the road across your front wheel, and motorists are so keenly aware of our vulnerability that they drive courteously, and allow us a full metre of space as they pass…and if you ever find that place, do let us all know, because it sounds like Nirvana to me!
P.R.
Love the sarcasm Phil. Having massive trucks pass me at 60mph less than a metre away on a daily basis I understand precisely.
Now that this thread has finally quietened down I thought I would liven it up again.
Personally I think the ORP is a brilliant concept and one that should be given a chance to succeed, so have put my money where my mouth is, so to speak. As a result I received a newsletter containing this link, which another convert has produced to help spread the word.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBIHoYzYujo
Make of it what you will but if you are really interested in this as a concept, which not take a closer look at what the guy is trying to do.
Whilst being a pedestrian near Oxford Circus in last night’s rush hour I noticed a distinct disadvantage with extra loud car/truck like horns on a bike. I was at a X road, which also had multiple pedestrian crossing routes. As ever pedestrians were crossing opportunistically when there were gaps in the vehicular traffic.
A lit (but badly) cyclist was approaching the junction with horn blaring, but people, associating that amount of noise with cars, vans and trucks were looking back at the more distant traffic to see what the noise was about.
The horn was actually distracting their attention from their immediate surroundings, which is where the high speed, dimly lit, noisy cyclist was. He was then grumpy and rude as the pedestrians crossed in front of him.
TONY—yes, I had an “Airzound” fifteen years ago, which made a noise just like a foghorn (you hear them at footy matches), and when I used it, other road users and pedestrians would peer about with raised eyebrows, no doubt wondering how a river-barge had found its way onto Marylebone Road….it sounded like: “PHWooOOOR!
whereas what you want is something shrill and startling.
But the “opportunistic” pedestrians you mention, darting about between the cars, buses, taxis and trucks, really should be waiting for the little green men—-no, not the ones from Pluto—-at the traffic light. These jaywalkers wouldn’t step out in front of a car, but clearly think cyclists don’t count—that’s if they do actually notice us at all. If I’m riding 15mph, that’s legal. There was a time when I used to ride carefully through these herds of ill-mannered sheep (for that is what they are) going “BAAA-BAAA!” at the top of my voice…..I imagine some of them got the
message.
So I’m in sympathy with the “grumpy “cyclist you mention. Yes, pedestrians need to pay attention to the cacophony of motor horns “near Oxford Circus”, but don’t they also have to think bike?
P.R.
Love your logic and descriptions, Phil. I don’t think it applies to Staffordshire where I live now, but I can understand how it doesn’t work in London, where I used to live.
Yes, I am a cyclist myself and I completely agree that pedestrians need to think bike.
My point was that the effect of the mega-horn was actually reducing pedestrian awareness of the nearby cyclist, as they were associating the sound with much more distant vehicles and thus directing their attention at those. An old fashioned bell or a shout would probably have been more effective.
TONY—yup, I see the point you’re making (cyclists should sound like cyclists), and your Mr. Grumpy would be more noticeable with better lighting up front. But any sort of loud horn noise is likely to cause jaywalkers and dozy texters to look in the general direction of the sound, i.e. towards the cyclist….I mean they’re not going to look the other way.
While agreeing that bells mean bikes (I’ve used one for ten years myself fairly effectively), I’m now going to buy a “HORNIT”, just for the increasing number of semi-conscious peds—and cyclists—wearing headphones. I’ll continue with the bell, but if they ignore me, (or the bell doesn’t register) they are going to get 140 decibels of “Hornit” in their lug’oles.
Horns versus bells? We’re not going to agree, but after I’ve bought the expensive screechy doo-dah and road-tested it, I’ll come back to this thread. Assuming it’s still alive. And assuming I’m still alive. All t’best.
P.R.
Hey did you manage to get a Hornit? Verdict?
Am looking to buy one myself….
[[[[[[ Hello GOONZ—–yes, I got one from Edwards Cycles, Camberwell, for £31.50, (best price I found) which may seem a lot of dosh, but collisions can be expensive too, and painful., as we all know…..and it DOES wake up those not paying attention! Remember to unclip the main body of it (very simple) and take it away when you lock up the bike anywhere….good luck.
A.R.
I completely agree with all the preceding reviews that say how wonderful the AirZound is:
..I finally have a “voice” to reply to motorists who think they can intimidate you with their horns;
..I feel much safer travelling at speed through traffic knowing I can warn careless motorists that I am there;
..I love the way it fits neatly into one of my bottle holders;
..Although it is shown to fit on top of straight handlebars I have managed to fit it nicely on the side of my dropped handlebars just under the brake lever where I usualy have my hand so the button is easy to reach without changing my grip.
I did have a little mishap recently when I discovered the button that activates the horn had somehow dropped off. I thought it was securely attached with a metal pin. I thought I would have to buy a whole new AirZound kit, and felt lost without my “road voice”.
But then I found the email address of the manufacturer online and wrote explaining my problem.
What amazing customer service! Not only did they reply within the hour despite it being at the weekend, but they sent me a new button and pin immediately all the way from Canada to the UK and did not ask for any payment, not even the postage! How can you not love a company like that??!!
Don’t wait, go out and buy one of these AirZound horns and you will wonder how you ever survived without it.
SIMON—-are you for real? Your experience reads like the perfect ad-agency copy-writers blurb….hilarious!
P.R.
I can assure you I AM real and I have no links to AirZound or any other company (if that’s what you are suggesting). I just believe in singing the praises of any company that has excellent customer service… too many people only bother to write when they want a moan.
For example, I also think Ebuyer is a brilliant company when it comes to excellent customer service and I have told them so directly.
Don’t be so cynical Phil!!
hi simon. i have racing handlebars but was worried the airzound wouldnt fit them well. can you send a photo to me or put it online and put the url link here so i can see how you fitted it before i commit to buy one?
thanks sooooooooo much
Mark
Will do Mark. I will take a picture tomorrow. Not sure how to post a photo here so could you either advise me how to do it or give me your email address so I can send it to you.
Cheers
Simon
hi simon, can you tweet the image so that it is public? thanks
Just Tweeted 2 pictures Mark. I hope they are clear enough (please let me know if not). One taken from each side. It is worth noting that the circular bracket used is an over-sized one that was recently sent to me from Airzound in Canada. They tell me that in the new year Airzound will be shipped with both sizes.
thanks simon but i dont know who you are on twitter, what can i search to find them? got a url link, or tell me your twitter username please? cheers
Sorry Mark, only just seen your message.
My Twitter name is:
@SimonSnewin
I wonder whether some of the commenters on here actually ride a bike. “If you’re courteous, then people won’t step out in front of you.” What nonsense. “Get off and push”!!!
A loud horn is a legal requirement for motor vehicles, and should be a legal requirement for bicycles too.
So true, Dave.
Sometimes I feel there is a definite discrimination against cyclists by some drivers and pedestrians. Many van drivers, for example seem to believe they have more right to be on the road than us.
I was recently followed by a reversing van driver who was obviously attempting to intimidate me because I had the “nerve” to let him know he should have been driving on HIS side of the white line, not on mine expecting me to get out of the way!
You guys argue, I am going to buy the Hornit and blast every joker who thinks he can just waltz into the road not even looking in the direction of oncoming traffic.
[[[[[[[ GOONZ—–I bought a “HORNIT” horn some weeks ago, and I’d recommend them (but with this proviso): on the streets I find the Hornit does attract attention, but NOT in parks and on shared-use paths. There, it seems people with their backs to me assume the horn is just some kid with a noisy toy, so “shared-use-path” remains “pedestrian-path”, so I veer off and pass them by riding on the grass, which is okay, except—–what happened to the “share” bit?
Well, this is where the BELL comes into its own. A bell says “bicycle approaching”, and there’s no mistaking it for anything else, and perhaps 8 out of 10 people will happily move over and let a cyclist through. Shared-use, innit. However, on the roads, with traffic and pedestrians all around me, a loud BEEP is on home ground. (What’s that noise? Could be a bike, could be a moped, could be a scooter, I’d better not step off the kerb without looking, thinks the geezer with mobile in hand, and texting in mind….) And when drivers get too close (driving without due care and attention?), or are about to cut me up because they couldn’t care less about cyclists, a sharp blast with the Hornit (on its LOUD setting) might make him or her think twice before making that bad decision.
So, for me, it’s the bell, when required, for shared-use paths—–and the noisy screechy thing when drivers & pedestrians endanger my health. And GOONZ, SIMON, and Andrew Priest, ta for your kind words.
P.R.
Bells, horns, Lycra lad cyclists, pedestrians , fairweather cyclists, skip lorries , Addison lee taxis, scaffolding lorries, all noise to me … I’d be very content with a peaceful cycle to work please … Thanks very much
After having not cycled for some 15 years (at least) and then only for recreation as a child/young teen when a bell did fine; I have just ordered a bike for my daily commute and recreation at the weekends and in the the thinking of getting ‘kitted out’ with everything I need-lights, helmet, locks etc I stumbled here in thinking “Hmm, do I need a horn? After all, I’m not riding round congested London roads or up and the busy A34 dual carriageway.”
Then again, will a bell really do in this day and age where everyone is engrossed in their smartphones with earphones on and people are not as ‘spacially aware’ as they once were?
Out of all of the comments on this page, Phil has written what makes the most sense to me. A bell for the pedestrians on their shared paths and in the park.
And a louder device for the busy dual carriageway and junctions-The Hornit will be the one I opt for I believe.
At £35 it is a reasonable investment for my safety on the road “Excuse me, don’t pull out just yet, I’m here! along with the “WOAH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING MATE, I’M RIDING HERE!”
Why choose, when at £3.95 or less a bell for a gentle “Bicycle approaching” when riding in the park is hardly going to break the bank.
So that’s 40 quid for my peace of mind that I won’t be run over because some ignorant driver hasn’t paid enough attention to see me, plus the peace of mind that I can encourage a family to move over or at least be mindful of my approach without scaring the living daylights out of their two year old daughter and family dog!
Thank you for your opinions, they have greatly aided my decision 🙂
Pleased to help Vincent… as, I am sure, is Phil.
Don’t rule out the AirZound as an alternative to the Hornit. From what I have seen in YouTube the Hornit is a “pheeeep” but the AirZound is a meaty “Phaaaarrrpppp.”
Certainly gets the attention of ignorant motorists!
i read a review that said the hornit was a bit of a weird sound that motorists didnt recognise or pay attention to.
so i was going to buy a airzound, but i see it doesnt have a button/cable like the hornit.
so does anyone know how i can use a horn safely on a racing bike with drop down handlebars?
I need the button as close to the brake levers as possible and dont want to get a horn that tempts me to move my hands to the upright position like “normal” handlebars because then i cant brake if i need to…..
I have been using my Orp (see above) for about 11 months now and am impressed. It also has the ability to plug in a remote switch which you could use safely on drop bars.
Orp has 2 sounds. One is a friendly trill and the other is a blast like a scooter or moped.
Outside London it is brilliant with people reacting appropriately but in London they are either brain dead or looking at the sights or disassociate completely from anything other than the “ding” of a traditional bell or the verbal “Oy” or similar to get them to move.
That said, I still think Orp is a fantastic idea, well made and of course has the advantage of replacing your normal front light in the process
hi gary. thanks for th advice but i like the idea of a refillable pressurised bottle rather than a light….. its £10 cheaper too 🙂
also, where can it go on drop down handlebars? wont it point the light the wrong way?
Hi Mark,
You would put the Orp near the handlebar step and run the remote cable to a suitable position on the drop part of the bars. Riding with hands “down” you would use the remote and riding with your hands “up” on the top of the bars you would use the switch on the Orp. I assume this is how it would work as I have my Orp on a Brompton with flat bars and do not have the remote at all.
I have no connection to Orp other than having backed them on Kickstarter http://www.orpland.com/
ohh it has a remote cable too!? thats great, i might consider it then, thanks 🙂
Can’t believe all the people on here claiming that a horn is useless next to good positioning. If that’s the case you may as well remove all horns from every car, van, and bus… Obviously good positioning is all you need and you’ll never get hit!
[[[[[ Yes, Chris! Audible warnings (buzzer, bell, foghorn, klaxon, barking at people etc.) ARE useful, and if you also POSITION YOURSELF WELL FOR THE COLLISION, you’ll cause more damage to the semi-conscious jaywalker on its dumbphone, walkie-talkie, texting tripewriter or whatever, than you’ll do to yourself, which can only be a good thing for both parties, as the idiot stepping onto our precious bit of blue-painted road will have learned a sharp lesson.
And the driver who suddenly (and shamelessly) turns left across the cyclist’s front wheel will realise (if you hit that button) that everyone within earshot has seen his (or her) CALLOUS AND DANGEROUS STUNT, and that cyclists may be easy targets, but we ain’t always SILENT suffering victims. And—of course we will never know—but how many dead cyclists, smeared by left-turning tipper-trucks, would be alive today if they had had a LOUD screechy DOO-DAH on the handlebars, perhaps causing the driver to slam on the brakes in that last, fatal moment before impact?
A.R.
I use an Airzound. It is an essential piece of kit when cycling in central London, because pedestrians are immune to the sound of a bell – maonly because of idiot cyclists that continually ding-ding-ding-ding when cycling, as if they are more important than everyone else on the roads – even when going through red lights when crossing pedestrians have a green man.
Therefore, when a pedestrian steps off the kerb a couple of yards in front, a swift blast on the horn (usually) gets their attention, and keeps them out of my way.
Yes def going to get something louder than a bell, since using the new segregated lane from Westminster to Tower Hill the amount of pedestrians who step into the cycle lane with headphones on or without looking makes it a necessity.
I have had a horn on my bike for the past 20+ years, two different ones in that time, readily available handheld ‘foghorn’ types, adapted by me to attach and readily operate while cycling. Mostly it has been used when I perceive my safety is at risk for example a starting to turn across me, resulting in the car swerving back (probably at first thinking they were carving up a truck), occasionally a very brief ‘blip’ when I’m unsure if a driver about to manouvre is aware of my approach, I have occasionally sounded it in anger, when a driver has turned across me and I’ve slammed my brakes on, and whilst it has been too late to prevent the driver’s manouvre it hopefully let the driver – and others around – know my feelings. I believe it has saved me from injury possibly a dozen times a year or more, and in urban areas I feel that it is a major contribution to my safety.
I have owned the Hornit. Its rubbish. The tone is silly and no car driver is ever going to recognise or respond to the sound. And it does NOT sound anywhere near as loud as the makers claim.
I now own the AirZound.
It’s FANTASTIC. Sounds like a lorry or orher large vehicle and is super loud such that even those idiots who drive around with music systems loud enough to cover the Royal Albert Hall can hear you; at a junction if you give the horn a blast everyone pauses, no doubt fearful that there’s some big lorry approaching.
And oh the joy of not having ever to worry about batteries; just pump it up with air and it’s ready to use again.
I used to travel round London often on my bike and trike without a horn but I have noticed more people these days walking on the cycle lanes using their mobiles without looking around and people crossing the road without looking.. Often they don’t think that cycle lanes means cyclists have right of way so now I use a horn if needed. Seems that people have lost caring on what is right or wrong and if they live or get run over..
I bought Coolrunner as a joke for my co-worker’s scooter he’s using while his broken foot heals. I wasn’t expecting to be so impressed with it! Looks great and has an awesome old-school sound. It’s much louder than you would expect too – always makes me laugh when I hear it coming down the hallway! Great purchase and totally worth the price