Does/has anyone used a whistle while commuting by bike?

[Ely Rodriguez]

I've found that there is an increasing number of pedestrians, bicycle commuters, and drivers with headphones,
Besides distracting them from the task of safe transit, it is now becoming more and more useless for me to ring a bell or yell "excuse me" or "good morning".

I remember seeing comedy videos of a bicycle messenger using a whistle.
Does anyone use a whistle?
Honestly, I just want to get home in one piece.

Opinions?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEpTKn5V1VA

-Ely

[Roland Bevan]

I haven't used one (don't have a bike commute currently), but I did the usual Googling and found this bicycle whistle: http://www.fastcoexist.com/3033563/this-ear-shattering-bike-whistle-makes-drivers-pay-attention

An interesting fact from that link; some cities and states have laws prohibiting whistles from use by anyone other than the police.

Another option I remembered seeing the Kickstarter for a while back is the Loud Bicycle Horn. It's a car horn on your bike. Looks kind of big and bulky, though.

Finally there is the Hornit from the UK. I bought one of these  a while back but decided it was overkill for randonneuring - too loud and startling for the bike path which is mostly where I find the need for signaling people. If you want it let me know; you can check it out on the streets of San Francisco. It's more of a high-pitched trilling sound than a horn sound (play the video to hear it), but it's definitely very loud, and will definitely penetrate any headphones in use.

  -Roland

--
--
This message is from the San Francisco Randonneurs list at sfra...@googlegroups.com
Search the archives at http://groups.google.com/group/sfrandon
For SFR's schedule and general information, visit http://sfrandonneurs.org/
To unsubscribe, email sfrandon+u...@googlegroups.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "San Francisco Randonneurs" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to sfrandon+u...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to sfra...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Ely Rodriguez]

Thanks Roland, all of those products look great. The video is very telling.
I wonder what the law is in regards to whistle use in SF?
I will check in with the SF bike coalition.

[Eric Walstad]

When I was a kid my dad taught me to whistle really loud - not sure if that kind of whistling has a name or not but I bet there's a how-to on youtube[0].

A couple loud chirps usually do the trick while commuting or on the bridge. It sounds human, I guess, so it seems to get the attention of both drivers and blazing saddles. It's nice not to remember another piece of hardware to bring along on a ride and it's always there when you need it.

Hth

Eric
[0] How to whistle loud with no fingers (EASIEST WAY): http://youtu.be/m83d-KxsvMY

--

[Greg Merritt]

Such creative thinking!

Ok...my city recommends the following crime prevention measure:

"A loud signaling device such as a whistle may be used to direct attention to yourself if you feel threatened."

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentPrint.aspx?id=7056

I believe that dooring, right hooking, unsafe passing, and startling cyclists are all against the books according to my combined city/state laws.

Meanwhile, my city's noise ordinance includes the following:

"Loud or raucous yelling, shouting, whistling, or singing so as to cause a Noise Disturbance is hereby prohibited."

"The intentional sounding or permitting the sounding outdoors of any fire, burglar, or civil defense alarm, siren, whistle, or similar stationary emergency signaling device, except for emergency purposes or for testing" [...are inviolation of this Chapter...]

IANAL, but it seems like a case could be made, in my city, for whistling when a criminal act is causing an emergency situation...yeah?

Hmmmm....

-Greg

[C. Duque]

I used a whistle many many years ago for a little while and gave up on that, the handlebar bell is SO much friendlier and good enough for my taste. The whistle was a pain to use and the reaction from people was negative. To use the whistle you have to take your hands of the handlebar and if you need to make others aware of your presence you probably want your hands at the bike controls. I still have that metal whistle somewhere in case you want it.

You can always learn to whistle very loud, a friend of mine did it. On a crowded environment he whistles and we can hear him a block or more away.

I've seen (recently) at least one rider on the GGBridge with a whistle. He looked mad and not happy. Hope you don't become mad and unhappy with the use of a whistle :) 

Carlos 

[Ely Rodriguez]

Exactly, I don't want to become the angry guy! I just want folks to know I'm there.

[Roland Bevan]

Maybe you could use a portable voice amplifier: http://www.voice-amplifier.com/index.php?cPath=25

Then you could simply shout and/or talk (or whistle?) and it would sound like a police car megaphone.

  -Roland

[Gintautas Budvytis]

I second Carlos. Bike bell is so much friendlier and kids just love sound of it. Adults identify you as a bike rider instantly (childhood memories?). Now, time to time, you will ride upon an a$$hole who will want to confront a bicyclist or make your life harder anyway and whistle can be that trigger.

Bicycle bell 1, Whistle 0.

GB

On Tuesday, December 9, 2014 10:18:33 AM UTC-8, C. Duque wrote:

[Greg Merritt]

+1 re: bells rock!

...although, on the trails, I have had the following happen once or twice:

"Ding-ding! Good morning!"

<nothing>

"Ding-ding! Hello!"

<nothing>

"On your left! Ding-a-ling-a-ling! Hellooooo!!"

<nothing>

*brief skid of the back tire

"Aiiiieeee!! Bloody murder!!!!!!!!!!!"

Ok yeah but I...I mean, skids are never good....I...but...I....I can't even. o.0

I'll add that squealing brakes can have a certain...utility...in certain contexts.

-Greg

[Ely Rodriguez]

I love bells! I whistle too, it works sometimes.
For the record, I own a megaphone, and used it at work, but the boss banned it because someone on the board of trustees complained. Oh well.
I'm going to try a whistle and hope I don't get arrested or become the angry bike guy in SF with the whistle.
If people start taking photos of me and posting them on twitter, maybe I should put a ruthworks billboard on my bike for free advertisement.
hm...i feel a marketing strategy coming on...