Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Škoda DuoBell: A bicycle bell that penetrates noise-cancelling headphones

skoda-storyboard.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

201–210 of 618 posts

Re: Škoda DuoBell: A bicycle bell that penetrates noise-cancelling headphones

#201

Post by sandos »

noio wrote: post #190
i_am_proteus wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bicycle bells are mostly for warning pedestrians when approaching from behind and passing on shared-use trails. I ride on shared infrastructure and cannot afford to build new infrastructure when my town will not. Not warning a pedestrian when approaching from behind introduces the possibility of collision if the pedestrian makes a sudden change in his walking course. I typically use this etiquette: Passing a single p…

I wonder if you are German? Spending some time in Germany from Holland I notice there is a significant difference in cycling etiquette :) Especially regarding “passing a cyclist” which also touches on the essential difficulty with having only one “ring” sound. Always when Germans pass me on the bike and they ring I get slightly annoyed because I interpret it as a “get out of the way” ring, and I feel like there is en…

This is exactly the same thing with the car horn: in some countries it seems to be used for "hey you, unprotected person, do NOT swerve right now, I am passing you with my car" versus in Sweden where I live, your'e not allowed that usage at all.

Also in Sweden, you do only use the bell if really needed.

Re: Škoda DuoBell: A bicycle bell that penetrates noise-cancelling headphones

#202

Post by apothegm »

47282847 wrote: post #118
zielmicha wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this is a really bad idea unless paired with some regime that penalizes inappropiate use of alarms - and most societies don't treat noise pollution as a real problem. For example, people honk all the time even when there are no safety issues. Or have misconfigured home/car alarms. Outlawing using ANC for blocking "fake alarms" only makes the problem worse.

> some regime that penalizes inappropiate use of alarms Legally, use of horns in traffic is restricted, and abuse can be punished. Doesn’t keep people from honking all the time.

It’s thoroughly unenforced, which is the problem.

Tho I like the proposal to require that manufacturers design car horns to sound as loudly inside the cabin as outside. Might make a dent.

Re: Škoda DuoBell: A bicycle bell that penetrates noise-cancelling headphones

#203

Post by jwr »

eigenspace wrote: post #126
0x3f wrote: post #116

Do horns and bells really prevent accidents? In order for e.g. a horn to work you need enough time that the driver processes the situation and decides the horn will communicate something AND enough time for the pedestrian or whatever to process that and react to it. Generally it's a lot easier just to press the brake, and more importantly be travelling at a speed and in a manner where the brake is sufficient. Structu…

A horn or bell is mostly for telling other people "hey I'm here, stay out of my way and dont suddenly cross into my path" My opinion as a cyclist is that I should basically only be using my bell on pedestrians when the pedestrians are wandering onto the bike lane. If im cycling through a shared space, I find it extremely rude to ring the bell, because it feels like I'm telling people to get out of my way, but they ha…

> A horn or bell is mostly for telling other people "hey I'm here, stay out of my way and dont suddenly cross into my path"

This. I only use the bell on bike paths, too. Sometimes it feels like a game of pac-man, where baddies will wander into my path from all directions and in all kinds of ways. Cars doing a right turn, zombies staring into phones, people walking backwards (!), zombies staring into phones walking backwards, it doesn't end.

Re: Škoda DuoBell: A bicycle bell that penetrates noise-cancelling headphones

#206

Post by mc7alazoun »

I genuinely had a similar thought a few days ago while riding my motorbike; I had my AirPods on with noise cancelling, and I was like: I wish there was something that would alert me to horns/bells ... not that AirPods are super efficient at cancelling background noise but still!

Re: Škoda DuoBell: A bicycle bell that penetrates noise-cancelling headphones

#207

Post by djtango »

Phemist wrote: post #100
djtango wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Singapore, cyclists are generally expected to use the pavement and share it with pedestrians.

Which, seems to me, is the actual problem that should be solved.

I've thought about it before and I think part of it is that the average cyclist here moves a lot slower because of the temperature and humidity.

When I put even an ounce of effort into my cycle I become a sweaty mess which can be a little antisocial depending on the situation

Re: Škoda DuoBell: A bicycle bell that penetrates noise-cancelling headphones

#208

Post by throw83940449 »

laydn wrote: post #24

Next challange: Place a camera in front of the bike that scans approaching pedestrians. Calculate their head position and trajectory. Use directional speakers and focused sound beams to focus the ~780Hz sound towards the head(s) of the pedestrian(s). Now that you are not bothering the environment as much, you can increase the volume as well.

I carry air horn and stick. But I am pedestrian.

Re: Škoda DuoBell: A bicycle bell that penetrates noise-cancelling headphones

#209

Post by [deleted] »

0x3f wrote: post #116

Do horns and bells really prevent accidents? In order for e.g. a horn to work you need enough time that the driver processes the situation and decides the horn will communicate something AND enough time for the pedestrian or whatever to process that and react to it. Generally it's a lot easier just to press the brake, and more importantly be travelling at a speed and in a manner where the brake is sufficient. Structu…

[deleted]

Re: Škoda DuoBell: A bicycle bell that penetrates noise-cancelling headphones

#210

Post by matsemann »

djtango wrote: post #96
Mashimo wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But some bikers probably also use anc headphones, no?

Seen cyclists with overear anc headphones cycling on the road in london. Absolutely mad.

Do you also think drivers with windows blocking sounds and their stereo blasting are mad?
Post reply on HN