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

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381–390 of 618 posts

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

#381
People use their ears to navigate traffic (as non-car-users) much more than they realize. There's a reason kids need to be drilled in "look both ways before crossing the street" - you can hear that there's no car coming, what's the problem? There's a reason electric cars need to make that strange noise so you can, in fact, hear them coming. Absolutely a headphone user, with not only ANC to reduce external noises but loud music to mask them, is missing a primary sense for navigating traffic. Absolutely these things increase accidents from minor (someone walking into the path of a cyclist on a multi-use path, oblivious to bells and callouts) to major.

But can that bell penetrate loud music? How many people really walk around with ANC headphones just as a "cone of silence" device?

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

#382
post #121

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.

No honk in Switzerland, some honk in Romania, all honk in India. There's no one rule to rule them all.

I've recently visited the southern US (Texas, Louisiana and such) and I was very surprised about the lack of honking. When I returned to Europe I've felt like in India.

I myself pretty much never honk. I understand honking makes sense on narrow bendy roads like in the mountains, where you need to alert the drivers behind the corner, but I don't see any other legitimate reasons to be honest.

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

#383

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Shouting that while traveling too fast is indeed incorrect, but a polite "on your left" or bell while traveling an appropriate speed is considered good behavior to avoid surprising pedestrians.

also - even though the pedestrian has the obligation to move over - a friendly thanks! or thank you! helps all cyclists in the long-run.

Yep, a wave helps as well.

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

#384
post #306
post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I was commuting 60k/day on my bike in shitty suburban conditions, I used one of these instead - you get limited use per trip, but you can always fill it up with a CO2 cylinder/bike pump: https://www.hpvelotechnik.com/en/recumbent-trikes-bikes/acce... It is loud .

That’s a crappy pressure vessel holding 350ml of 80psi air, for about 100J of stored energy. I’m not entirely sure I’d be comfortable with that, especially anywhere with my face in the line of fire it it fails.

Your bike already has two crappy 80psi pressure vessels, why not three?

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

#385
post #354
post #234

Coincidentally, I bought a 12v car horn yesterday with the intent of wiring it into my ebike's power supply with a little button on my handlebars. Not because of other cyclists or pedestrians wearing (anc) headphones but because modern cars are so heavily sound-proofed they don't hear a bicycle bell anymore. A recent incident with an inattentive taxi driver in a brand new EV nearly flattening me prompted me to want t…

for your safety, when people hear a car horn, they’re going to be looking for a car.

It should make a ring-ring sound but at 120 decibels?

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

#386
post #299

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Shouting that while traveling too fast is indeed incorrect, but a polite "on your left" or bell while traveling an appropriate speed is considered good behavior to avoid surprising pedestrians.

Outside of some stage actors and drill sergeants, there are probably few people who can project their voices well enough that a vocal warning is useful. You're either traveling slow enough that it's not necessary (and why yell at people if you have to?), or are too far away for someone to understand and get a bearing on who isn't already looking at you. A bell is still rude in a shared space but used correctly, a dec…

> A bell is still rude in a shared space

I just don't think that is even a little bit true, or at least it's something that is very culturally specific and thus not generally applicable.

I have a friendly sounding bell I use from an appropriate distance (and I can modulate the volume), and I routinely have people give a light wave to show they heard. In addition, the biggest complaint about cyclists in local social media is about them passing without notice.

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

#387

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Shouting that while traveling too fast is indeed incorrect, but a polite "on your left" or bell while traveling an appropriate speed is considered good behavior to avoid surprising pedestrians.

The problem is there's a good number of people that hear "on your left " and shift left. A gentle bell mostly doesn't do that.

Yeah, I prefer a bell.

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

#389

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least they’re forward about it - I’ve lost count of how many bike accessories claimed to be USB C, but they only charge when connected to their specialized cable that converts from USB A to C.

Double-sided USB-C connections require a handshake before sending voltage. USB-A ports can have the 5v line active at all times. Cheap USB C gadgets often don't make the handshake, they just use it as a 5V input, necessitating an A to C cable.

Interesting. Does UsBC spec/licensing require any sort of notation for products that don’t implement handshake?

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

#390

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Some cyclists ring their bells because they're worried a pedestrian might suddenly turn into their path, This is wrong - on mixed use paths, it is customary and proper to announce "on your left" when passing, and a bell is a nice alternative. Even cycling slowly pedestrians can do some very erratic things, and moreover are very surprised when cyclists suddenly appear on their left (and may do something dumb in surp…

On the bike trail it is crucial to do a shoulder check when changing lanes. Some people get "in the zone" and ignore all other traffic in the singular pursuit of the shortest times. They will get very very angry if you get in front of them, if they spot you at all instead of just slamming into your rear tire at full speed.

I personally can't stand to ride without a mirror for situational awareness (or, if on road, a mirror and also radar).
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