Cars parking in the bike lane radicalized me 13 years ago, and these days my willingness to "just go around" has hit rock bottom. It feels more important than ever to make it safe for ALL of us to walk and bike. #PreciousCargo
@mbonsma Can you use an online form to send a photo with the time and location of the incident to the local cops? At least the driver might get a warning out of the bargain.
@mbonsma I have mused getting a "car horn” as they can never seem to hear my bell for behaviour like this. Not practical in your case with the precious cargo.
It would be nice if having photographic evidence would be enough to get them ticketed. <sighs>
You can get an aftermarket moped horn for $50 (US). Has an internal battery, I recharge it about every 3 months. Works well, but don't use it on pedestrians unless they really deserve it (walking 4 abreast in the bike lane).
I'd love to have a truck horn, but it's my ears 2 feet from the horn.
If you do, here's a tip: mount the actuator button on the middle of the brake lever assembly, such that the button is pointing towards your index finger. That way you can activate the horn with the side of your index finger, while still keeping 3 fingers and thumb available for full braking.
@WTL@mbonsma for dealing with exactly the issue of motorists not hearing my bell, I have been using a bike light with a momentary-maximum button on the handlebar. (A Fenix BC30 light.) It's less useful for signaling to pedestrians or fellow cyclists - my bell works better with them - but for motorists the high-beam flash works very well.
@gnomon@WTL this is interesting! I have been loath to get a horn because it feels like joining an arms race (and adds to noise pollution) but I've never considered something like this. Very cool.
@johnefrancis@WTL@mbonsma I can only imagine that they measured the beam angle by standing the bike up on a trail, triggering the boost button, then checking which trees had all their leaves burned off
(You can also find "laser 303" / "JBL4107" lasers with similar power output levels for about 1/10 the price of the Sanwus, but what you're trading off isn't total power output, it's quality control of the specific spectrum range produced by the emitter. That matters because it's how you buy the goggles that ensure you burn only paint and not your retinas)
@johnefrancis I have been advised to express my sincere belief that these devices are generally safe as advertised and that any information to the contrary would come as a great surprise.
Add comment