Airzounds - more trouble than they're worth?

[Crankarm]

I don't think anyone who's come across my blatherings on the 'Assaulted' thread could have any doubt where I stand on that specific incident, but one thing it does highlight is the part played by Airzounds. I'm really not sure these devices do anyone any favours.

The Highway Code says horns should have one and only one use - to let other people know you're there. But looking at the video that kicked off the whole Assaulted incident, whereas if I'd been cut up like that, I would've rolled my eyes, muttered to myself about tosspot drivers, and got on my way, I suspect that if I'd bought a big horn that, as well as informing other road-users of my existence, can also be used to shout "Oi, you TOSSER!', I might be inclined to think 'now would be an ideal time to use it'.

Drivers, as we know, also use their horns in this way. The difference, of course, being that drivers are well protected by a metal box.

I know Airzounds have their fans, (you only have to go to Amazon to find 305 users giving them a near-5 star rating) but personally I suspect they're more trouble than they're worth - that while they give cyclists a good vent for letting off steam, in terms of actual physical risk, they *increase* the danger to cyclists rather than reduce it. I'd be interested to hear any views, dissenting or otherwise.

(Stands back and covers ears...)

I think you are confusing methods of alerting other road users with those that show agression or disapproval of other road users actions. So shouting "Oi, you to$$er, wa**er, c**t!" at another vehicle or person who nearly collides with you is preferable to using a horn? Well if you and others believe this then this is very revealing about how you use the roads and alert other road users to your presence and use your voice to admonish, berate or insult them ..................

On tuesday I was following a lady cyclist along Hills Road into town riding in a bus lane. I posted this earlier in Gaz's thread which he got a result from filming a truck driver that nearly wiped out out a cyclist as he left hooked her. In his clip I think a moped rider used their horn to alert the truck driver who swerved away from the cyclist thus avoiding colliding with them. A bell if indeed the cyclist had one simply wouldn't be heard alongside a truck or a bus.

Here is the incident where I used my Airzound to save the cyclist in front from being splatted.

I was riding down Hills Rd in Cambridge on tuesday, in the bus lane. I was crapping myself as it is pretty busy lots of side roads with cars emerging, ped crossings and peds crossing by jay walking, buses. Anyway going toward town, lady cyclist in front of me, Ortlieb flowery panniers, very nice, wasn't drafting her, Audi A3 decideds to suddenly veer into bus lane to pass by stationary traffic up ahead behind which the Audi car would have had to stop. Just like the cyclist in your footage she was very nearly felled, swerved toward kerb to avoid being hit, but wasn't as I had my finger on my Airzound button which I sounded immediately I saw the Audi start to cut into bus lane. The driver swerved back out of the bus lane just before colliding with cyclist and just stopping in time to avoid rear ending the stationary traffic in front. Further up at the lights with Lensfiled road the lady cyclist turned round to me asked if I saw what just happened. I said I had. She was pretty shook up. She asked who had blown the horn. I said me. She thanked me very much as she said it stopped the car driving into her. I agreed it would have indeed done so had I not used my horn. She asked me what the make my horn was, how much and where to get one. Airzound 3, £19.99, CRC website, fill it using a normal bike pump.

Like all things inappropriate use can cause problems. Just as shouting obscenities at other road users who you feel may have almost killed you. It may well only escalate the situation.

 

[MrJamie]

There's no need for me, they're pretty offensive on shared use paths compared to say, slowing down and being polite and I'm not convinced they're particularly useful on the roads either.

Maybe they have some merit in dense urban areas to alert drivers to your presence, but from the cammer videos I've seen they're usually used excessively and comes across as telling drivers off, which is fine if you enjoy confrontations with aggressive knuckle draggers. For those who do watch cycle cammers, I think the 'droid horn' for example would get a lot of people into trouble, if it wasn't used by a big bloke with obvious cameras.

 

[Crankarm]

I find it staggering that those who claim that they would not entertain using an Airzound come out with such derogatory and frankly inflammatory offensive language to describe other road users. It shows real contempt for others. I see enough of it in Cambridge generally males shouting obscenities at anyone or anything that gets in their way even when they are RLJing or causing peds to scatter on paths. It's boorish intolerant behaviour. What ever our carriage or means of transport we are all trying to get from A to B safely. There will be occasions where people will not be aware of your presence and it is necessary to alert them whether you use your voice, tinkle a bell or use an Airzound. All these can be used inappropriately can be totally over the top which will indicate disapproval toward other people and road users. We all have to get along. Respect others, drive and ride defensively.

 

[GrasB]

Car Horns - more trouble than they're worth?

YES! It's been years since I've seen, or rather, heard anyone use one appropriately. Mostly they're used to show annoyance, say hello to a friend (which also ends up aggravating random people because it seems like they're 'having a go' at them) & finally I got sick to death of hearing "I'm here to pick you up toots" in my previous house at times as late at mid-night.

The last time I wanted to use a car horn I ended up slowing down to about 1mph as I had to think too long about which the button it was.

 

[Deleted member 20519]

There's no need for me, they're pretty offensive on shared use paths compared to say, slowing down and being polite and I'm not convinced they're particularly useful on the roads either.

Maybe they have some merit in dense urban areas to alert drivers to your presence, but from the cammer videos I've seen they're usually used excessively and comes across as telling drivers off, which is fine if you enjoy confrontations with aggressive knuckle draggers. For those who do watch cycle cammers, I think the 'droid horn' for example would get a lot of people into trouble, if it wasn't used by a big bloke with obvious cameras.

I was going to mention that. If you think a toot of an Airzound is bad, watch sonofthewinds. He hold down his 'droid horn' for 10 seconds after being passed closely by a taxi that's now a mile up the road.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

not a fan of them. voice works fine for pedestrains and cars alike. "oiy" for cars works just fine (and I would be preparing to stop/stopping as I yelled it), "(2) bikes passing to the left/right" works fine with pedestrains when they have not heard you or dog walkers when you want them to check on their dogs - this also helps groups not split down the middle and clarifies which side you are going. "(2) bike(s) behind you" for horse riders followed by a general rambling on about the weather or anything else, talking to the horse more than the rider as you cycle passed a horse when approaching from behind (the chatting calms them and lets them know you are there, so no surprises - works well on the horses we have around here and we have loads of them) riders seem to appreciate it. same applies to other cyclists, but I usually don't carry on rambling about the weather...

 

[asterix]

I've a bell.
It works very well.
Does my bell.

 

[fossyant]

I was going to mention that. If you think a toot of an Airzound is bad, watch sonofthewinds. He hold down his 'droid horn' for 10 seconds after being passed closely by a taxi that's now a mile up the road.

Sonofthewind and that droid bloke are a menace.

 

[BSRU]

Since I am apparently a "dickhead", anyone else(whether on a bike or not) that makes rude gestures or swears at drivers/pedestrians/people are also equally "dickheads".

And according to a "well educated" work colleague", all cyclists are "dickheads", especially that "Wiggle" bloke.

 

[ComedyPilot]

If you really need to spend £20 on a second hand pop bottle and a plastic horn, then fill yer boots. Slowing down/reading the road and avoiding the incident in the first place is a far better/cheaper option.

Horses for courses and all that.

 

[gbb]

Never seen one, only ever heard them on youtube in the incidents therein...personally i wouldnt have one.
Not really sure why, ive given it passing thought...why not ?
I ended up thinking, if you've got one and use it, i 'think' drivers would see it as premeditated, you're 'tooled up' for aggro. I think they probably inflame things.
You notice i use the word 'think'. I'm not sure...i have no experience of them, the effect they have and peoples responses to them....but i suspect mine would be negative if one was used against me, even if i was in the wrong.

Personally, i prefer a bellowed.. OI

 

[gbb]

You may think that but some f***er used one on me, not aggressively, just a toot. I near fekkin died. I went up, sideways, backwards, forgot where I was, forgot where the dog was, I must have looked like I was fitting.

He just waited patiently until I'd stopped flapping, said thanks and went past. I was too stunned to say anything, my morning was in pieces, my HR at max, my hands shaking, the birds had stopped singing, the sky had clouded over and my nervous twitch had kicked in.

I'm not a fan of airzounds.

I can relate to that. I was driving through a town one day and a guy appeared to deliberately 'amble' across the road in front of me. Wrongly with hindsight, i gave him a blast of my horn as i passed....the guy jumped out of his skin, his arms flailed, very similar to what you describe. I think he dropped everything he had....
At that moment i felt a pr1ck, he wasnt being obnoxious, awkward etc etc...he was simply oblivious (at some risk to himself) to everything. In a world of his own. I still feel a tad of guilt years later...if he's had a bad heart

 

[Crankarm]

YES! It's been years since I've seen, or rather, heard anyone use one appropriately. Mostly they're used to show annoyance, say hello to a friend (which also ends up aggravating random people because it seems like they're 'having a go' at them) & finally I got sick to death of hearing "I'm here to pick you up toots" in my previous house at times as late at mid-night.

The last time I wanted to use a car horn I ended up slowing down to about 1mph as I had to think too long about which the button it was.

Aren't you supposed to be an advanced level driver which would mean you should know where the horn is on your Alpha car?

 

[I like Skol]

Aren't you supposed to be an advanced level driver which would mean you should know where the horn is on your Alpha car?

Very good Crankarm, there's a word that perfectly describes people like you and it begins with T!

 

[theclaud]

there's a word that perfectly describes people like you and it begins with T!

I feel spoilt for choice!