http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "Electric cars deemed 'too quiet'" en Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:06:37 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2198#post-23250 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 13:53:43 +0000 LaidBack 23250@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's odd though 'the noise thing'.</p> <p>When training people for road use we really only advise observation. So in effect if someone didn't have good hearing there is no reason why they can't cycle safely.</p> <p>In Edinburgh the reason that you have to look behind you on places like MMW is for other cyclists. When electric vehicles become more common <em>(on roads - not MMW I hope!)</em> the same approach should keep you safe.</p> <p>BUT in complete contrast... people who drive large 4x4s with headlights blazing along cobbled streets should not assume that because their car is bigger, brighter and noisier they have automatic right of way.</p> <p><em>TNT are using electric delivery lorries. </em> One at TBW other day. It does make a noise - if you're close enough! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2198#post-23240 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:46:07 +0000 Min 23240@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"so it was presumably already not safe to assume that silence = vehicle absence even before the introduction of relatively quiet cars? "</p> <p>It isn't but so many people do anyway. They seem to have a mental block about it. I don't particularly want pedestrians encouraged to only use their ears to determine whether it is safe to cross but I do think that some car noise is good when cycling since I can't imagine anything worse than never knowing if an electric car is about to buzz you. No doubt some of the drivers would make a new sport out of driving as silently and closely as possible. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2198#post-23239 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:44:42 +0000 recombodna 23239@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>TNT are using electric delivery lorries. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2198#post-23238 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:40:49 +0000 wingpig 23238@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've never seen (nor heard) one to verify it in the flesh but I'd assume that an electrical car would produce sufficient tyre-on-road noises to be at least as loud as a non-coasting smoothly-oiled chain-noise-free slick-tyred cycle (ridden by someone not huffing or puffing or humming and clicking their fingers) so it was presumably already not safe to assume that silence = vehicle absence even before the introduction of relatively quiet cars? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2198#post-23236 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:24:00 +0000 Dave 23236@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>They should start wearing headphones (seriously). If you don't assume you can hear exactly where every object around you is (and is heading) then you aren't likely to make a fatal assumption.</p> <p>I can't be the only one who finds that "iPeds" actually look more before stepping out into the road (although of course many of them look and step out anyway, so I'm not sure what this is proving!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2198#post-23209 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 19:03:26 +0000 ruggtomcat 23209@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>lol @K-nic</p> <p>All trams in Melbourne (which has a lot) are referred to as 'silent death on rails' by the couriers. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2198#post-23205 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 17:51:32 +0000 kaputnik 23205@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>spokey dokes </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2198#post-23204 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 16:41:12 +0000 alibali 23204@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Practical limits too: power diveted to the speaker is lost to the wheels...How about the sound of a cycle bell? Or, maybe a milk float... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2198#post-23203 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 16:21:39 +0000 seanspotatobusiness 23203@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm hoping there will be legal limitations on the nuisance people can make. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2198#post-23201 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 01:51:41 +0000 recombodna 23201@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Barnard added that, theoretically, any sound could be programmed into the device. "I'm sure it won't be long before people will put whatever sound they want in the speaker"</p> <p>Dear god no!!!! As if ringtones are'nt bad enough!! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2198#post-23200 Sat, 05 Feb 2011 23:55:06 +0000 wee folding bike 23200@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Trolley busses which temporarily replaced the err... trams... in Glasgow were known as silent death. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2198#post-23198 Sat, 05 Feb 2011 23:23:21 +0000 chdot 23198@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/news/Electric-cars-deemed-39too-quiet39.6712190.jp" rel="nofollow">http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/news/Electric-cars-deemed-39too-quiet39.6712190.jp</a> </p>