http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/news/Electric-cars-deemed-39too-quiet39.6712190.jp
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
"Electric cars deemed 'too quiet'"
(12 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
-
Trolley busses which temporarily replaced the err... trams... in Glasgow were known as silent death.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"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"
Dear god no!!!! As if ringtones are'nt bad enough!!
Posted 13 years ago # -
I'm hoping there will be legal limitations on the nuisance people can make.
Posted 13 years ago # -
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...
Posted 13 years ago # -
spokey dokes
Posted 13 years ago # -
lol @K-nic
All trams in Melbourne (which has a lot) are referred to as 'silent death on rails' by the couriers.
Posted 13 years ago # -
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.
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!)
Posted 13 years ago # -
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?
Posted 13 years ago # -
TNT are using electric delivery lorries.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"so it was presumably already not safe to assume that silence = vehicle absence even before the introduction of relatively quiet cars? "
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.
Posted 13 years ago # -
It's odd though 'the noise thing'.
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.
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 (on roads - not MMW I hope!) the same approach should keep you safe.
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.
TNT are using electric delivery lorries. One at TBW other day. It does make a noise - if you're close enough!
Posted 13 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
posts
