"Belling the car" by Rolling along / LJWorld.com

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Belling the car

One evening a couple of months ago, I was headed back to work after dinner and, waiting for a red light to change, I let my mind wander.

Just before the light changed to green, I took a quick look around and was surprised to see a car sitting next to me.

As it pulled away, I chided myself for zoning out so much I didn’t hear the car approach.

As it happened, I caught up to the vehicle at the next light, and it finally dawned on me that it wasn’t just my own spaciness that allowed the vehicle to sneak up on me. It was a hybrid, and it obviously was in electric mode as it approached the light at which I was stopped.

And electric cars can be awfully quiet.

I have to admit, the incident spooked me a little.

I figure hearing is the second-most important sense — behind sight — to a bike commuter intent on, well, living. Of course, that’s not as profound as it seems, since smell, touch and taste don’t do much to keep the miles piling up.

But I rely heavily on my ears.

I can tell when cars are approaching and how close they are. I can tell if they’re accelerating or decelerating. Sometimes I can even tell if the driver is angry or impatient. Some cyclists claim they can tell the kind of car that is approaching by the sound it makes, but I’m not that discerning.

Sometimes, I’ll admit, I won’t even turn around before, say, a left-hand turn because I just know that silence behind me means there’s no internal-combustion engine gaining on me.

But these stealthy hybrid/electric vehicles change the game a bit.

Don’t be mistaken: I’m a fan of hybrids and electrics. I wish I could afford one. In a perfect world, my next —or even third! — car would be an electric Smart Car, powered by solar panels on my garage.

And I’m opposed to pollution in all forms: air, light and, yes, noise.

So the thought of a vehicle that’s environmentally friendly and quiet — hmm, sounds kind of like a bike — works for me.

As long as it doesn’t crush me like an opossum.

I happened across a news item that shows I’m not alone in my disquiet about the quiet.

It seems Japan has launched a government review on whether to add a noise-making element to its near-silent hybrids after vision-impaired groups called them dangerous.

“Blind people depend on sounds when they walk, but there are no engine sounds from hybrid vehicles when running at low speed” and on the electric motor, a transport ministry official said.

The official said there had been no decision on what kind of sound should be used, only that it should “induce a response of caution.”

As much as I’d like to know a vehicle is gaining on me, the thought of adding a noise-maker — deer whistles, anyone? — strikes me as odd, and I reckon few people would be willing to put up with an unnecessary belling-of-the-cat noise just to announce their presence to a tiny minority.

Regardless, I find myself riding even more cautiously these days.

If only I could smell ’em coming.

By Andrew Hartsock

July 6, 2009

Rolling along

Discussion

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6 July 2009
at 8:49 a.m.

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RoeDapple (Anonymous) says…

Take care of that hearing Andrew. A Harley could pull up next to me without getting my attention!
6 July 2009
at 9:01 a.m.

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Keith (Anonymous) says…

This is a common problem for motorists too, bicycles don't make much noise. Put a card in your spokes already!
6 July 2009
at 10:44 a.m.

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Irish (Irish Swearingen) says…

As a pedestrian I also worry about this. Also I can look both ways and start to cross and one will come zooming around the corner.
Okay, check this out, my daughter keeps her bike at the side of her apartment complex. She drove to Holcom to work out and she glanced out the window that looks out on the parking lot and there was her bicycle! She has customized it so it is distinctive.
Someone had stolen it and then rode it to where she was.
She put it in the car and drove home. I wonder what the thief thought when they came out and found it gone.
What are the odds?
6 July 2009
at 2:25 p.m.

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gsxr600 (Anonymous) says…

Hybrid and electric cars are gimmicks. Everyone just blatantly accepts them as the second coming of … They are worthless and cause more harm than good.
6 July 2009
at 4:10 p.m.

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Graczyk (Anonymous) says…

Hybrids cause more harm than good? I think you need to explain that one gsxr600.
6 July 2009
at 11:13 p.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

I'd suggest belling the bicycles.
7 July 2009
at 9:02 p.m.

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bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…

Okay Andrew,
now you've gone and done it.

so, its okay to put the lives and limbs at risk of a “minority” you describe as tiny? thanks, thanks a whole lot buddy!

quiet cars are being fought in america too, don't just look at Japan:
quietcars.nfb.org

and kids, elderly, and as you noted, cyclists are at risk because of quiet cars. but, hey, cyclists are a small minority so WTH!

LOL.

so anyway, Andrew, please take a better attitude. and, yes, whistles are one option, friction vibrators are another.

quiet car plus roundabout, there you go, no hear, no see, you die.

7 July 2009
at 9:06 p.m.

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bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…

As much as I’d like to know a vehicle is gaining on me, the thought of adding a noise-maker — deer whistles, anyone? — strikes me as odd, and I reckon few
people would be willing to put up with an unnecessary belling-of-the-cat noise just to announce their presence to a tiny minority.

seriously, I'm quite shocked at Andrew's dismissive attitude about the lives of a “tiny minority.”
apparently Andrew is one of the greenie wheenies who doesn't care about human misery or human trouble, just wants the ecofascism to happen, and to hell with the human consequences.

Andrue, I'll be reading your blog differently from here, thanks for being so honest about your ecofascism.
7 July 2009
at 11:56 p.m.

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bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…

sorry Andrew,
I kinda flew off the handle. I agree with you that many of the people who choose the quiet cars might not give a rat's @$$ about putting others at risk. I see that the ecofascist/greenie wheenie reference to you I should've addressed to the quiet car buyers. I did note that you kinda expressed a desire to buy one, though.
8 July 2009
at 12:07 a.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

Stealth cars.

Bicycles will stand no chance.

Too funny!
8 July 2009
at 12:10 a.m.

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bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…

well Marion,
bicyclists are only a minority after all!