Alerting cyclists to presence — without inducing panic
Q A comment on Abe W.’s question (Roadshow, Dec. 13) about honking to notify bicyclists he is behind them in his quiet electric car. My Chevy Volt has two means of honking: the usual big scary horn in the center of the steering wheel and also a little toottoot horn, which is a button at the end of the turn-signal stalk. The dealer explained that this second one was for exactly the purposes Abe was discussing — when you need to alert pedestrians, bicyclists, blind persons, etc., of your existence.
Patti White San Marcos
A This is good news to me and I’m sure to many EV drivers.
Q I also use this toot-toot horn to nudge texters sitting in front of me at a green light. Not sure about its legality, but it works without scaring anyone.
Patti White
A Mrs. Roadshow, this is reason enough to consider getting a Volt.
Q Here’s how you can politely tell bicyclists of your presence when behind them, especially in an electric car: On roads with raised lane-marking dots, when safe, move over until your tires impact the dots. It makes a clear noise, and also informs the bicyclist of your position in the lane. If it isn’t safe to move that far over, then you have no business passing anyway. Ken Adelman, Sue D., Mark Anderson, others
A That is so true.
Q Regarding the best way to let bicyclists know you’re passing while driving an electric car, I’d suggest a gentle tap on the horn vs. yelling out the window, which could be interpreted as road rage. A toot is a gentle way of telling me I’m going to be passed. It’s when I hear a long blast behind me that makes me wonder if the driver is intentionally trying to startle me.
John Konno Jr. San Jose
A We certainly don’t need more road rage.
Q Tell Abe W. when approaching a bicyclist while driving a silent-running car, roll down your windows and crank up your radio. The cyclist will hear you coming! Ann Smith
A Especially if it’s an exciting home run call by Giants announcer Duane Kuiper on KNBR.
Q Motorists often don’t appreciate how loud car horns — even a friendly tap — can be. They are so loud that drivers can hear another car, even when traveling at 80 mph, windows up, with all the sound isolation that engineers can build in. For cyclists and pedestrians, they are overwhelming. Inexperienced cyclists can have accidents from being startled by an unexpected horn.
New cyclists and parents teaching children should understand why you don’t cycle with earbuds or anything that decreases your hearing. You need to know what’s coming up behind you.
John Fox Menlo Park
A Sound advice.
Q Here’s another idea for car sounds. Electric cars are nearly silent. We need for drivers to be able to equip their cars with sounds like the car of our choice. The purr of a Rolls or the roar of Jag. … Or some friendly noise, like an ice cream truck. JC Sleeman and Dale Luck
A As much as I love ice cream, go with the Jag!