How to: Hand-free, piercing whistle (great for safety)

Even with cars zooming past, potholes, and doorings, I don't often feel unsafe biking around the city. I think the one reason is that I must be one of the loudest bikers you will ever hear.

Anytime I feel at all unsafe, I do my hand-free cab whistle (which usually echoes to give you an idea of the volume). I love the stunned look on most motorists faces, as they look up and down the block trying to figure out who made that noise. This really works. I rarely have problems with people knowing I'm there or being considerate to me.

The link that will teach you the whistle, for free of course, is:

http://www.natwilson.com/stuff/whistle.html

Plus, as I mentioned before, it's fun, less hard on the voice than yelling, and can REALLY grab some attention when you need it. Plus the sound is more polite than a car-horn, which is, in my humble opinion, always annoying.

I'll be available to coach this on the forum. If anyone has any trouble, please feel free. Also, if a few other people would step forward who would be willing to teach, I think we could make a few people's commute a lot safer.

Have fun,
David (repost)

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on January 29, 2009 at 7:09am

YEAH VISUALS!!!! (but still working on it....)

David said:

For those who are more visual, this is a great resource!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVIsf_3-MJE

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David the Great on July 10, 2009 at 9:57am

Anyone have any luck with these?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on July 10, 2009 at 11:12am

I agree. I've been able to hands-free whistle for decades. Really LOUD!
I too have found a couple of loud quick blasts gets people looking.

I don't know if I could learn from those instructions tho.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Pete M on July 10, 2009 at 4:35pm

This is great...!
I whistle alot to let oblivious people on the bike paths know I am approaching.
But sometimes it comes out like an eight year old kid doing it for the first time.
Will work on a manly whistle.

Michael J Blane said:

I agree. I've been able to hands-free whistle for decades. Really LOUD!
I too have found a couple of loud quick blasts gets people looking.

I don't know if I could learn from those instructions tho.