Does anyone else ride with a whistle?

[David]

I commute from SE to NE for work every day, and a few nights a week I go from NE to PSU for class, and then back home to SE. It's pretty encompassing ride around the perimeter of inner Portland.

Anyway, after almost getting sideswiped several times riding up Broadway (before the cycle-track starts) I decided to ride with a whistle. I have it on a chain around my neck, and it's actually really handy. You can definitely hear it inside a car, which I know because I've stopped a few in their tracks who were about to hit me.

My favorite near run-in with a car was a guy who didn't look into the bike lane at all and was beginning his right turn. The wrong way onto a one-way street. Brilliant. Anyway, I used the whistle and he stopped and actually realized that I was there and that he was about to run straight into traffic.

Does anyone use a whistle as a horn?

[OuterToob]

I can actually whistle really loud naturally and find myself needing to alert drivers and other folks very often when I'm on my bike. I also find the high pitch noise can alert the driver even with their windows closed - this is handy.

I say if you're communicating with it and using it to avoid accidents - heck yeah, use your whistle. My only word of caution: be careful riding around w/ something in your mouth - you don't want to swallow that thing.

[Simple Nature]

I bought a whistle for back-country rides. Works well on errand dogs.

[canuck]

I used one when I lived in Toronto.

While waiting at a stop light a Police cruiser pulled up and the officer asked me if the whistle was to warn cars.

Told him cars weren't the problem, it was the more to alert pedestrians.

He thought it was a good idea.

[SeaBike]

Originally Posted by Simple Nature

I bought a whistle for back-country rides. Works well on errand dogs.

What kind of errands are the dogs usually on?

[Bent Bloke]

Originally Posted by SeaBike

What kind of errands are the dogs usually on?

Probably territory marking.

[jr98664]

I should find one that I can clip to the hose of my CamelBak. That nozzle is almost always near enough my mouth it might just work.

[Simple Nature]

Originally Posted by SeaBike

What kind of errands are the dogs usually on?

Usually out to bite on tires... but when you ride a recumbent trike, you are pretty much as face level [read: Fang level] of most medium to large dogs. Therefore they may just be out to catch lunch on a roll.

[flying_dutchman]

I rode with one of those deer whistles. The problem was that I installed it backwards and the deer followed me around like puppies.

[biciclero]

In Oregon, using a whistle is technically illegal:

815.280 Violation of bicycle equipment requirements; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of violation of bicycle equipment requirements if the person does any of the following:

(a) Operates on any highway a bicycle in violation of the requirements of this section.

(b) Is the parent or guardian of a minor child or ward and authorizes or knowingly permits the child or ward to operate a bicycle on any highway in violation of the requirements of this section.

(2) A bicycle is operated in violation of the requirements of this section if any of the following requirements are violated:

(a) A bicycle must be equipped with a brake that enables the operator of the bicycle to stop the bicycle within 15 feet from a speed of 10 miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement.

(b) A person shall not install or use any siren or whistle upon a bicycle. This paragraph does not apply to bicycles used by police officers.
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