jputnam

They can mount just about anywhere, not just a water bottle cage. They're light enough the bottle can mount with a single zip tie, the horn/button can mount on any roundish tube roughly the size of a handlebar. You can stick the whole thing on a fork leg if you want.

I actually added one to my commuter after fending off a pedestrian attack -- he lunged towards me in a tunnel, I saw him coming and steered into him. He had his arms straight out to shove me off the bike, a mistake on his part since my momentum knocked him back and let me get away. (This in a tunnel that had recently seen muggings and attempted muggings of cyclists, the I-90 bicycle tunnel in Seattle.) I was quite sore where his palms hit my shoulder and chest, I'm glad I didn't have to feel his wrists the next morning.

I decided I'd rather have some defense available other than my own momentum if it happened again, and I knew the AirZound was loud enough to be disorienting in small spaces. I haven't needed it for another mugging attempt, but it has attracted the attention of various distracted motorists and more than one jaywalker.

But, in general, I steer or brake to avoid jaywalkers. They may be breaking the law themselves, but that doesn't override the basic duty to avoid accidents on my part. If I hit a jaywalker who didn't jump out right in front of me, that's my fault too. Doesn't mean I like it, just part of sharing the road.

Digital_Cowboy

My front fork being a suspension fork is a larger diameter then my handlebars and sadly the because of both the size and geometry of my frame there other then the side of the top tube there isn't anywhere to attache the bottle. And even finding a spot to affix the bottle that still leaves me with nowhere to mount the horn itself. Hence carrying a regular/standard air horn in one of my jersey pockets is about the only way to go. :-(

unterhausen

jaywalkers are pretty annoying if for no other reason than I swear about half of the ones that walk out in front of me when I'm riding my bike look straight at me first. But pedestrians are a really good reason not to cower in the gutters, they tend to see an opening and fill it rather quickly.

I almost hit one a couple of years ago while driving my car. 20 or so people were jaywalking, and another 20 were on the sidewalk getting ready to jaywalk when they saw me and stopped. Since the road was clear, I proceeded, but one of the people that had already cleared my lane was spooked by me approaching, and tried to run back to the sidewalk. I think both of us saw our lives flash before us.

plutonium83

This is the best advice in my opinion. When it comes down to reflex, I would probably swerve to avoid a jaywalker quicker than I could reach for a bell or horn. I'm sorry this happened to you Luddite, jaywalkers will probably be on your mind for a while now, especially across the previous stretch of road. I suspect that most jaywalkers do it by hearing for cars on both sides of the road without actually looking for a (relatively) quieter bike. At least be thankful nobody was hurt due to your quick reflexes on the brakes.

AdamDZ

Agreed. You can get hurt too. Getting into an accident is not fun regardless of who's at fault. But that doesn't change the fact that we can complain about jaywalkers

A.

Skivvy9r

This question would be better asked on a Jaywalkers forum. Most of the folks here are cyclists.

I-Like-To-Bike

Another vote for a "Charity" sticky for whiners and complainers about every little thing to do their thing, unmolested by common sense.
See: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post10200994

High Roller

The essence of defensive cycling, stated very succinctly. Assume full ownership for your own safety, regardless of the bonehead moves made by others.

It usually takes two people making a mistake to result in a collision - don't be one of them (loosely translated from Robert Hurst's writings).

Jaywalkers aside, I'm happy to learn that there are a few people in other parts of the world who still practice the dying art of walking. Around here, it's just a necessary evil to get to where one's car is parked.

achoo

When I was about 12 or 13, we used to play a game in our neighborhood that we called "bike tag". The point of the game was to get whoever was "it" to have to touch the ground the ground. With any body part. Yes, that usually meant the feet, but it didn't have to be. Whoever forced "it" to touch the ground was then "it". He'd speed off and we'd be chasing him, trying to get him to stop or even ramming him so he'd have to touch the ground.

Other than that, no rules. At all.

I also played football in college - American football.

With those varied experiences in my past, I'd highly recommend NOT deliberately crashing into a pedestrian. An adult travelling any decent speed on a bike is going to be subjecting himself to the potential for some very, very serious injury by doing that. Never mind what you and your bike would potentially do to a pedestrian.

Look at it this way: the combined closing speed between two NFL players probably almost never exceeds 15 MPH. And they're wearing all kinds of padding, in great shape, and built like solid-muscle tanks. And they know how to take a hit like that. And sometimes they STILL get serious injuries.

Besides, if you do crash your bike could get damaged.

High Roller

Sounds like good training for urban bicycle commuting.

DataJunkie

Ugh

CB HI

Amazing that you two spend so much effort just whining about what everyone else post.

Luddite

So basically, stop getting my bikes tuned/greased so they make tons of noise and jaywalkers can hear me coming? Ok, I wouldn't actually do that...

CB: aint worth it dude, trust me.

mikeybikes

I know how you feel Luddite.

I've had a couple run-ins with jaywalkers. One particular guy made eye contact with me before crossing the street, and just walked in front of me anyways. As I dodged him, he yelled, "Gotcha good f*g bicyclist!"

Most just don't seem to be paying attention and just jump out.

Luddite

Holy crap, Mike...

mikeybikes

Its a rare exception, and the only story I've ever heard like it. I was also kinda in a rough neighborhood.

Digital_Cowboy

Ah the squirrel syndrome. Why is it that those pesky little rodents do that? As it just about guarantees that they'll get hit?

mikeybikes

In the 'burb I grew up in, squirrels are fair game.

Digital_Cowboy

To quote Seinfield "it's only birds that we have a 'deal' with, squirrels are on their own." Or something like that. It was the episode where George hit a squirrel after having hit some birds and Krammer found the old talk show set decorations.

Luddite

Crikey. Good reason to pedal harder eh?

UnsafeAlpine

A&S isn't the most whine-free place but I didn't realize how bad it could get until Whiny McWhinerson popped in...

Luddite

Wait, you, who incessantly snivels about everything in foo, posting idiotic threads about snivelly crap non stop are saying my thread, where I outline a near-crash and warn my fellow Vancouverites about a bad area for jaywalkers and to get other people's input on this problem is whining?

Le fail troll strikes out again. You're about the most snivelly whiney fail troll I've come across in my 10+ years on the Internets. How about ya go on a diet, get a job, get a life and mind your own damned business eh? I feel sorry for your girlfriend. Do you drug her food to make her stay with your greasy fat worthless ass?

making

I am going to lock this thread and let an A&S mod handle this. Thanks. Mark.