Okay you win, if you must, but I can say that since humans are given 5 senses, hearing is one of them, if you can hear something is coming or going, you know it's there and can avoid collission with said object in a situation where it it otherwise un-sensed.
I drive 100 miles every day on the CA freeways and encounter a lot of lane-splitting bikes on my journey trying superman maneuvers in order to not be slowed by the auto traffic moving slower than their desired speed. I'm very observant toward other motorists and motorcycles and am very observant of the projected path of my vehicle, especially when changing lanes or taking a blind corner... That being said, I have noticed that it is important for a bike to have an audible alert to its presence, either for slow oncoming traffic or fast passing traffic, because a motorist cannot always be pasted to their mirrors or assuming a road blockage around every bend or during every lane change maneuver.
Loud pipes save lives, and silent bikes should sound their presence in some fashion to slow incming traffic, whether it be on foot or in a car, as well as alerting drivers on roads without bike lanes that a slow moving blockage is to be expected around blind corners, so that appropriate avoidance maneuvers can be executed.
This is especially important with motorized bicycles which are faster than pedestrian traffic and pedal powered bicycles in most situations, as well as slower than most autos and motorcycles on the open road. Perhaps sound can be replaced with bright lighting that flashes or whatever, but sound has the advantage of traveling around corners.
I drive 100 miles every day on the CA freeways and encounter a lot of lane-splitting bikes on my journey trying superman maneuvers in order to not be slowed by the auto traffic moving slower than their desired speed. I'm very observant toward other motorists and motorcycles and am very observant of the projected path of my vehicle, especially when changing lanes or taking a blind corner... That being said, I have noticed that it is important for a bike to have an audible alert to its presence, either for slow oncoming traffic or fast passing traffic, because a motorist cannot always be pasted to their mirrors or assuming a road blockage around every bend or during every lane change maneuver.
Loud pipes save lives, and silent bikes should sound their presence in some fashion to slow incming traffic, whether it be on foot or in a car, as well as alerting drivers on roads without bike lanes that a slow moving blockage is to be expected around blind corners, so that appropriate avoidance maneuvers can be executed.
This is especially important with motorized bicycles which are faster than pedestrian traffic and pedal powered bicycles in most situations, as well as slower than most autos and motorcycles on the open road. Perhaps sound can be replaced with bright lighting that flashes or whatever, but sound has the advantage of traveling around corners.
