As others have noted, the turn indicator noise was installed after a fatal crash with a pedestrian a number of years back. They are activated any time a bus turn signal is turned on.
I don't think anyone likes the beeps, the question is if they are effective. Anecdotally, I am not aware of any significant bus crashes with bikes or peds while turning since they began installing the system, but that is a pretty small (and non-scientific) sample size. I do find the noise useful, primarily because buses have a way of sneaking up on people because the engine is in the rear of the vehicle. I am often surprised by a bus passing me when biking, because there is little engine noise at the front of the vehicle. There is a lot of noise pollution in our city. This one may or may not have a safety benefit, but I would look to ban other noises (leaf blowers! document shredding trucks downtown!) before targeting a noise that may actually be beneficial. Kevin ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: India Viola <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Cc: Bikies ListServe <[email protected]> Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2015 09:00:33 -0500 Subject: Re: [Bikies] poll on Madison Metro turn signals "Does not appear to". Yes, as you did I am making a qualified assumption. I am also assuming that folks who like the bleeps will speak up. I am not saying you are wrong, I'm just saying that I have a different opinion. I don't like the bleeps. I do not find them helpful. I would like to have them go away if possible. Sounds that I do find helpful: car engines (so yes, I would be in favor of a whirr, not beep, added to hybrids), car horns (used judiciously), verbal notification of passing on shared use paths. -India -- *Kevin [email protected] <[email protected]>*
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