The Bookman bicycle whistle might be based on nineteenth century technology, but its benefits for urban cyclists are current.
Established in Birmingham in 1870, Acme Whistles has teamed up with Swedish bicycle accessory supremo, Bookman, to create a new design of whistle for today’s rider. According to Bookman’s Johan Lidehall: “Most of our customers probably wouldn’t like the look of a big horn attached to their bike, so that’s why we decided on the small but loud whistle instead.”
The bicycle whistle produces a loud high-pitched sound without the need for any moving parts – the perfect way to alert other road users of your presence.
The police have been using both the bicycle and the whistle for over 100 years – two designs so efficient and reliable that they have changed remarkably little over the course of a century.
As cities have grown over time, so too has noise pollution and congestion. Luckily the bicycle and whistle remain the ideal tools to tackle both.
Different sounds elicit different responses depending on geography and culture. A traditional bike bell might work in some areas if it can be heard, but sometimes your surroundings necessitate a different audible or visual signal. Police outriders leave a whistle resting on their lip because, even though their bikes are equipped with powerful sirens, they know that the shrill sound of a whistle works universally to grab the attention of other road users.
Win a Bookman bicycle whistle
We have four Bookman whistles, worth £13 each, to give away. Simply leave us a comment at the bottom of this page and we will pick winners next week.
Cycle insurance
Making yourself heard when you need to is just one of the challenges that face today’s rider. Cycle insurance from the ETA is designed to make your life on two wheels as easy as possible. We protect against theft, but unlike other insurers will never devalue your bike. We reimburse you when bicycle parts are pinched, but unlike other insurers we will not penalise you if have not secured quick release items. Just two of the things that set us apart. After all, we have been voted ethical by The Good Shopping Guide. Find out more
Steph
What a blast!! (literally!)
Gill Watling
Pedestrians come at me like a missile,
Great way to alert them, this whistle!
Mark D.
So much more convenient to ride with than a vuvuzela.
Stephen Davies
Very nice safety product.
Stephen Davies
COMMENT to the manufacturer: Nice whistle, but the lanyard itself creates a safety hazard for the cyclist. Never ride with a lanyard like this around your neck, always use a safety lanyard with a safety breakaway release. Thanks!
Stephen Davies
Whilst it’s not written above, I’ve just noticed that Bookman’s own website recommends using a break free knot, which reassures me. EXCELLENT safety product!
Colin
“But thou shalt hear it: whistle then to me,….”
[Paris from Romeo and Juliet by W. Shakespeare]
steve
In my experience, pedestrians are the biggest threat to city cycling commuters, so this is a really great tool. Thanks.
Neil Woolford
Phweep!
Danny Long
With technology based on Acme’s Tornado whistle, I just gota get one…
Sean
On some of the windy narrow tracks I cycle on the bell is not loud enough to warn oncoming cyclists & pedestrians in good time, but this whistle would do the trick perfectly!!
Dave Peacock
More effective than a bell!
Keith Graham
Can’t wait to whistle down the wind with one of these.
Tooty Fruity
£13 for a whistle! You are having a larf.
Reverend Christopher Hickmott-Arnold
Whistle while you work ( at peddling your bike).
Simon
Peep peep! Like it 🙂
Dido
peep-peep
Jennyve Salvato
This will be more effective than my useless bell! Please give me one 🙂
Athol Bowman
And most likely to be heard by pedestrians with hearing difficulties. Pheep! Pheep !
Su
You know how to whistle, don’t ya?
Matthew Newell
Sounds like a good idea
PootlingAroundTown
Looks like a useful pendant to wear when on the road.
John COLLIER
I use a mobility scooter to go to the local shops and come up against pedestrians with earplugs who cannot hear my little hooter or my somewhat louder shout to let me pass. Lo and behold…..You have provided the answer…….A whistle !!
Frank
“When you get in trouble and you don’t know right from wrong
Give a little whistle! Give a little whistle!
When you meet temptation and the urge is very strong
Give a little whistle! Give a little whistle!”
Jiminy Cricket
Ian Grew
Whistling does work … but I’m normally too out of breath to make a sound!
John thys
That’s a great idea I wonder if I can control the wife with it
Matt Blackmore
I can use it in school too!
Peter Clark
Refereeing the roads!
Bryn Jones
I bought one a year ago and it was so brilliant, that my partner begged me to give it to her, which I did.
I’d love one for myself.
Paul
Can I whistle for one?
Sarah
Sounds perfect for playground duty!
Philip
I could go on a whistle -stop tour Birmingham.
Anna Shakoor-Green
This would be useful for delivering Bikeability training too.
Dick Willis
dual purpose, alerting other road users and calling the dog. Excellent
Scott
WHat a WHistle for WHen I’m on my WHAY to WHork!
Anthony Alston
I could have done with on this afternoon.
Gavin.
… hope I win one, as at 13 quid I don’t think I’ll be buying one anytime soon…
I G Ramsey
What with the volumes of traffic and tourists in Westminster this would be the perfect solution to the perennial problem of making yourself known!
Roger Birchall
The ACME “Air Horn” is what you need!
That’ll make em shift alright!
Bob
A fantastic, simple “here I am” audible device for us cyclists. Will I end up with all the local Sheepdogs and Police Officers trailing along behind me??
Richard Scrase
Wheeep
James
Sounds good to warn people on cycle path and dog control
Christopher
Pedestrians sometimes don’t notice bells, a whistle sounds like it might well do the trick.
David
I could shout for less money!
Fran McLean
My friend Ben swears by a whistle for communicating with traffic and pedestrians. He never rides without one, and I’m begging you for a beautiful Bookman bicycle whistle for Ben to better his battered basic one.
Phil
A breath of fresh air
Ben Owen
I’ve been using a referee whistle in London for the last 10 years or so. Despite explaining all the benefits to friends who cycle, especially with pedestrians stepping out onto the road whilst texting, or tourists instinctively looking the wrong way, many still think it’s unreasonably aggressive. I’ll forward your article to them.
In Ealing people know me as the Whistleblower! One day in Shepherds Bush, in West London, I whistled loudly at a SMIDSY (Sorry mate, I didn’t see you) car pulling out of a side junction. The driver stopped suddenly and apologetically. A cyclist behind me pulled up alongside me and said “Oi mate, that’s a really good idea I will get one.” A couple of months later a cyclist with a big grin on her face overtook me and gave a blast on her whistle. I looked over my shoulder -slightly surprised – and it was the same woman just saying thanks and giving me the thumbs up “nice idea mate beautiful it works a dream!”
I am ready made to be a great ambassador!
Jim Woodlingfield
This looks a great whistle, the kids already make a lot of noise in the trailer so this might be a way of getting their attention on the move…
Chris Selkirk
I can try this on my bike to alert headphone wearing pedestrians (and cyclists) to my approach. Alternatively my wife can use it for playground duty.
Mike Croker
Always look on the bright side of life, …
David
“My friend Ben swears by a whistle” – this might stop me swearing at pedestrians!
whobiggs
It looks better than the one I carry
mark
“Police outriders leave a whistle resting on their lip”, er and i’m elvis presley! who makes this stuff up?!
MH
Helpful hint – take the whistle out of your mouth when cycling up hill. Or maybe swap it for a kazoo.
Peter Shirley
Whistle me up one of these please.
Nick
The capacity of this whistle to get me in to an argument with anti cat calling feminists, boggles the mind. Do they come with a pack of red cards, for drivers who try to enter a roundabout, without seeing cyclists?
TheCyclist
Yes please. I would love one, as I am tired of pedestrians and motorists not hearing my dainty bell.
Caroline Toner
Great idea
Julian Carte
Too harsh for pedestrians but good idea for traffic situations.
Penny Pitty
Great for may 17 year old granddaughter who relies on her bike to get around Norwich at all times of the day.
VicK
Peep peep road runner!
Toity
It would alert pedestrians to look before they cross the road, alert others around you if a car driver is acting dangerously and might even get through to some car drivers! We live in hope.
Gary Reece
We use whistles (www.bikemarshals.co.uk) to warn cyclists of immediate hazard/danger, better than a horn as the distinctive sound grabs the riders immediate attention to a safety issue, this works well on all events from sportives to road races. Tried and tested it simply works as its a different sound to those normally found in the road environment
Alison
Great for alerting pedestrians with their headphones in!!!
James Russell
Just consulting Lauren Bacall for some whistle tips.
Colin
Sounds like a good old idea.
Greg
Got to get whistling
While whisking
Through the city.
DougMilly
A blow for safety. (Then something to wet my whistle afterwards!)
Bristol Rich
Light weight, eronomic and most important doesn’t sound like a bell! will draw pedestrians listening using headphones to your approach
Keith Hawthorn
I recently lost my football whistle, so I need a new one!!
Teresa Meehan
Mobility scooters are totally invisible to pedestrians, and mobility scooter horns, Horns? sound like a budgie with tonsillitis, a nice short sharp blast would work wonders. I never considered a whistle but what a wonderful idea, can I buy one?