British cycle insurance company, the ETA, has today bagged two Guinness World Records; the first for the Hornster, the world’s loudest bicycle horn, and another for the world’s smallest caravan, the bike-compatible QTvan.
Making a noise for cyclists: The Hornster
The Hornster bicycle was developed to highlight the dangers that cyclists face on city roads from heavy lorries. At close quarters, the Hornster bicycle emits over 135dB – a level of sound so powerful that if used in anger it could deafen any motorist who veered too close. The bike was not built to go on sale, or to injure any road user, but as a protest; a way of highlighting the inequality between motorists and vulnerable road users.
A spokesperson for the ETA said: “The same quietness that makes bicycles such a civilised way of getting around makes them vulnerable to inattentive motorists – we built the Hornster as a wake-up call for drivers who don’t pay attention to bikes.”
The triple air horn fitted to the bicycle is an Airchime KH3A from an American locomotive, which has been adapted to run off a scuba diving cylinder. Watch the Hornster on Youtube
Not your run-of-the-mill cycle insurer
ETA cycle insurance was developed by a group of us who are avid cyclists. We tailored the policy to the way that most of us use and store our bikes. It’s the reason we don’t devalue your bike over time, or charge extra for £1m third party cover, friends and family cover, cycle breakdown or cover when you take your bike abroad. Most unusually for a cycle insurer, we are passionate about riding, building and promoting bikes. Take a closer look at what we offer in our cycle insurance or get an instant quote.
QTvan – a caravan fit for a bicycle
The second Guinness World Record awarded to the ETA today is for the QTvan; the world’s smallest caravan. At 2m long and 75cm wide, the tiny trailer is small enough to be towed by a bicycle. We built the caravan to illustrate how good bikes are at carrying or towing stuff. In Britain, cycling is currently thought of by most people as a pleasant way to visit the local park, a quick way to get to work or an alternative to the gym, but elsewhere in the world they are also used for shifting things. In fact, there are bikes that can carry up to 250 KG of cargo without any difficulty. The QTvan is lighthearted way to illustrate this.
Neil Johnson
I am an ETA member, but think that the Hornster is a ridiculous gimmick. If the 135 db horn was used anywhere near a human being it would give an acoustic shock which would constitute an assault. It must surely be the most irresponsible thing the ETA has ever done and badly discredits an otherwise socially progressive organisation.
Chris Payne
Neil, I think it’s pretty clear that the the project set out to be a gimmick to highlight the danger from lorries so I’ll reserve my own indignation for the behaviour of heavy commercial vehicles in London where I cycle. Thank you, ETA, for highlighting this issue in such an eye-catching and original way.
David
the “Hornster” – daft idea, Scuba cylinders contain the energy of a small bomb.
In an accident, if one were damaged, anything and anyone nearby could be at serious risk.
Chris Payne
Wouldn’t it be helpful if motorists thought of cyclists and pedestrians like mines that would explode if they ran into them? As it is, they drive too close, and even run us down, with utter impunity.
Mark Dunn
Could ETA endorse a practical, commercially available horn that could be used?
The Hornster is a great PR gimmick, but not much use in practice.
Yannick Read
Mark, try the Hornit http://www.thehornit.com/
Jean Lofts
I really love the the QT van. Is it in production?
Annmarie Pottrell
I too love the QT van. Would be awesome if we had a trailer type one available that can be folded and slid out to make a bigger one once parked up 😀
Recantly put a video on my FB page just showing how much I could fit on my bike and tailer on a shopping trip complete with kid! 😀
Alison Coates
I had a bike with a horn (worked with a rubber bulb) on it in 1963 when I imported my Moulton bicycle (with little wheels and suspension front and back) into Dublin, the very first Moulton to enter the Republic of Ireland. I think the horn on the bike made people jump – much more effective than a bell. But there was the afternoon when I parked it in a different university and all the students had to test the horn!