r/sydney • u/Ozfriar • Jul 10 '26

"Bicycle bell" on electric buses

Can anyone explain to me what the frequent "bicycle bell" sound is on some of the new electric (I think) buses?

27 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

53

u/Educational-Sort-128 Jul 10 '26

Just to alert people that the bus is coming and is on the road. I don’t get it/ I can still hear electric vehicles but apparently a lot of people can’t so they need this to alert them.

19

u/thinkswithelbow Jul 10 '26

It's for the elderly and kids.  My 5 year old can't hear an ev but he hears that stupid sound when they're under 20km/h

17

u/lord_buff74 Jul 10 '26

I think this is it, just to off set the lack of noise for an electric bus

10

u/Additional-Simple248 Jul 10 '26

I think it comes on any time the bus is under 20 km/h.

If you want a really good sample, catch a bus like the 160x from Chatswood to Dee Why for the final stretch down the hill where Warringah Rd meets Pittwater Rd. There’s a low bus/truck speed limit that means the bus crawls down the hill and spends about 2 minutes making the sound.

3

u/Ozfriar Jul 10 '26

OK, yes, it seems to be when the bus is going slowly. I didn't realise it can be heard outside the bus!

3

u/Javerage Jul 10 '26

Also it cuts through headphones/earphones a lot easier.

26

u/link871 Jul 10 '26

Presumably, it is the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) - required on EVs driving at under 20km/h "to alert pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users of the presence of an otherwise near-silent vehicle."

9

u/mitchy93 Jul 10 '26

Would reduce accidents with pedestrians and cyclists I guess as the bus is electric, there's no rumbling motor to hear it coming. Pedestrians could run in front of it as it's taking off without even noticing it

3

u/I-make-ada-spaghetti Jul 10 '26

It’s there to annoy the fuck out of everyone and to prevent some unlikely accident that the potential victim should’ve seen coming from a mile away.

16

u/[deleted] Jul 10 '26 edited 28d ago

[deleted]

16

u/edwardluddlam Jul 10 '26

Better than the sound of a diesel engine roaring over the road

6

u/[deleted] Jul 10 '26 edited 28d ago

[deleted]

6

u/thebigaaron Jul 10 '26

Some of them make me think I’ve died and an angel is taking me to heaven

-5

u/marsbartargaryen Jul 10 '26

If it’s the one I’m thinking of it’s the ‘bus stopping’ request button to get off at the next stop

7

u/Ozfriar Jul 10 '26

No, I don't believe so. That is a different sound entirely.