Škoda DuoBell: The New Bicycle Bell That Pierces Noise-Canceling Headphones

Škoda Auto has introduced the DuoBell, a mechanical bicycle bell specifically engineered to penetrate the active noise cancellation (ANC) systems used in modern headphones. The device is designed to reduce collisions between cyclists and pedestrians in urban environments by ensuring warning signals are heard despite noise-filtering technology.

The development follows data from Transport for London showing that bike-pedestrian collisions rose by 24 per cent in 2024. According to Škoda, a contributing factor is the widespread adoption of ANC technology, which is now featured in 54 per cent of headphone models. This technology can reduce a pedestrian’s awareness of approaching cyclists, increasing the risk of injury to both parties.

The Technical Mechanism

To create the DuoBell, Škoda collaborated with audiologists and researchers from the University of Salford to study how ANC affects the audibility of traditional bells. The research identified a narrow frequency band between 750 and 780 hertz that consistently penetrates ANC filters, which the company refers to as a safety gap.

The DuoBell is a 100 per cent mechanical device that rings at a precise frequency of 750 hertz to take advantage of this gap. While ANC systems are highly effective at filtering steady low-frequency noise, they struggle with high or rapidly changing sounds.

To further bypass digital filters, the DuoBell includes two specific design features:

• A second resonator tuned to a higher frequency.
• A specialized striking mechanism that produces rapid, irregular impacts designed to fool ANC algorithms.

Testing suggests that these modifications allow the bell to be heard five seconds or 22 metres earlier than a conventional bicycle bell. The prototype was finalized after a two-week trial involving Deliveroo riders in busy urban environments.

Analogue Solution to Digital Problems

Škoda design head Oliver Stefani described the DuoBell as a simple, analogue solution to a digital problem.

The company worked with the creative agency AMV BBDO to develop the product. Ben Edwards and Guy Hobbs of AMV BBDO noted that while bicycle bells have remained largely unchanged for over a century, the DuoBell serves as a clever analogue hack that outsmarts the AI algorithms inside smart headphones.

On April 7, 2026, Meredith Kelly, Global Head of Marketing at Škoda Auto, stated that this project is an excellent example of how a simple, yet clever idea can help make exploration safer for everyone.

Škoda has indicated that it will make the research findings and insights gained from the University of Salford study available to the public. The company intends for this data to support expert discussions and contribute to overall safety improvements in urban traffic.