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To bell or not
So today while cycling i came up behind 2 walkers in a lane.I was going 5 mph and from a resonable distance I politly said 'bike coming past ladies' .They moved out the way.however as i passed one lady said 'you need a bell' This seems to be the standard responce from walkers. I have also had this cycling in the forest on my mtb with walkers on cycle tracks
So do i need a bell?
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80 comments
I use a bell and then they thanks on passing. Yes to dogs, I've had people, ask why I am ringing the bell when they have already seen me and I say that their dog, off lead - hasn't seen me.
If you'd used a bell you'd get "don't you ding me!"
Exactly. If you call out, well then you should have used a bell. If you use a bell, well then you're being Evil and bullying people out of your way. Teleporting is clearly the way to go...
Bloody cyclists, invading my thoughts.....
Well, i did like the horn,reminded me of when i put an air horn my bike when i was a kid. i think whichever way i go i will sometimes still get flack. i had a bell come with the bike,it does not fit on the handlebars,dont really want to spend more money or clutter the bars so im remaining with the verbal warning. i guess if peds are walking in the road or on shared cycle paths they should expect some cycle traffic. hmm should horse riders have a bell?
Nay
The dilemma is always that not using a bell is seen as impolite ( even by pedestrians who have already seen or heard the cyclist ) whereas using a bell is seen as impatient barging.
Genteel answer for peace on earth:
wind chimes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrzYPPKrfiM thats what i use. Its not a bell, its a 5 quid horn from halfords
It's mostly not a problem up here on the few canalside paths etc- I don't have a bell, and usually just clacking the levers does the trick. Sometimes I say 'hello' and if that doesn't work they're probably deaf. For some reason, the pedestrians here don't seem to be belligerent.
I've had people moan when I've said excuse me that I should be using a bell. I've had people moan at me that using a bell is a "get out of my way" arrogant cyclist thing and I should be polite by saying excuse me. Generally I'll ring the bell at about 10m and say excuse me as I get a little closer.
You sort of answer your own question. If in your experience pedestrians expect you to have a bell, then assuming you are seeking a harmonious encounter, you need a bell.
My own experience differs from ktache's, I have always found the bell is effective. I think that is largely because, as you say, pedestrians expect it, and know what it means - you're speaking their language when you use it. It needs to be a decent bell however; if you ring when you are on their heels the reaction is always worse, so it needs to be loud enough to be heard from a 'safe' distance.
Don, good to see you again.
It's been a while.
Hope you are good.
The bell thing, remember you are an evil cyclist. Whatever you do will be the WRONG! thing. You cannot tell if the other shared path user finds the bell to be a sign of aggression and will hate you for it (even more...), or the other type that appreciates your choice of a Japanese brass bell, chosen for it's tone and sustain. Then there is the sort, with a bit of an overlap of the two types who will behave in unpredictable and strange ways, jumping in either direction as you get near, with no looking.
Then there is the use of the bell when you first see the others, then again as you approach, still with no looking up or back, let alone say moving to one side. Do you ring again? Is this showing impatience?
How do you know if they have chosen to block their hearing by using tiny earphones? Do you ring lots as you approach?
Best thing, I suppose, is to have a bell, then you can reply "I do have a very nice bell, thank you, and yet you still managed to hear me!"
On the road I have a bell that makes a delicate non-aggressive ding-ding (a Knog Oi). MTB encounters are rarer so I tend to slow, say good morning, and then say which side I'm going to pass them on. If path is narrow and we're approaching each other I'll usually just stop and wait, particularly with social distance perceived requirements. I can always do with a rest on MTB terrain😁. Horse riders I call "cyclist approaching" and slow until they've acknowledged me. On the whole, it feels to me that MTB terrain users seem to be much more tolerant of cyclists, unless of course you encounter them in full Rachel Atherton mode...
No.
The more beligerent walkers won't hear the bell either. But I have a couple of these https://road.cc/content/review/224631-hidemybell on my bikes. My usual response is why, if they didn't hear my verbal notification (choose your words carefully) do they think they'd hear my bell. I am always as polite as they are beligerent.
Yes, everytime. I have a Spurcycle bell on my road and gravel bikes. Works wonders. The extended ring of this model really carries and gets through to people with very few exceptions. I can't recall ever getting a complaint about ringing the bell but certainly heard complaints in the years before I started using one. The Spurcycle is expensive but very effective.
Great to see you here again, Don.
Quite a while ago, I got into an argument with a ped on Valentine bridge in Bristol (behind Temple Meads Station) when the cheesegrater bridge was closed (lorry damaged). It was busy, so I was going at the same speed as the peds and being careful. He confronted me about not using a bell (I do have one) and I told him that I genuinely didn't think it was needed. He asked what I'd've done if he'd suddenly stopped or turned as he didn't know I was behind him and I answered that I'd just stop as I wasn't going fast (and squirrel like reflexes). His mate overheard and confirmed that I was going real slow. Anyhow, we ended up disagreeing about whether cycling was allowed on that bridge and the non-official signs, but shook hands and went our own ways.
Some peds just have past issues with cyclists and bells, so just do what you think is best and safe.
happier times
Indeed. He even apologised for having a go at me when he realised that I'm not his enemy.
Pics or it never happened !!
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