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news
2020 Spurcycle Compact Bell.jpgLondon cyclists better off shouting than using bell, says transport minister
Transport Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton has said that cyclists in London are better off shouting than using a bell, and that the government has no plans to make it compulsory for riders to have one on their bike.
Speaking in a House of Lords debate, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State said: “The government are not about to mandate bells on bicycles. That would be disproportionate, and it is unlikely that any enforcement would be a police priority.
“However, cyclists must take responsibility for their actions. A little ‘ding ding’ on a bell on a bridleway is perfectly fine, but if you are travelling in central London, it will get you nowhere, and in those circumstances, a shout is probably preferable.
“I am afraid that the government will not be mandating bells at the present time.”
Yesterday’s debate was tabled by Tory peer Lord Lexden, the official historian of the Conservative Party, who asked the government “what assessment they have made of any hazards that arise when cyclists fail to make use of bicycle bells.”
In her initial response to that question, Baroness Vere said: “Cyclists, like all road users, have a responsibility to behave in a safe and responsible manner.
“Rule 66 of the Highway Code recommends that bells are fitted and used as necessary, and all new bikes must be sold with a bell fitted.”
> 12 of the best bicycle bells to get you heard on the road
In reply, Lord Lexden asked, “What can be done about the huge number of cyclists without bells, which does not lack aggressive and foul-mouthed elements?
“Some of them seem to prefer pavements to their designated cycle lanes, having presumably discarded the bells which … are required by law when bicycles are first sold. Is this not completely irresponsible?”
Baroness Vere replied: “I am going to try very hard not to make this a pro- and anti-cycling question, because there are many people on our roads – pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, motorcyclists and drivers of motorised vehicles – and we must ensure that each considers their impact on other road users.
“My noble friend is right that we must do something. The core is education and training.
“In the government’s cycling strategy, Gear Change: A Bold Vision for Cycling and Walking, we said that every adult and child who wants it can be trained on how to ride a bicycle safely.”
Some peers used the opportunity of the debate to express concerns over pedicabs and electric scooters, while the former Labour MP and now cross-bench peer Baroness Hoey, claiming that “millions of pedestrians on pavements feel intimated and threatened by that small minority of anti-social cyclists,” asking whether “they all have something that shows who they are, so that they can be identified?”
The minister replied: “In the cycling and walking safety review of 2018 we looked at licensing, but we concluded that the costs would outweigh the benefits of getting more people on to a bike.”
In response to another peer who similarly raised concerns over the danger he claimed that cyclists pose to pedestrians, she referred to the recent consultation on proposed changes to the Highway Code, saying: “We want to ensure that those who can cause the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce danger or threat.
“In those circumstances, a cyclist would have the responsibility to a pedestrian or a runner to ensure that they were safe and did not feel intimidated.”
The Conservative peer Lord Robathan observed that “Pedestrians very often do not hear nor react to bicycle bells” and that “motorists invariably do not.
“In a collision with a car or a pedestrian, a cyclist is likely to come off worse because he has further to fall,” he said.
Calling for greater enforcement against motorists who encroach on advanced stop lines, he noted that “The problem is not with vulnerable cyclists but with motor vehicles and sometimes pedestrians who are not paying attention or taking sufficient care.”
Baroness Vere agreed “that perhaps a little more could be done around making sure that motorists do not stop in those boxes because they are really key for cyclists.
“It is about educating the drivers of motor vehicles as well,” she continued, highlighting the hierarchy of road users that formed part of the Highway Code consultation.
“We have got 21,000 responses on that,” she explained. “That has the capacity to fundamentally change the way we think about fellow road users, in whichever mode they choose to travel, and how we keep ourselves – and them – safe.”
The final question to the minister came from Labour peer Lord Berkeley, a patron of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling and Walking.
He asked: “Does the minister agree that the biggest hazard for cyclists is actually unsafe drivers?
“They may be anti-social and some of the cyclists are anti-social. Does she agree that the common problem is the silent approach, be it by cyclists or electric cars? Surely the answer there is to make people use bells.
“Personally, I use a horn when I can because it is even better,” he added. “It wakes up people who are probably on a mobile phone in their car.”
I very much hope that they are not on their mobile phone in their car; otherwise, I shall have words,” replied Baroness Vere.
She said that Lord Berkeley had made “some incredibly important points. It is a question of making sure that the balance is right between the actions of the motorist and the actions of the cyclist.
“I think I have been able to set out what the government are doing.
“We are focused on ensuring that the right balance is achieved and we need to make sure that motorists as well as cyclists behave in the way that they should,” she concluded.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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94 comments
The trouble with warning using bells or shouting, is that many pedestrians have earbuds playing music and are oblivious; also, many cars are also virtually soundproof to a bike bell or shouting, with windows up and/or music playing.
So you shouldn't bother trying to attract anybody's attention, on the offchance that they may not be able to hear you? Can't say I really see the logic to that.
About ten years ago I bought a new Cannondale CAAD10, which at the time was Cannondale's top-of-the-range non-carbon road bike. The bell on my pub hybrid had just broken so I'd hoped a new bell would come with the CAAD10. It didn't, and the on-line retailer seemed rather taken aback when I phoned and asked for the legally-required bell for my fancy new road bike.
A few days later a package arrived, containing the bell. As a bonus, the same package included a pair of plastic pedals (c/w front and rear reflectors) and a couple of those plastic clip-on spoke reflector thingies. Strangely, in ten years I haven't found the time to fit them.
Christ....I wish I'd never mentioned ringing my bell on a canal path.
lol, it's quite funny the different opinions. Maybe the House of Lords should be debating what the ringing of a bicycle bell actually means!
It reminded me of this article from a while back...
https://andrewhammel.blog/2006/01/14/the_awesome_pow/
My view is it ought to be for alerting people to your presence, so you don't give someone a fright by creeping up on them. A bit like the audible warning noise they're adding to electric cars.
A bicycle bell is not really any use for an urgent warning of impending disaster. You're far better shouting and keeping your hands on the bars/brakes.
...Think I'll be riding my Brompton around Germany for sport when we're allowed out again! And I'm not sure what the take-up rate of electric cars will be if they have an irritable seat-belt warning-type bleep!
"if you are travelling in central London, it will get you nowhere, and in those circumstances, a shout is probably preferable."
Where's the guy who's always shouting "BIKE LANE" at pedestrians when you need him?
In reply, Lord Lexden asked, “What can be done about the huge number of cyclists without bells, which does not lack aggressive and foul-mouthed elements?
“Some of them seem to prefer pavements to their designated cycle lanes, having presumably discarded the bells which … are required by law when bicycles are first sold. Is this not completely irresponsible?”
Could it be that all those cycling on pavements are frankly terrified of riding on the road, with the feral driving and the near total lack of enforcement of the required standards? If only the politicians had any sort of control over that ....
Well you shouldn't be cycling on the road either. Not unless it's in a "designated cycle lane".
The bottom line on all of this is that if you use a bell, someone will take offence and say you should have called out instead; and if you call out, someone will take offence and say "Where's yer bell?". You can't win
I don't know why people are offended by bells - as long as the ringer is polite after being let through. A short ping should just mean "I'm here, I've seen you, and wanted you to know" rather than "let me through or my inner gammon might surface".
They are nowhere near as aggressive as most car horns. In fact I sometimes wish I had a bell on the car, just to be able to tell a cyclist that "I am behind but not to worry, I'll be patient and careful" rather than "I am staying behind you to choose my moment for my assault with a four wheeled weapon".
And canal tow paths were designed for horses originally. I find them nasty to cycle on because they tend to be narrow, are popular with pedestrians and dogs, and have a rather unforgiving run-off.
I've never found a bike bell to sound hostile towards me, but then i've always been a bit wary about how it comes across to others when i'm using it at them.
I now have an electric horn, which sounds very loud and hostile...
One of my favourite conversations has gone along the lines of,
"You should have rung your bell!"
"I did; several times."
"Well, you should have called out then!"
"Yeah; did that, too."
I often see in comments people saying that pedestrians get annoyed by bells, however in my experience which includes thousands of miles on shared paths I've never experienced this and fairly often I'm thanked for my use of the bell. I think the fact that I use the incredibly expensive Spurcycle bell well before I get near to people helps, this allows them time to turn, see me and react. My rough estimate is that I ring it when I'm 50 meters away and most people hear it although some start looking at their phone thinking they've got a notification....
I think the fact that I use the {incredibly expensive Spurcycle} bell well before I get near to people helps
Amen to that.
I quite agree. Right from day one I was impressed at how well a single ding from the Spurcycle carries and gets attention. I don't use it if there is plenty of space to pass but if people aren't leaving enough space for a safe pass or have a child or a dog with them then I'll give a warning ding. I can't recall anyone ever complaining about me using the bell.
It fits with the overall human narrative of their being a'holes and d'heads using all forms of transport.
Last time I used a bell on a shared use path, there was a group of six adults spread out across the whole width with a couple of dogs on leads. I rang the bell in plenty of time, one of the men in the group looked back, nodded to acknowledge my presence then gave me the bird and the group just carried on as they were.
Humans can be selfish, whether on foot or two or four wheels.
a single ding from the Spurcycle carries and gets attention
Don't forget- patriotic bells are available for 40% of the price
https://www.lionbellworks.co.uk/index.php
I use the bell on my Brompton on the canal path when cycling to school with my son - works quite well as pedestrians expect it; it can be heard at a distance AND THROUGH HEADPHONES - which voices don't penetrate quite so easily.
I guess the Lord's are used to listening through hearing aids. Perhaps bells wake them up?
My wife bought me an electronic 'bell' a few years ago, but despite it being louder people didn't move because they didn't recognise the sound.
TBH its annoying when walking on the canal towpath to have cyclists doing the "ding get out of my way". its primarily a footpath and the pedestrian should have priority. You should wait till its wide enough to pass easily or accept cycing at walking pace.
By what decree is a towpath "primarily a footpath"?
the original purpose was to tow barges. Canal speed limit is 4mph. Walking pace. no problem with you cycling there but keep to 4 mph if there are pedestrians about.
Well that's great news then - roads were originally built for stage coaches, which travelled at about 8-12 mph. So by your logic that original purpose still has some bearing on their use today, and horseless carriages should stick to those speeds if there are velocipede users about?
That would be the roman stagecoaches. Who knew the romans used stagecoaches.
Feel free to ding your bell if you come up behind me on a towpath . I'll probably ignore you.
Nah, you'll just get shouted at, loudly enough to be sure you've heard. If you behave discourteously and block the path, you may find somone reacts in kind by pushing past you with their bike over their shoulder
The speed limit is for the craft which use the water to assist with collison avoidance and erosion control. How is that relevant to anyone using the towpath?
Is jogging also banned by you?
I'm not in charge of the towpath. so no
I'll rephrase for you. What is the maximum speed for joggers given you have said it is 4mph for cyclists?
I think many people would think a jogger choosing to jog somehere where they need to keep asking people to move out of the way could be considered a prize twat. To me its pretty simple. If you want to cycle at or near road speed be on the road.
and there I would agree fully. But the idea of simply ignoring a cyclist who wants to get past you safely by sounding their bell, no.
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