Alternative to a Bell

[Andy_R]

Ermm...hate to be the voice of "sensibility", but you do realise that pedestrians have priority on shared paths, so you have to slow down and navigate around them in a safe manner, without demanding that they move aside. The "ping" is just there to let them know you are approaching. Hope this helps.

 

[Bollo]

Try a Hope rear hub. A quick back-pedal has them diving for the bushes - or alerts them to your presence if you do it a bit further back.

Ditto the hubs on my Hunt wheels. Perfectly serviceable wheels but by Dawkins do they are a racket when freewheeling!

 

[Ian H]

If you often have to shout at people or sound bells and horns, then you're going too fast on a shared path.

 

[colly]

@ColinJ had a squeeky toy on his bike as I remember. Seemed to work ok for him I think.

 

[ColinJ]

@ColinJ had a squeeky toy on his bike as I remember. Seemed to work ok for him I think.

I did! I'm trying to remember what happened to it - I think it eventually fell off. [Joke]Probably a good thing - people weren't taking me seriously as an athlete with it on the bike! [/Joke]

 

[FishFright]

A General Lee style musical air horn

The flag is context

 

[the stupid one]

I love Jenkins' idea of the Nerf gun!

I use a bell, sounded a good distance back and repeated as necessary - usually this avoids the shock reaction. And I've had lots of good reactions to it. Older people in particular seem to appreciate it, and many have complimented me on my tone.

That said, there have also been times when I'm still ringing the bloody bell a few yards away, and other times when the bell doesn't want to ring properly and I end up really close before they're aware of me. In the latter case I apologise and explain that my fat fingers have let me down.

 

[Seevio]

 

[Milkfloat]

I did! I'm trying to remember what happened to it - I think it eventually fell off. [Joke]Probably a good thing - people weren't taking me seriously as an athlete with it on the bike! [/Joke]

View attachment 419264

I am not surprised you were not being taken seriously with that saddle and bar tape colour combination.

 

[DaveReading]

If you often have to shout at people or sound bells and horns, then you're going too fast on a shared path.

Nonsense.

As pointed out by a previous poster, sounding your bell for its intended purpose (to advise someone of your presence, particularly when approaching from behind) is simply common sense.

No matter how slowly you are cycling, it's always possible that a pedestrian who hasn't seen or heard you will swerve into your path with insufficient time for you to react.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

try riding through manchester city centre at rush hour; pedestrians are a bigger danger to cyclists than trams or busses.

they just step off the pavement with their faces in their phones with their back facing oncoming traffic

 

[Ian H]

Nonsense.

As pointed out by a previous poster, sounding your bell for its intended purpose (to advise someone of your presence, particularly when approaching from behind) is simply common sense.

No matter how slowly you are cycling, it's always possible that a pedestrian who hasn't seen or heard you will swerve into your path with insufficient time for you to react.

Oh dear. Perhaps it's those on internet forums, but some folk do seem to be allergic to social contact. I have never had a problem with a cheery 'hello' or 'good morning' or even 'excuse me'.

 

[ColinJ]

I am not surprised you were not being taken seriously with that saddle and bar tape colour combination.

It had mismatched cranks too! I broke a crank and replaced it with a shorter one from an old bike. My leg on that side is shorter too so it actually suited me.

 

[Gravity Aided]

A Taser should do the trick.

But then they fall down in front of you. Could be hard on the rims and tires.

 

[Gravity Aided]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYkBHGurj-I


Airzound has an alternative.