Bike Bell

[GrumpyGregry]

Here's a crazy idea whether you favour bell, bulb horn, airzound (which imo has no place being used around peds) or a spot of Mr Shouty; give way to pedestrians, defer to them, don't expect them to get out of your way, let them have precedence, etc., etc..

 

[betty swollocks]

Here's a crazy idea whether you favour bell, bulb horn, airzound (which imo has no place being used around peds) or a spot of Mr Shouty; give way to pedestrians, defer to them, don't expect them to get out of your way, let them have precedence, etc., etc..

Yes. Let's all stay at home.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Yes. Let's all stay at home.

If you need the excuse....

 

[suecsi]

Most of the people walking on the cycle path round here are plugged into their music and/or phone - annoying though it is in the town centre, I accept an inevitable level of overspill happens from the pedestrian crossings into the cycle lanes for those peds in such a hurry they can't possibly wait behind other people. But outside of the town centre the random wanderings are a pain and a gentle tinkle of a Brompton bell either isn't heard or causes a panic that gets the pedestrian to wonder in completely the wrong direction.

 

[fimm]

I use "Excuse me" or "coming through" depending on my mood etc.
I recall coming up behind two older people and ringing my bell, when they didn't appear to have heard it I said "Excuse me" whereupon one of them said something about me needing a bell. Sigh.
I know my friend doesn't like cyclists tinging their bells at her when she's running, but I like to be warned if someone is coming up behind me. So you definitely can't win!

 

[rodgy-dodge]

A lot of people today didn't hear us even with the dinging of two bells....so DH took to skidding his back tyre they all heard that

One man was really rude too, shouting at us.... he said we shouldn't be riding the track we where on!!!! er it's a cycle way NCN1 the blue signs give it away!!!!

 

[summerdays]

I often change gear as I approach ... apart from anything you are likely to be slowing down ... but that little noise often makes some of them look around. Then I go for the good ... morning/afternoon as appropriate rather than the bell as I think it sounds less like a command to move and more a indication of my prescense. After that the next escalation is "excuse me" ... and if all else fails ... cycling extremely slowly behind them listening to their conversation and looking interested in it (joining in if necessary) ... usually makes them think that actually they would rather let you by

 

[Angelfishsolo]

On a Trail Leaders course it was recommended that you shout Bike. The instructor failed to see the joke when we said "If you shout that around here any girl will hit you . I tend to shout Good Morning / Afternoon... and than say Thank You as I pass. It seems for polite than ringing a bell. Have had issues with people with MP3 players glued to their ears but then they are unlikely to hear anything!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Yes sadly that does happen. THe pedestrian gets the same mindset as a car driver and think they are the only ones allowed the be off road.

One man was really rude too, shouting at us.... he said we shouldn't be riding the track we where on!!!! er it's a cycle way NCN1 the blue signs give it away!!!!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Love it

... and if all else fails ... cycling extremely slowly behind them listening to their conversation and looking interested in it (joining in if necessary) ... usually makes them think that actually they would rather let you by

 

[addictfreak]

I decide to put a bell on my MTB, after walkers made comments about me not having one. So I thought fair enough, and I bought one.

Any way off I went dinging my bell only to find myself being ignored. People to busy on mobiles, listening to ipods or just general ignorance. So in the bin went the bell, now I just whistle loudly as I approach. Seems to do the trick.

 

[byegad]

I have a ping bell, a loud ding dong bell and an Air Zound. Depending on the circumstances I use whatever seems appropriate.

 

[Mr Crash]

What annoys me is that I gain some speed with a bit of effort then I have to slow down because of some deaf bastard!!

 

[Cush]

I was nearly caught in right trap today. On a mixed cycle / pavement and approaching a T junction where cars can turn left into it but can not come out of it. Female ped coming towards T junction Mobile glued to her ear wandering all over and almost on to Junction. While a car coming out of Junction when it should not have been. My voice stopped ped from walking in to car but she carried on and was almost in to me. Voice raise again but ped still on phone!!.

 

[markharry66]

I tend to treat people with respect on cycle lanes as far as I concerned its a shared facility I normally ride in the road where I am a second class citizen as far as I am concerned I am sharing their turf