How often do you use your bell?

[All uphill]

A ping and a cheery "Hello" when passing a pedestrian. If the joggers have chosen to block their ears it's their problem.

I'm still a little sad when I ping and a pedestrian says "Sorry". I always say " No need to apologise"

 

[Sharky]

🎵I've got a bike, you can ride it if you like
It's got a basket, a bell that rings
And things to make it look good
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it🎵

You're a poet, although you might not know it.

 

[Oldhippy]

I ring at a distance and say morning/afternoon. Many people wear ear pod things these days and don't hear at all I find.

 

[Sharky]

I don't have a bell and do not ride on shared pathways. We do though, have quite a few horse riders, riding along the lanes. I usually call out from a distance and wait until I am invited to pass before trying.

I believe horses are more tolerant of human voices than bells or horns.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

On a road bike I used to call out "Bike behind", and never got any aggro. When I had a 'bent trike I did use a bell.

Having a shared path nearby I get really annoyed when someone on a bike comes flying past without a warning of any sort.

 

[Gwylan]

Well, in town I have a whistle. This can be a gentle warble and then range on up to full on red card.
The gentle warble often works, sometimes the volume has to be increased.

Close over takers get the full red card.

Out and about it's similar. No point terrifying horses. They know your there and it's the rider that ignorant.

Dogs and horses are much more aware and don't wear headphones or walk along texting or whatever.

 

[Drago]

Any advocates of the TASER as a pedestrian clearing device hereabouts?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

nuclear explosion all ineffective

I find a loud stinky fart as you pass, soon makes them regret not acknowledging you.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

A polite "excuse me" invariably works

Together with a tap from your truncheon

 

[figbat]

I have a bell on all my bikes except the one on the turbo. When I ride alone I will use it probably at least once a ride - for example I did 30 miles of mostly off-road yesterday and used it 2 or 3 times. I’ll use it at a distance to start with and with increasing urgency as I get closer if I see no response or acknowledgment. Almost all pedestrians, equestrians and cyclists that I encounter are grateful for the warning.

 

[Mike Ayling]

On a road bike I used to call out "Bike behind", and never got any aggro. When I had a 'bent trike I did use a bell.

Having a shared path nearby I get really annoyed when someone on a bike comes flying past without a warning of any sort.

Same thing happens here.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I don't have a bell on my commuter, no point, everyone are on their phone anyway, or wearing headphones.
This week I was commuting on my other bike because the commuter is getting a service.
My other bike has a bell: I rang it several times for the same person, of course they didn't hear it - how did they say "sorry I didn't hear you" when I passed them (carefully and wide) a few minutes later?

 

[OldShep]

About once every three years.

 

[briantrumpet]

I don't have a bell. As above a polite greeting works fine. But I avoid shared-use paths whenever possible.

It's weird, but the nubheads never shout "Get on the fxxking shared-use path!!"

I've got a miniature Italian cow bell hanging freely from the handlebars on one bike - most of the time it has some foam stuffed in it to stop it tinging, but when I'm on the shared-use path (Exe Estuary Trail) down to Exmouth (beats the Exmouth road, which shows how awful the Exmouth road is to cycle), out comes the foam, and the bell tinkles away randomly for the many people, children, dogs (some actually on leads, some on long bits of string across the SUP), prams, groups of people taking up the entire width (even a group of two will attempt to do that) who will need to move for me to pass by.

FWIW, it's good to see the Trail being so well used by so many different types of users, so for once I'm not moaning (apart from the dog owners who let their dogs wander randomly along/across it, especially the ones who make no effort at control even when they've heard the bell).

 

[Webbo2]

When Mrs W gives me a nudge.🫣😩