How often do you use your bell?

[Sunny Portrush]

I like to honk my horn as much as possible.

That reminds me, I have an optician's appointment on Monday

 

[oldandslow]

As I've mentioned when this has come up before, I tend to whistle a merry tune. It carries a very long way on a country road, and is a much gentler way to alert people to my presence than a bell, which can be taken as aggressive.

I do have bells on a couple of bikes. In particular, my Brompton has a bell integrated into the left shifter. I never use it on purpose, but quite often catch it when changing gear or just moving my hand. Occasionally I've probably confused one or two pedestrians who were just minding their own business. Sorry folks.

 

[tyred]

I don't have many shared paths around where I live, but do cycle on quiet rural roads which are popular with walkers and joggers. I ring my bell to try to let them know I'm coming, but most are wearing headphones and don't hear me anyway. I'm considering replacing my bell with a dinner gong.

 

[Big John]

I don't have many shared paths around where I live, but do cycle on quiet rural roads which are popular with walkers and joggers. I ring my bell to try to let them know I'm coming, but most are wearing headphones and don't hear me anyway. I'm considering replacing my bell with a dinner gong.

Same here. The only ones who always seem to hear me are the horse riders and their accompanying bike rider. They always say thanks for the tinkle 👍

 

[brommieinkorea]

Everytime I'm on a shared use path. Sometimes I'll ring repeatedly if some knob in a car is blithely texting with the window down.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

When I ride on the local paths I use mine a lot

I spent ages finding one and got one with the old fashioned ding-a-ling type thing
rahter then the "ding" type
I did this because the longer noise give people more time to work out where it is coming from
AND it sounds more froendly and less demanding

so whenever I am coing up from behind a walker - or whatever - on a path I ring it
I have perfected the ability to have either the full ding-a-ling or just a few dings if I think they know I am there anyway

round here - and on the paths I normally use - it seems to work well
a alot fo people thank me for warning them
although some dart off the path at speed and then look confused that I wanred them at a distance and slowed down ratehr than whizz past after 0.1 seconds of warning!!!

people walking get about 30 yards of warning - plus me slowing down
if they have a dog - especially if on a long lead - then I ring it earlier to give the dog time to notice - ognore me - ignore the owner - take notice of the owner - wander towards the owner
and then stop right across the whole path!!!!!


I sort of expect this from a specic type of dog - normal well behaved ones generally
Labs often to this - although I bet Drago's don't!

 

[PaulSB]

The people with ear phones and those deeply engrossed in their phones - you're on feckin' walk - are the worst as nothing alerts them. All one can do is ride by as wide and quickly as possible.

Then we have elderly couples and families with small children. A moving hazard. Two possibilities here:

The couple split one going to left verge, the other right. Then at the last moment one will have a change of mind and cross to the opposite side.........when I'm about five yards away.

I'm waiting for the glorious day when both change their minds simultaneously and meet in the middle.......sprawling on the ground.

Families with small children. Ah ha! Generally the kids are excellent, jump to one side and stand still. Then Mummy calls "come here Genevieve" now poor Genevieve is expected to cross the path as a gravel rider bears down on her. Often they get halfway, hesitate, change their mind and move back to where they were just as I've adjusted my direction to the same side.

One learns to anticipate........

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Runners need to wear bells, so you can hear them coming.

 

[wafter]

Many, many times daily due to riding a lot of tow paths / shared paths / urban streets with inattentive pedestrians encountered in places they shouldn't be. The bell gets that much use that the last obligatory-freebie fitted to the Fuji broke at the live hinge on the striker a while ago.

Tow paths see the most regular use with a double-ding being the least inoffensive way I can think of to announce my presence. Peds walking away from me get a ring if they look like they'll get in the way (two walking side-by-side, one in the middle / weaving) single peds I just pass nice and wide without the bell if they're evidently intentionally sticking to one side.

People coming towards me get a ring under the same circumstances if they're not paying enough attention to clock me and move out of the way of their own volition.

I always make an effort to ring the bell at a good distance to give people plenty of time - which I've been thanked for a few times.

Everyone who moves to accommodate me / those who are particularly observant or attentive get some sort of verbal thanks as I pass, those who make less effort maybe a hand up on the handlebars, those who make no effort get nothing.

I agree with the point previously made about joggers - who seem to be the worst offenders for totally obliviously getting in the way - I've literally been right behind one repeatedly shouting "excuse me please" with no response; ultimately just having to push my way past.

 

[Punkawallah]

I don’t use a bell, but do call out ‘morning!’ etc as I approach.

 

[figbat]

Same here. The only ones who always seem to hear me are the horse riders and their accompanying bike rider. They always say thanks for the tinkle 👍

Almost invariably I see the horse notice my approach before the rider does. Often before I’ve even rang the bell. If the horse knows I’m there that’s the main objective, but I will also ring until the rider acknowledges my approach.

 

[Paulus]

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

🎵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🎵

From a very talented and artistic song writer called Syd Barrett.

 

[Paulus]

And, he's got a mouse called Gerald.🐀

 

[katiewlx]

Same here. The only ones who always seem to hear me are the horse riders and their accompanying bike rider. They always say thanks for the tinkle 👍

my horsey friends always tell me to call out, instead of bell them, it might be as much to alert them whilst theyre nattering, as reassure the horse, but some horses do react to noises they dont expect in weird ways whilst are mostly sanguine about voices, and definitely dont freewheel if youve got a noisy hub as that will spook them.

 

[katiewlx]

The people with ear phones and those deeply engrossed in their phones - you're on feckin' walk - are the worst as nothing alerts them. All one can do is ride by as wide and quickly as possible.

Then we have elderly couples and families with small children. A moving hazard. Two possibilities here:

The couple split one going to left verge, the other right. Then at the last moment one will have a change of mind and cross to the opposite side.........when I'm about five yards away.

I'm waiting for the glorious day when both change their minds simultaneously and meet in the middle.......sprawling on the ground.

Families with small children. Ah ha! Generally the kids are excellent, jump to one side and stand still. Then Mummy calls "come here Genevieve" now poor Genevieve is expected to cross the path as a gravel rider bears down on her. Often they get halfway, hesitate, change their mind and move back to where they were just as I've adjusted my direction to the same side.

what is it with that ? Ive never understood why do they always split and leave you less room to pass as they start crowding back in again, its like youre walking together you know which side you should be on, just pick one side, oh and also why are you walking alone paying no attention to your surroundings, because you know what electric cars dont make a heap of noise and theyll definitely catch you out.

I just expect kids and dog walkers to be clueless, so plan accordingly.

but I use my bell alot, the joys of shared paths and country roads, and I still get abuse off people for it, so there are times if I think I can make it through without belling, I will.