How often do you use your bell?

[nogoodnamesleft]

Occasionally I'll use the bell, but normally I just call out "good morning", "bike passing" or similar of shared tracks

Similar except in that much of my cycling is single track roads. I find approaching from behind and a bell can give the impression (to some) "get out of my way, training and speed ..." where a call as you approach can be less open to mis-interpretation. And as you are speaking/calling fairly often I'll end-up slowing and chatting eg to horse riders or walkers or maybe more often their dogs (in France once I stopped chatted making a fuss of her Border Collie then a mile down the road realised I'd "adopted" the Border Collie and had to turn round and "return" her dog)..

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

You don’t. You give plenty of space, which generally means other side of white line. The riders at back of group will call up about cars passing.

I was on the other side - and them some - right up to the grass verge

but it would be nice for there to be a way to be sure they know I am passing without some of them thinking I am angry!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I was on the other side - and them some - right up to the grass verge

but it would be nice for there to be a way to be sure they know I am passing without some of them thinking I am angry!

The horn isn’t the answer. Just make sure you don’t go screaming past at 60 mph and give as much space as you safely can. They will be aware of traffic, and unless you are doing something stupid it’s all good.

 

[SteveH80]

It was summer so the windows were open
hence the grand-daughter got the full volume of "F*** off - f*****g c***" from the riders at the front
they clearly thought I was complaining

but how else was I to warn them?

That's half the problem, some cyclists are self entitled twats that give us all a bad name.
Many of the roads that I ride on aren't wide enough to do the 1.5m gap unless one of us goes I to the adjacent field. A beep alerts me that someone is there and gives me a chance to pull over a little to let them past, safer for me and less frustrating for them.
We have to share the roads so a little consideration from all sides goes a long way.
You talk to horse riders around here and they'll say cars and motorcycles are rarely the problem, it's road cyclists on a mission they have more problems with.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

That's half the problem, some cyclists are self entitled twats that give us all a bad name.
Many of the roads that I ride on aren't wide enough to do the 1.5m gap unless one of us goes I to the adjacent field. A beep alerts me that someone is there and gives me a chance to pull over a little to let them past, safer for me and less frustrating for them.
We have to share the roads so a little consideration from all sides goes a long way.
You talk to horse riders around here and they'll say cars and motorcycles are rarely the problem, it's road cyclists on a mission they have more problems with.

I would imagine cyclists are more of a problem for the horses as they make so little noise and suddenly appear

I used to know someone who spent a lot of time with horses
her main horse was very well-trained and was fine with all traffic
Except Crosville buses - other green buses were fine and he even still panicked when they changed the livery
Horses are weird

 

[Cavalol]

I really should get one, though sometimes even an airhorn would probably be useless due to the ear pod brigade.

Now I just shout 'coming past on your right!' (or left) and when people look I just say 'sorry, I can't afford a bell', which mostly gets them smiling.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

... an airhorn would probably be useless due to the ear pod brigade

My experience is it's mainly joggers who run unable to hear anything from the outside world (which maybe contributes when they just run across road junctions without looking expecting vehicles to just avoid them).

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Over 50% of my miles are ridden on paths shared with pedestrians, dogs and horses, so yes I use my bell a great deal just to let them know I’m there. The only problem I’ve had was in trying to attract the attention of a, as it turns out, hard of hearing older horse rider, she couldn’t hear my bell but her horse could and was slightly spooked.

 

[Binky]

That's half the problem, some cyclists are self entitled twats that give us all a bad name.
Many of the roads that I ride on aren't wide enough to do the 1.5m gap unless one of us goes I to the adjacent field. A beep alerts me that someone is there and gives me a chance to pull over a little to let them past, safer for me and less frustrating for them.
We have to share the roads so a little consideration from all sides goes a long way.
You talk to horse riders around here and they'll say cars and motorcycles are rarely the problem, it's road cyclists on a mission they have more problems with.

Absolutely this. Unfortunately some think cyclists can do no wrong and I've seen that attitude on this site.
However, we're all human so get good and bad no matter what form of transport.

As for using a bell, I only fit one for the rare occasions I cycle on a shared path where I know I'll be encountering plenty of walkers etc. All other occasions I just shout out "bike behind" or similar.

As for horses, I'll approach slowly and call out to alert rider and ask if ok to pass. Several times I've been thanked for this and had comment that it's rare for others to do so which is disappointing.

As others have said, it's walkers etc wearing headphones which becomes an issue as repeated ringing/shouting can go unheeded.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

The only problem I’ve had was in trying to attract the attention of a, as it turns out, hard of hearing older horse rider, she couldn’t hear my bell but her horse could and was slightly spooked.

Fair number of houses around me and I pass a lot cycling. Normally horse will notice me approaching from behind significantly before the rider - you can tell as horse hears even just normal cycle noises (chain on gears, tyres on road, etc.), turns its head to look yet rides hears nothing. Often a horse that's not 100% happy will they give their uncertainty away by moving its rear end out into the road a bit and walking slightly diagonally (if horse doesn't that doesn't mean it's happy, just that if it does it means its a bit unhappy).

On tadpole recumbent need to be even more careful and often I'll twist round and remove my flag (apparently a hi-viz flag thrashing around can upset a horse). On one occasion stopped and chatted to a rider whose horse was nevous and she said how a recumbent cycling position can be interpreted by a horse as you rearing-up and thrashing your front legs in the air (bit like horses do when they squabble) - maybe as feet out in front and much higher in relation to your body.

On tadpole recumbent, stopping and standing and talking can settle a very nervous horse I guess as they can identify you as "human". On one occasion I was chatting to a rider and she asked me to help getting off horse, walking over to it and giving it a treat (she lent forward to give me a treat), I assume so horse starts to learn that good things come from strage objects on road. On;y negative was I then had a hand covered in horse slobber for rest of ride.

 

[katiewlx]

Problem with a car beeping is that a lot of people interpret it and anger and "damn bikes getting in the way" sort of way

I do remember going on holiday to Greece and the coaches seemed to have 2 horns - one to sort of say "Thank you" or "hello"
and one as a normal horn

which would be a good idea maybe

several years ago I got stuck behind a cycle club on a mass ride
I was behind them along the main road due to traffic coming the other way and road furniture

then They turned right - hence going the same way as me so I was still stuck behind them but now on country roads - although not single track

When we came to a long straight section I accelerated and passed and the people at the back gave me a thumbs up

but the one at the front would not know I was there so I gave a quick beep on the horn to warn them

It was summer so the windows were open
hence the grand-daughter got the full volume of "F*** off - f*****g c***" from the riders at the front
they clearly thought I was complaining

but how else was I to warn them?

but if youre already overtaking them, then they know you are there. Especially if its a club ride, the other riders would have called it for those up front, but theyd hear you passing anyway, I often think alot of drivers dont understand that just because we dont spend our whole lives looking backwards when riding, we are perfectly aware 99% of the time you are back there.

so then yeah a horn at that point sounds like youre being "angry impatient motorist" and will absolutely get the verbals back, because a sudden blast of sound, car horns can be quite alot louder outside a car than in, that can easily make you jump/react which in a group that could be quite disastrous for them.

 

[katiewlx]

That's half the problem, some cyclists are self entitled twats that give us all a bad name.
Many of the roads that I ride on aren't wide enough to do the 1.5m gap unless one of us goes I to the adjacent field. A beep alerts me that someone is there and gives me a chance to pull over a little to let them past, safer for me and less frustrating for them.
We have to share the roads so a little consideration from all sides goes a long way.
You talk to horse riders around here and they'll say cars and motorcycles are rarely the problem, it's road cyclists on a mission they have more problems with.

but if we're sharing the roads, and youre on a road you know its going to be difficult to pass, why arent you riding with more awareness of other traffic to start with ? that way people dont need to use their horn because youve already clocked them and are moving over when its safe for you to do so and where youve picked, rather than be forced into a point where you have to make space, because usually a beep is followed immediately by the pass.

I ride alot of country lanes,single track roads, some of these roads arent much bigger than the cars that people drive on them, I dont ride waiting for people to beep at me. I know some people use garmin varias as a tech solution for it, but I just keep my situational awareness going on the road, and if I cant hear, because sometimes the wind is howling around you, and hearing does go as you get older, I look more often instead, but the key is simply knowing whats around you, and I think thats one of the things pedestrians on shared paths or walkers on roads dont do that often, when they should be far more tuned in to their surroundings.

horse riders generally are as they have to be, but their horses can be skittish, and not all riders are as skilled at controlling their horses.but the horse will have clocked you long before you are in bell range for the rider, horses hearing can be quite freakish, and selective, but its more about unusual noises than sound or volume as such horses react to. But you should always call out to a horse rider, speak to them, theyre probably already aware their horse is tensed up abit but it gives them chance to hold the reins better, and then slow wide pass, and dont freewheel because the buzz of the hub, can really make the horse react.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

but if we're sharing the roads, and youre on a road you know its going to be difficult to pass, why arent you riding with more awareness of other traffic to start with ? that way people dont need to use their horn

The horn was used in a situation where it was unnecessary and uncalled for.

 

[SteveH80]

Except Crosville buses - other green buses were fine and he even still panicked when they changed the livery
Horses are weird

One of the horsey set round here told me her horse was fine with motorbikes if the engine was running, but didn't like bikes with the engine off

 

[oxoman]

Not had a bell on a bike since I was a kid, I've always found my voice works. Unless the muppets are walking away from you with headphone / ear defenders on. If im out with the grandson's they clear the way with there bells unless its horses then they pull up until to go by. Both been raised around horses so they know what can happen. I'm actually getting my new bike built and there will be a discrete bell somewhere on it, god I must be getting sensible in my old age.