Jezston said:
I was told when I got my new bike last week that retailers are legally obliged to fix all sold bikes with a bell.
thats different to them being legally obliged to stay on there tho. shops are legally obliged to sell long sleeve shirts with long sleeves, if you cut them off when you get home.......
Interseting debate BM & Arch.
As they're for faster moving people on paths etc, should joggers be fitted with a bell too?
Possibly a silly point but in real terms how much faster do you have to be going to necessitate a little 'ting ting' noise as opposed to 'hello, jogger coming through on the left'
I don't use a bell, partly because my bars have lots of other bits of paraphenalia and theres not much room on them, partly because a bell in non directional, whereas, 'morning, coming through on your right' is a friendly greeting and lets the person know exactly where you'll be coming at them from. I ally this with slowing down a touch and if dogs are there, watching them and giving priority to their moves.
I've never had anyone complain at me, received many good mornings back, never had a dog problem and if anyone did ask me where my bell was I'd explain that with my voice I could let them know left or right and avoid hitting them if we both went the same way.
I also think they're a bit impersonal and rude as our version of the car horn.
