Must stop scaring ...

[Arch]

I've seen right and wrong on both sides of the ped/cyclist divide. Regardless of the reason they are tut tutting, a cheery good morning is *much* friendlier. It takes away any excuse, valid or not, to tut or get irritated, and it's hard to be horrible to a cyclist who's just been nice to you. Making a tiny effort to spread some goodwill and karma is much better than a bell.

What about when you say something, and they say "you should have a bell!"

Whenever I pass someone after ringing my bell, or saying excuse me, or whatever has worked, or if they just notice me and move over before I have to make any noise, I say "cheers!" as I pass. So don't lecture me on goodwill...

 

[BentMikey]

If they're being really arsey, I'm tempted to give in and demonstrate the airzound, but it happens so rarely that I can recall only two incidents in years.

I'm not lecturing you specifically on goodwill, it's a general comment aimed at all bell users, and all the excuse me and other types. Maybe I'm a little oversensitive to impatient cyclists who are intolerant of pedestrians, because I see a lot of twonkish behaviour. It's also true that I tend to find myself on the pro-pedestrian side of debates like this, since it seems that many cyclists out there are no different from car drivers when it comes to impatience and anger towards irritating vulnerable road users.

 

[Arch]

What's wrong with 'excuse me'? In the right tone, it's perfectly polite and correct. Just as a bell, rung in the right way, is simply another way of saying 'excuse me'.

If I say 'excuse me', and when I ring my bell (ting, ting!) it means "may I come through please", and people take it as so. I suppose some people say 'excuse me!" or ring their bells "tingtingtingting!" in a way that means "Get out of my way!" - there's a difference.

As I'm also frequently a pedestrian, I'm perfectly aware of twonkish cyclists, but I'm also able to recognise the nice ones....

Maybe I'm a little oversensitive to impatient cyclists who are intolerant of pedestrians

Not oversensitive perhaps, but you seem to be tarring all bell users with the 'impatient, intolerant' brush - which is no better than a driver tarring all cyclists with the RLJing brush...

 

[ComedyPilot]

It all boils down to awareness, whether on a back lane or a shared cycle path.

IMO people who need to be 'bell rung' or 'excuse me'd' are not aware of their surroundings.

Yes, bikes are silent, but I have caught two-abreast cyclists up on back lanes, and the catch took best part of 1/2 a mile, and not once in that time did they look behind or notice me closing. That is down to an arrogant disregard for other road users and a total lack of spatial awareness.

Conversely, I have been out with Mrs CP and Miss CP in her trailer, and I spotted a chaingang closing on us, I got over to the side and waved them through.

If I can do it, so can others.

Those that won't are selfish.

 

[GrasB]

CP, nice comment there & I agree. You look in the mirrors in your car so you should shoulder check on the bike (I've tried mirrors but with very little success my self). Ironically when I was younger, my parents berated me for looking behind me every 30s or so as my grandfather taut me to.

 

[BentMikey]

My point is also that it's easy for a bell to be taken in the same way as a car horn, no matter how kindly the intention of the cyclist. Bells aren't nearly as friendly as many on here seem to think they are, unlike a cheery greeting.

GrasB, that made me chuckle! I seem to recall someone posting that good and advanced drivers check their mirrors as often as every 3 seconds. No idea if that's true.

 

[neslon]

I just shout "behind" from a way off, then thank them as I pass. No idea if they tut or comment, as they are now history.

 

[GrasB]

Communication is key, for that reason alone I don't like the bell, all it says is 'someone in behind you'. I like, said loudly not shouted, "rider behind, passing on left/right". When I do that people either don't respond or they'll move to the other side while looking over their shoulder & I've actually had a "thank you" in return from a ped. The when you say that your 'target' knows exactly what you're planning to do & so can respond to your call. As well as a "thanks" or "thank you" as you pass is always nice. Also if I go to high on the light before I see a ped, I always apologise if they're coming towards me & most of the time I'll get a 'no problem' response. This kind of communication is easier with non-motorists.

BM, I'd say I'm looking in the mirrors 2 or 3 times every 10 to 15 seconds & I'm borderline gold/silver RoSPA AD. So every 3 seconds doesn't seem to be far out.

 

[gbb]

It all boils down to awareness, whether on a back lane or a shared cycle path.

IMO people who need to be 'bell rung' or 'excuse me'd' are not aware of their surroundings.

Yes, bikes are silent, but I have caught two-abreast cyclists up on back lanes, and the catch took best part of 1/2 a mile, and not once in that time did they look behind or notice me closing. That is down to an arrogant disregard for other road users and a total lack of spatial awareness.

Conversely, I have been out with Mrs CP and Miss CP in her trailer, and I spotted a chaingang closing on us, I got over to the side and waved them through.

If I can do it, so can others.

Those that won't are selfish.

Agreed 100%. I look behind all the time, i want to know if anyone's there (car or cyclist), how fast are they, am i going to be in their way etc etc etc. It's not too much to ask to be afforded the same respect. Sadly, it's not always that way.

 

[661-Pete]

One other point. I've got into the habit of announcing my presence, verbally and quite loudly, when approaching a horse, even from the front (remember that horses have a 'blind spot' directly in front of them). Which I did yesterday, and I think the rider appreciated it. She then went on to warn me about a flood ahead of me. Which she was dead right about (about 8" deep: I think the horse enjoyed it more than I did ). Would I have had that warning, if I hadn't spoken first?

 

[BentMikey]

One other point. I've got into the habit of announcing my presence, verbally and quite loudly, when approaching a horse, even from the front (remember that horses have a 'blind spot' directly in front of them). Which I did yesterday, and I think the rider appreciated it. She then went on to warn me about a flood ahead of me. Which she was dead right about (about 8" deep: I think the horse enjoyed it more than I did ). Would I have had that warning, if I hadn't spoken first?

That's such good karma!! Well done, I also try to be extra nice to horse riders, but then I have to because horses that aren't used to recumbents can really freak out if I don't.

 

[Origamist]

Funny, I don't think I've ever had anyone take exception to a bell. Maybe it's the way you ring it?

Of course, when they hear it and look round, I tend to smile, maybe that helps.

Sometimes, if I'm not in a hurry, I'll just ride behind them at walking pace for a bit, and then enjoy being all "no, no trouble" when they realise and apologise profusely.... (I had to do this on Thursday, but then it was because I'd been forced by the flood to take to the pedestrian footpath, so I felt I had no right to push by, and anyway, there was a foul headwind)

I've seen right and wrong on both sides of the ped/cyclist divide. Regardless of the reason they are tut tutting, a cheery good morning is *much* friendlier. It takes away any excuse, valid or not, to tut or get irritated, and it's hard to be horrible to a cyclist who's just been nice to you. Making a tiny effort to spread some goodwill and karma is much better than a bell.

I use both my bell and my voice - the two work well togther. I ting my trusty brass bell when I'm quite a way behind pedestrians to alert them to my presence, (using my voice this far back usually requires shouting, which is not ideal) - this gives them time to get the dog under control, shepherd the kids etc. When I get closer, I slow and greet them with a convivial "Hello", "Nice Day" or "Good Morning"...I find this combination rarely leads to problems.

 

[BentMikey]

That's quite a good approach, actually!

 

[John the Monkey]

My point is also that it's easy for a bell to be taken in the same way as a car horn, no matter how kindly the intention of the cyclist. Bells aren't nearly as friendly as many on here seem to think they are, unlike a cheery greeting.

The Highway Code says car horns should only be used “to warn other road users of your presence”; and bells are to “let [road users] know you are there when necessary”. Yeah yeah. The fact is that car horns don’t say “Ahem…”, they say “Oi, dickhead!”, and for many pedestrians, bells do too.

-Ben Thomas, in The Guardian.

Unlike a car horn though, you can acknowledge the pedestrian as you pass, so there's no need for it to be a confrontation. I think Origamist's method (bell at a distance, voice when close) works pretty well. I suspect that people who get the arse because you use a bell are going to get the arse in any case, tbh. (Unless you're the firebell[1] guy who uses Whitworth Park's cyclepath).

After using the integral bell on the Brompton for a bit, I've fitted one of these to the Tourer/Commuter http://www.velodrama.co.uk/shop/art...ver-Strike.html?shop_param=cid=34&aid=56.001& - it has a wonderful tone (in the brass version).

[1] So called because of the way he rings his bike bell, which is like an alarm.

 

[Origamist]

After using the integral bell on the Brompton for a bit, I've fitted one of these to the Tourer/Commuter http://www.velodrama.co.uk/shop/art...ver-Strike.html?shop_param=cid=34&aid=56.001& - it has a wonderful tone (in the brass version).

Good to see another brass bell convert...!