Scared a jogger.

[661-Pete]

This sort of thing so easily happens and I often wonder at the incidents that breed ill-feeling between peds and cyclists.

There were my wife and I going at a leisurely pace down a narrow and lonely country lane, catching up with a jogger right in the middle of the lane. No-one else about: this is the sort of road where you meet a car every twenty minutes or so. My wife slowed to jogger's pace, and then when I caught up I started with a polite "er - excuse me".

Poor jogger squawked and looked startled out of his skin! Well I did my best. He was a none-too-fit-looking middle-aged man, and he looked like he'd gone into severe palpitations: the way he was clutching his chest and fighting for breath. Looked scary to me, especially considering my own recent 'episode' last week! When he'd got a bit of his breath back he spluttered 'could have used your bell'. Well, my wife has a bell but I don't, anyway a bell at close quarters could have made him jump just as much as a human voice. I said so.

So the best I could come up with was "sorry about that mate, are you OK?". He said he was but he was still struggling with his breath, so I repeated "Are you SURE you're all right?". But he just waved us on. I hope he was OK.

 

[661-Pete]

I'm sure he was fine. if he was puffing and panting he won't have heard you coming up behind. This is why a bell rung from a safe distance is nice and polite. Not very cool though.

Perhaps I'll have to get one, just for this sort of contingency. But (a) I don't have much space on the handlebar/stem, and ( most bells, especially those added free to new bikes under the new legislation, are utter cr*p. And I don't think a horn would help matters!

There's also the question of horses: I pass a lot of them. I find that calling out to the rider from some way back helps a lot, horses usually don't take fright at a human voice, and anyway it gives the rider time to calm their mount if need be. But I can't be sure how the horse will react to a bell.

 

[upsidedown]

I struggle with the etiquette around this one. I normally feel that sounding the bell gives an "out of my way" message. But then i don't ring the bell and end up right behind apologising and sneaking my way past.

 

[Fnaar]

I ding the bell once from a distance and say something like "coming through on your right/left"... and the same when I'm cycling, too...

 

[Crackle]

My view is bell as well. Sounds like your Jogger was in the early stages of his training regime, making him answer your question was cruel, probably raised his HR by 10 beats

 

[Jane Smart]

I always ring my bell when coming up behind peds and I have had quite a few now, thanking me for doing so.

I didn't at first, I felt like I was saying "get out of the way" but I think most, me included when I am walking, get less of a fright at a bell than someone just scooting past me.

What I do find on many many occasions though, is, that peds have ipods in their ears, so no amount of shouting or ringing the bell works anyway

 

[psmiffy]

I issue an audible warning some distance from the pedestrian (or cyclist) - I sing something, whatever is in my head at that time - not with too much gusto or aggressively but loud enough to be heard - The normal result is the pedestrian makes way and we exchange friendly greetings as I pass

 

[XmisterIS]

I usually creep up behind them in stealth mode ... and then scream "AAAAARGH!" at the top of my voice.

(Joke!).

 

[Saddle bum]

Was approaching a jogger and said "Behind!" as I caught up with him. He was none too please and said, "Where's you bell?", "All right then", I replied, "Ding a f*****g-ling".

 

[swee'pea99]

I believe Airzounds are quite effective in these sorts of situations...

 

[swee'pea99]

Best to get really close first...

 

[I am Spartacus]

Doing the 'lanes' , use one of these and get the boys to bay and howl

and observe the acceleration and beads of sweat in said jogger.

 

[Jane Smart]

Doing the 'lanes' , use one of these and get the boys to bay and howl

and observe the acceleration and beads of sweat in said jogger.

I have a clackton , maybe I should put that on my bike

 

[Arch]

There's also the question of horses: I pass a lot of them. I find that calling out to the rider from some way back helps a lot, horses usually don't take fright at a human voice, and anyway it gives the rider time to calm their mount if need be. But I can't be sure how the horse will react to a bell.

Oh, come on, you're smarter than that. Just because you have a bell, it doesn't mean you can't still use your voice instead when it's appropriate - as it is with horses. They don't make bells out of your personal vocal cords.

 

[Apeman]

Nearly hit a ped on Saturday on way home from work. Spotted him running down a side street and he looked right without stopping and ran across on to centre island. I had at this point come from his left and as a collision was imminent and he still had not seen me in my hi-vis jacket and lights I let rip one almighty "Hoi!"and got past him. He jumped out of his skin and is still cleaning out his y-fronts.Silly bugger!!!