[Closed] Do you people not have bells on your bikes now?

I know how you feel, how difficult is it to understand Rider Passing on the Right. Seems to sound like scatter to anyone walking on the local old railway path.

It also gets old pretty quick getting shouted at you are going too quick you may hit my dog. Wouldn't be a problem if they had the do on a lead like they are supposed to.

I think walkers should have bells, round their necks like little cats have.

I've got one but it's not on my bike. I do intend to put it on though to see if things improve.

This lot were kind of ripping the arse out of it to be honest. Six of them walking in twos taking up the full width of the path and each pair around 10 feet from the next one. When I'm around 20 metres from the first lot I give it the usual "excuse me", they don't hear it, so I try again louder, the first lot move. Get behind the second lot, shout 4 times getting louder each time - 4th one is pretty much a full lungs worth of air and as loud as i can go.. Third time is a repeat of the second.

How have these people survived into their fifties with such a lack of awareness of themselves and others? I'm also not buying it that all six of them were deaf.

I had a couple just walk out into the road without looking. I went absolutely mental on them (in the few seconds it took for me to pass them) swearing and yelling. They said I should have used my bell (which I don't have). What, am I just meant to ring it constantly while I ride so idiots that are too lazy to look left and right don't get hit?

"**** off" would have been easier.

a rude retort for a rude question 😉

I did leave with a positive thought though - the world is full of ignorant muppets and for today at least i am not one of them.

Someone used to make an airhorn that you pumped up with a bike pump, supposed to be super loud! That might work... or it might just make them freeze like frightened rabbits...

Really?

Walkers have right of way.

You should try using a bell - it really does work. Walkers hear a bell they expect a bike.

TJ - see this right of way thing, it doesn't give them the right to deliberately impede the progress of others.

twaddle TJ, my girlfriend has a lovely 2 tone loud bell one bike that gets used on the same old railway path and is ignored just as much as my shouts!
The number of times she rings and rings that bell and they do nothing or simply step out infront of us would suggest to me they are too caught up in there own conversations they are not prepared for anything else that shares the path with them.

Riding to work on the canal,I got shouted at too often by little old ladies and gents walking their little darlings. It's generally what they want, the angry shouty ones, so I decided it was more trouble than it's worth and got a pinger. It seems to pacify them, although I get worried that other users, who otherwise wouldn't give a toss, might think I'm being too aggressive by 'pinging' my way thru them. 😕

agree with rusty mac, it makes no difference with the dreamers.

i made an old lady jumpout of her skin yesterday when passing her, plenty of room but she didn't hear me at all, felt quite bad about it. must refit my bell

TJ - what do you suggest when walkers/ramblers are deliberately ignoring your bell, ignoring your repeated exhortations of "excuse me please" at full volume and are - quite blatantly - deliberately blocking a BW in order to prevent you from passing?

This has happened to me several times & it's sodding ignorant.

TJ - my daughter has a bell, she uses it and the reaction of walkers is to often completely ignore it and the ones who do hear it often complain it frightened them. some people are just ****ers and there is no reason to have a bell when you have a voice in your head.

Today I was pushing up a short lumpy, peaty track that twists between tussocks, hoping to whizz down it. The trail is made by the local fox hunt and ramblers. But it was very boggy so I had already decided against riding down. A couple of classic "ramblers" passed me going down and I said ruefully:

Me: "it's a bit boggy".
Fella: "Yes and it's all cyclists fault!"
Me: "Er no - the trail was made by horses. Look at the trail - deep hoof prints, and loads of foot prints and one bike track"
Fella: "There are no horses around here"
Me: "You are an idiot"

And we left it at that.

One of the times i'm referring to was on a section of BW above Todmorden. About to set off down the trail (often photo'd in ST) & saw a horse rider coming the other way. I waited as you do, & when the rider came alongside she warned me that there were a particularly bolshy group of walkers further down. Apparently (on a BW where she had the RoW) they had deliberately blocked the trail for her, causing her to have to take the horse up a steep & dangerous embankment.

I waited for a while hoping they had moved on, but when i came to the most tech section of the trail there they were, i stopped and shouted down that there was a bike behind them only to see them look at me & deliberately move into such a formation that i was unable to pass at all.
They then held that formation all the way down whilst i balanced at stalling speed on the trail ringing my bell & shouting " excuse me please" in their ears - all to no avail.

Perhaps i should have released the brakes & hit them?

Perhaps i should have released the brakes & hit them?

I would go with get off the bike and stop one, then ask them to get out the way.

To hell with all the replies saying we have to treat walkers like gods so they don't end up hating us. These guys obviously already hate us, and everyone else. Sod them.

In that situation I tend to ask people, nicely, what their problem is. If I have time to spare that is. But I must be quite fortunate, I hardly ever encounter the awkward ones. Last time was in the summer on the Dalby Red! Dog walker refused to acknowledge our presence when I said that bikers wouldn't be expecting them & therefore they might get run over! But, seems to me that there are just a certain percentage of such people in all groups, even MTBers...

I agree completely.

Ramblers (not walkers) seem to be motivated by the belief that the countryside must only be available to those on foot.
Respect is earned & i'm sick of the idea that ramblers must forever be placated, everyone should indulge in give & take, it's not a one-way street!

i recommend getting a big air horn with lacookaracha.that should work well.....

I like my bells on my bikes. They annoy ramblers and gnarcore rad mountain bikers in equal measure!

I use a bell all the time and it works. Its not 100% - nothing is. HOwever it works well most of the time

However you can alert walkers to your presence from a distance away without startling them.

Urban pedestrians often step into the road without looking if they can't hear an engine. Since I started taking babyfish to nursery on my bike, I fitted a bell and use it in earnest. I don't want her to hear my colourful language...

If electric cars do ever become more prevalent, there's going to be a few more squished pedestrians methinks.

😆 @ tootall ^^

I use a bell, and to be fair I've never had a problem with walkers giving me attitude, even on the canal path which isn't very wide. When I'm out walking with the family or whatever, and I hear a bell I immediately move over. If I hear someone shouting from behind, I'd presume it was a runner, as thats what I do when I'm running. Theres nowhere on my running gear to fit a bell unfortunately! 😀

A bell is best I think, as some people have those voices that, no matter what your shouting, you sound like your looking for a punch up!

I only seem to have problems with walkers when its 4+

Rusty Mac - Member
twaddle TJ,

much as I really can't be bothered to get drawn into a debate on this subject ever again in my whole life... I feel I must say a few words on the subject..

I have to disagree with you Rusty..

I have been using a bell out of neccessity in the areas that I ride... Because I have discovered that without fail.. in every single instance that I can recall.. responsible use of a bell has 100% better results than using my voice... I use shared urban paths.. sustrans routes.. bridleways.. footpaths.. and sheep tracks on land used by local dog walkers.. ramblers.. rollerbladers.. joggers.. kids on crack and grannies out shopping and people just out for a bijou strollette after their sunday lunch..

I am often thanked for having the decency to use one as 'most of you ignorant buggers these days just wizz up behind us shouting' as one grateful couple put it last week..

bells are good PR for cyclists.. that is a fact

I personally would prefer it if you swallowed your adolescent sense of pride and misplaced 'cool' and fitted one because in the greater scheme of things.. it makes [i]me[/i] look better to people we share our countryside with..

rant over
thanks
ciao

TandemJeremy - Member
you can alert walkers to your presence from a distance away without startling them [b]without a bell.[/b]

😉

If electric cars do ever become more prevalent, there's going to be a few more squished pedestrians methinks.

Quite likely.

[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybus ]From wikipedia[/url]

Unlike buses or trams, trolleybuses are almost silent...with some pedestrians falling victim to what was also known as the "Silent Death..."

I'm going to counterpoint my previous post where I called a rambler an idiot to his face.

I stopped twice on my ride today to give navigation advice to confused rambling couples clutching guide books, pointing out where they were and where the most scenic trails were in the direction of where they were going. They were lovely.

I'm with TJ on this one. Generally being patient and ideally having a bell helps keep the peace. You'll always get idiots but they're a minority.
My one bike without a bell is a singlespeed as I couldn't ruin it's simple looks with accessories. Luckily as I am unfit my wheezing approach alerts all.

+1 for MTG on this

Urban pedestrians often step into the road without looking if they can't hear an engine. Since I started taking babyfish to nursery on my bike, I fitted a bell and use it in earnest. I don't want her to hear my colourful language...

Buses are dam near silent until they're past you. And oddly enough, the place where I get the most trouble from jaywalkers is a road that has buses going up and down it constantly. I'd hate to be a bus driver on that route. Unless I was a serial killer, then it would be quite fun.

I had a group of young fit girliees on a run trot into the road bang in front of me this morning. When alerted to my presence by squawking fom me and brakes they gave me a disdainful look and simply carried on.
Collapse of stout party!

Unlike buses or trams, trolleybuses are almost silent...with some pedestrians falling victim to what was also known as the "Silent Death..."

Natural selection at work...

On riding past a couple walking along a cycle path, a friend of mine was asked "where's your bell?"
His reply was "up your wife's arse"
Of course I do not condone this kind of thing.

As a young lad, when I first bowed to fashion and removed the bell from my bike, my mother asked me how I would let walkers know if I was behind them. My answer was that I would politely inform them with my voice. She then said something along the lines of "but what if they're deaf?"

i stopped and shouted down that there was a bike behind them only to see them look at me and deliberately move into such a formation that i was unable to pass at all.
They then held that formation all the way down whilst i balanced at stalling speed on the trail ringing my bell and shouting " excuse me please" in their ears - all to no avail.
Perhaps i should have released the brakes and hit them?

"AAAAARGH! MY BRAKES DON'T WORK!" would have got them out of the way sharpish I bet.

Actually, on reflection, that's not a bad candidate for a general greeting to ramblers all the time...

Some of you are old enough to remember when there was a cycle week on the Isle of Man. Apparently the locals referred to the cyclists as the whispering death. No bells on racing bikes, which must have got up to a fair lick coming off the Mountain.

I use one of these far superior than a bell
[IMG] [/IMG]

I took mine off after having people go nuts at me for ringing it, "****ing cyclists, why should I have to get out of your way". Shouting "scuse me" has never done that, so that's what I do instead.

Perhaps i should have released the brakes & hit them?

i have a bell! and everyone was very nice to me today when i used it. is there a point to this rant?

Slowing down, a good girlie high pitched "Hellooo" and a smile seems to work for me 😀

Maybe one of these attached to the front of your bike would do. With a bell as well of course...

[img] [/img]

Its an old style train cow catcher for those of you who have never seen a western...

I have never had a bell on my bike and never will. A few polite "excuse me"s is all anyone gets before I muscle through.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Took mine off to save weight!
Same time as the reflectors came off of my pedals....

Yunki: "bells are good PR for cyclists.. that is a fact"

Completely agree. I fitted a bell for the first time this morning and was amazed at the improved reaction from walkers. Of course there will be some ignorant ones but surely it's better to rise above it and build some positive feeling for the future.

I'm surprised walkers aren't startled by the hideous rumble of deja vu which accompanies all remarks about bicycle bells, I'm now incapable of actually using a bell, instead the merest thought that I ought maybe to consider the action, triggers a panic attack at the possible consequences should I post a forum thread about it.

I'm sure many walkers are the same, hence their mule-like inaction when faced - reared? - with a bike. I've found an answer though, I simply pass the walkers carefully then ritually disembowel myself with rusty kitchen knife leaving a pile of steaming entrails in the middle of the trail.

After this, a bell is rarely mentioned.

Most days though, I just choose to slow down and say hello in a friendly way. Less hassle.

I think saying 'excuse me please' or 'hello' is politer than pinging a bell.

Yeah a bell is the answer and they're fun although mine doesn't work well when it's got water in it as it just goes 'dink' which can be embarrassing.

On riding past a couple walking along a cycle path, a friend of mine was asked "where's your bell?"
His reply was "up your wife's arse"
Of course I do not condone this kind of thing.

Genuinely LOL'd at that. Top work.

Chicken pine-marten?

Well done tootall. You enter
[img] [/img]

Slowing down, a good girlie high pitched "Hellooo" and a smile seems to work for me

Once riding in a group of 10 riders. Bridleway, 4 walkers in front going the same way.

Mate at the front pings his bell, we all pass the walkers, i'm last man.

As I get to the walkers, one says "where's YOUR bell ?"
"Guy at the front's knicked it !" said I.

Cue much laughter from said walkers. 🙂

TooTall - Member
I like my bells on my bikes. They annoy ramblers and gnarcore rad mountain bikers in equal measure!

..and gnarcore rad roadies too :-)(is there such a thing?).

All mine have bells fitted. Polite 'helloos' are good, so is the bell as an alternative / back-up

And whoever it was who said something about removing it for weight saving purposes did you weigh it first??? FFS! 🙄

I took mine off after having people go nuts at me for ringing it, "*ing cyclists, why should I have to get out of your way". Shouting "scuse me" has never done that, so that's what I do instead.

I am another one for the voice approach.
Having been a pedestrian in cambridge much more than a cyclist, I have come across more obnoxious, moronic cyclists than I can count. What I find most annoying is that I am a cyclist myself, and they are giving decent mannered cyclists a bad name. Anyway, I digress..

Personally, if I hear a "ding ding" directly behind me, it is as if the person on the bike can't be *ed to use their voice to say a nice polite "excuse me". It is like when you are on the motorway doing the speed limit, and some nob in a BMW or a Mercedes comes right up your arse and flashes their lights at you... because you are doing the speed limit and they want to exceed it and you are holding them up. Obnoxious, **** you sort of attitude.

Also - if there are people in the way in front of me, I generally see it as a challenge, and an opportunity to have MUCH more fun in getting around them, or I just realise that it is their right of way and just say nothing and continue at walking pace quite happily, until there is a place to pass or they decide for themselves that they will let me pass.

There are always people who have to have a little whine about cyclists though, but in those cases, there is nothing you can do, because they are clearly morons. Either give them a load of witty abuse back or just laugh at them and try to kick up some mud as you pass 😉

Around and around we go.

Bells. They're not required by law so you don't have to have them. Some people find them useful, others don't. They ding irritatingly when you're travelling over rough ground but sometimes alert people to your presence. Sometime they don't, and sometimes people choose to ignore them. Therefore, some people choose to use bells and some don't. The optimum word is choice.

People. People are people, whether they're walking, cycling, driving or hang-gliding. My personal experience of people is that they're often rude, ignorant and selfish. Having a bell fitted to your bike may possibly alter this. It may not. People are just people.

Please, can we stop with this constant bell debate and get back to important forum posts. I really need to know what tyres to use for East Exmoor between the 15th and 21st of March this year.

I find a bell pretty invaluable on a busy southdowns sunday, having said that though, the amount of deaf/inconsiderate/ipod wearing people seems to be on the rise. My pro2 hub does a good job too, folk seem to think angry swarm of wasps is approaching.

+1 for the Pro 2 much more effective than a tinkling bell

[img] [/img]
😀 😀 😀

I like to compromise by shouting 'ding ding', thus achieving the effect of having a bell without having to incur the huge weight penalty of carrying a bell.

Works every time and often gets a laugh.

I had a bell once. It died after a crash and a puncture.

+1 for eviljoe

120 decibels.

I was happily pootling along a towpath next to the River Lee a couple of years back, when a stick flew out of a hedge in front of me, closely followed by a large dog. I had to slam on the brake to avoid a canine catastrophe.

I remonstrated with the owner "Do you realise that you nearly caused me to be knocked off my bike?"

Owner: "This is not a cycle path"

Me: (pointing to sign stating 'Cycle Path') "You're not very bright are you?"

She just stood there huffing but not saying a word almost as if the brain gears were slowly creaking out a retort so I swung a leg back over my bike and cycled off, slowly shaking my head.

I think it was a point well made.

For what it's worth I've not had much issue with walkers. This weekend I surprised a couple even though I was saying 'excuse me, hi there... etc' from as far back as I thought they'd hear. Perfectly nice about it, but if I'd been walking I wouldn't have appreciated being startled.

Will be doing the WHW in a few months, for which I intend to combine bell and spoken pleasantries. Oh and brush up on my Scottish Outdoor Access Code / Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 😉

a week or so back riding along a cycle path, i slowed as a dog was running loose, the dog then nips my leg, medium sized brown terrier thing. I start ranting at dog owner saying your dog bit me, get your dog on a lead etc. Response, she didn't bite you, me what thats blood then, dog didn't bite you your just being grumpy, me the **** dog bit me, her "i'm not listening, la la la la". as she walks back the way she came.

What the * can you do!!!!

Cheapo ping bells on all our bikes. I figure if you're riding on shared paths it's only polite. They last a few years, don't cost much and the look on walkers faces as they start the 'where's your bell' question is priceless.

Ring bell, "hello, excuse me", then louder shout. Yes, if someone steps off a pavement in front of your a shout is a lot more effective but a bell is a different sound to a voice which makes a difference.

I like to compromise by shouting 'ding ding', thus achieving the effect of having a bell without having to incur the huge weight penalty of carrying a bell.

Works every time and often gets a laugh.

That's what we do! When we're all out (me, missus and 3 kids) you get a right laugh from most folk.

Youngest has one of these too....
[img] [/img]

HONK HONK!

I find my bell works very well on the towpath. Calderdale Councill have even gone so far as putting up posters with the slogan "Two Tings" encouraging bell ringing and er...maybe something else.
Its a shame there are no rabid ramblers lurking around STW waiting for a chance to dive in on these threads as they are depressingly one sided.
Maybe some of you ranters should find a suitable Rambling forum go on a raiding party.

The entire "problem" is entirely of cyclists' making. Passing too damned fast. Slow right down. Like walking pace slow - that is the only courteous thing to do.

"Barging past" and all that is just ultra rude. If I'm walking I will move sideways to signal that I would appreciate less speed from a coming cyclist.

the air zound horns are the way forward. mate of mine used on on a car that cut him up and the guy stopped, got out and challenged him to a fight!

Anyone using an air horn off road would get an [i]extremely[/i] angry reaction from me! I'd be inclined to make sure I got IN the way, so that I could express myself at length to the idiot doing that.

I make sure I slow down to walking pace irrelevant if they have seen me and stepped to one side. If they dont hear me or see me, then I say a poilte excuse me. Allow them time to find a decent place to move to one side, and a polite thank you as I pass.

Never had anyone purposefully keep in my way. If they did, then i wouldnt let it get to me. Lifes too short.

Like the shouting 'ding ding' idea. Definately going to try that.

Pedestrians stepping off the pavement without looking with earphones in is another matter. Only thing to do is shout 'oi' at full volume. Usually scares them enough to stop dead.

If you slow to walking pace, you won't be going any faster than the walker and wouldn't be able to pass.

If you slow to walking pace, you won't be going any faster than the walker and wouldn't be able to pass.

I have a bell on my bike as i find it's worth its weight in gold round Mugdock on a Sunday morning.

Having said that, on the narrow path between Balmore and Cadder there was an elderly couple walking up ahead in the same direction as I was riding. The woman was about 20m behind her husband and she moved to one side after one ring of my bell. I said "Thanks". Then I came up behind her husband. Three rings of the bell and still no response so I go right up behind him and say very loudly "Excuse me please!". He grudgingly moves over to the side and, as I pass, he shouts at me: "Get a bell!" 😯 I replied with "Get a hearing aid!" I think his wife put him straight and hopefully he was suitably embarassed 😆

Bells, calling out "rider" etc does not work when they have bloody Ipods and similar. They are oblivious until you are upon them and then when startled can react inappropriately. If they want to insulate themselves from what is around them then it is their problem not mine.

Dog walkers, trail riders all seem to be doing it now.

Doesn't anyone stick their mudflaps under their tyres anymore to make a motorbike noise? Lolly sticks in your spokes are an alternative.