Do you use your bell to alert pedestrians of your approach?
I am in the habit of using my bell to warn pedestrians of my approach, particularly on bike paths and when there are people with kids or dogs. Pedestrians on shared bike paths often seem unaware of my approach and kids and dogs can behave quite unpredictably.
Last week, a friend walked to work for 3 days (while her car was being repaired) along the shared bike path that follows the tram tack from Goodwood Rd to King William Rd.
It was interesting to hear her comments as to how few cyclists used their bells to alert her of their presence and how many times she was taken by surprise as cyclists silently approached and passed by at quite high speeds. She also commented that it was females more than males that tended to use their bells to warn of their approach.
I must admit to being ignorant of any rules regarding use of bells to warn of approach but, to me, it just seems like a common sense thing to do.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Frank on
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Better be no pedestrians where I ride but I usually use my voice as I have no bell! Couldn't bare the extra weight :-)
If I do ride on shared path with my daughter who btw has a bell and I take my mtb or flat bar job I find pedestrians are actually quite stupid as they walk on the bike bit rather than the clearly marked walking bit and than get cranky when a bike tries to pass!
What is that with people that leave their brains in the kitchen with their instant coffee mug!
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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on -
Frank, where is the bike path where they have defined a lane for pedestrians and a seperate one for cyclists.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Murray on -
I go home along that one every night. The red cycling strip is some sort of magnet for pedestrians.
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
Frank, know what you mean. I avoid Frome Road due to the pedestrians on the cycle path. Some pedestrians clearly see the bike as they head down the hill towards me. Repeated yells of 'bicycle lane/path' can be met with verbal abuse.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on
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I use it from time to time, given the large number of pedestrians that use it questions the practicality of putting a bike path there in my opinion. However the fact is that it is a share use facility so I tend to ride up there very conservatively and use my bell and get the occaisional pedestrian who don't move off the bike lane. I suspect that in most cases it's a disgruntled person who objects to the bike path being there. I usually wait for a safe opportunity to overtake them. E.G. I overtake when safe to do so, just like we expect or would wish for motorists to do so.
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Permalink Reply by Tim B (the running man) on -
A simple solution for this bike path would be to separate it with a raised kerbing, as is done elsewhere in the world. This would probably create a tripping hazard, in the eyes of some and make it difficult for bikes to leave the lane if there is a pedestrian in the lane.
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Permalink Reply by Matt Brennan on -
funny as it sounds it does work with a loud freewheel!
I use the voice to call what side I'm passing on, but if I was commuting on such a path each day I would invest in a bell.
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Permalink Reply by scott mccann on -
i also don't have a bell should put one on one day.I do however slow right down and give plenty of room especially when dogs or kids are around.More riders need to remember it is called a shared path for a reason and if they want to race perhaps a shared track is not the place for it
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Permalink Reply by Torsten Bunge on -
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