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Cyclists: do you use bells?

Bell on Bumps

I had a super fab two tone old school bell. It made folk smile - and get out of the way. Very effectvie

However it rang when I went over bumps. Going down tow paths and off road it rang all the time. Pissed off walkers who though I was over keen on the bell.

Had to get rid of it. Although if I can get the same sound out of a bell that just rings when I tell it to I'd get another
 
i use a bell and it does help. Especially on shared use paths.

I tend to use it to warn people that I'm coming up behind them so I don;t end up surprising them. But some people take it as a demand that they move out of the way - so I'm in two minds sometimes about using it.

On the roads - if somebody steps out in front of me - close enough that I'm gonna hit them - its usually too late to ding. It'll be difficult to make pre-emptive dings whenever I see a likely candidate. It's enough watching what the cars are up to, let alone watching pedestrians as well. I'd probably end up under the wheels of a bus or something. Although I do do it when I see a mass of people waiting to cross or crossing against the lights, just to warn them that I'm coming through.

What is probably more effective is cycling an appropriate distrance out from the edge of the road, especially where there are parked cars for people to step out from.

I also ding when overtaking stationery traffic, just in case someone is crossing the road.

As often or not though it just gets ignored.

The only times I ever hit any one was 1) about 25 years ago while i was still at school and a less experienced cyclist, i hit a kid who ran out from behind a parked car - he was ok and 2) a couple of years ago when a bloke jumped off a moving routemaster right in front of me, i was more hurt than he was, and he didn;t apolgise! Still with no routemasters that won;t happen again.
 
There's one place where I ding constantly, and that's when riding in an on-road cycle lane next to stationary traffic (esp. buses) - Pedestrians think it's ok to cross when all the traffic's stopped, can't see me on the other side of the bus, and promptly step out into my path. Constant dinging is the only solution. This happens a lot in The City.

Oh, and yesterday, in just such a situation, the idiot bus driver decided to open his doors and literally flooded the cycle lane with people! There was nearly a fucking horrendous crash of a dozen people and three bikes. Luckily we all managed to brake in time.
 
Crispy said:
Oh, and yesterday, in just such a situation, the idiot bus driver decided to open his doors and literally flooded the cycle lane with people! There was nearly a fucking horrendous crash of a dozen people and three bikes. Luckily we all managed to brake in time.
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Quite often I have a bus cut in front of me and stop at a bus stop - while I'm still alongside the bus - forcing me to stop in the gap. Usually the bus hasn;t been able to pull all the way in the the stop, or it's stopped at an awkward angle. Then the door opens, and out flood the passengers.

My latest tactic, after trying a few different ones, is to shout "I'm sorry" - ding my bell a bit "sorry everybody, but this bus-driver has cut me up, hope you don;t mind if I push through, thankyou."

The passengers actually parted to let me through :)
 
Mation said:
I'm a London crosser - that is I listen out for cars and try very hard to remember that I have also to look before I take my first step out into the road as I cross. But sometimes I forget (until the middle of that first step).

Several times, I've found myself stepping into the path of an oncoming cyclist, with only a second or two to leap back out of the way, because I just don't hear them coming very well.

But I haven't heard a bell ding-a-linging to warn me in years! Why not? (Apart from posible deafness!) It would certainly help...

Do people still have them?
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Highway Code Rule 51:
51: You should be considerate of other road users, particularly blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Let them know you are there when necessary, for example by ringing your bell.

So it's simply a question of being considerate - or not....
 
Crispy said:
the idiot bus driver decided to open his doors and literally flooded the cycle lane with people! There was nearly a fucking horrendous crash of a dozen people and three bikes. Luckily we all managed to brake in time.
Click to expand...
I agree, buses shouldn't be allowed to let people on and off - it just buggers up the free flow of traffic.
 
i admit my bell-dinging instinct isn't what it should be, i've often nearly hit the pedestrian before i manage to get my hand on the bell, and i need to work on it.

BUT, rule numero uno for pedestrians is 'look both ways before you cross the street.' pedestrians rarely do this in this city, and if they get hit, then it really is their fault. especially the ones who step into cycle lanes without even looking.
 
Cobbles said:
I agree, buses shouldn't be allowed to let people on and off - it just buggers up the free flow of traffic.
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Bus Stop - Fine.
Cycle Lane - Not Fine.

The cycle lane is not just a strip of paint, it is a proper lane of traffic, which you do not open your door into, or step into without looking. Or discharge your passengers into.
 
Crispy said:
Pedestrians think it's ok to cross when all the traffic's stopped, can't see me on the other side of the bus, and promptly step out into my path. Constant dinging is the only solution.
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I'd say that if you are approaching a blind 'corner' (whether it's caused by bus or a van or anything) you should ride assuming someone cannot hear you or see you. i.e. slow enough or wide enough to stop. Otherwise you are just going to hit some hapless hard of hearing person one day. Being "right" won't stop it hurting!

(Sorry, sounds a bit lecturing but I've been hit by a cyclist coming round a blind corner. And I do cycle myself btw.)
 
I used to have a bell on my old boke that said 'I <heart> my bike'... although that was a big lie because I left my bike on the balcony to rust :(

I preferred the device I had on my BMX when I was a kid, with a selection of sirens in old-skool 'nee-naw-nee-naw' and 'wah-wah' styles :cool:
 
paolo999 said:
I'd say that if you are approaching a blind 'corner' (whether it's caused by bus or a van or anything) you should ride assuming someone cannot hear you or see you. i.e. slow enough or wide enough to stop. Otherwise you are just going to hit some hapless hard of hearing person one day. Being "right" won't stop it hurting!

(Sorry, sounds a bit lecturing but I've been hit by a cyclist coming round a blind corner. And I do cycle myself btw.)
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Yeah, I slow down so I can stop if they do walk out. Still, helps if it doesn't happen in the first place :)
 
I don't have a bell.. I find saying 'beep beep' effective.. people seem to find it quite sweet. Sometimes I'm a proper bastard and say it when overtaking other people on decent racers. Sometimes they then cane me on a straight.

I don't think I'm the sort of cyclist people like very much, I think I give the rest of you a bad name.
 
I usually just say 'scuse me!'.

I do have a bell but am choosy with whom and where I use it (in London anyway)...after reading that someone got stabbed by a bunch of kids when he rang his bike bell at them! :(
 
Nah. I usually just shout at people if they absent mindedly walk out onto the road without looking. Much better than a 'ring-ding-ding' from the bell that was factory fitted to my bike.
 
ChrisFilter said:
I don't think I'm the sort of cyclist people like very much, I think I give the rest of you a bad name.
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I've started yelling 'CUNT!' at people like you. Don't take it personally ;):p
 
I have a little horn that has a rubber bulb and its loud even the cars can hear it

I do have one of those pingy bells but they are sodding useless
 
Crispy said:
I've started yelling 'CUNT!' at people like you. Don't take it personally ;):p
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I don't blame you!

Nah, I'm not annoying to normal other cyclists.. just enjoy a bit of sport with the lycra and team colours crew!

I do go through red lights though, but only 'cos I know the route so damn well. I always stop at zebra crossings (when applicable), even if cars don't, and I've never cut anyone up.

I think I must just have a pleasant route to work (same route as 59).. never encountered any road rage, or ill feeling towards cyclists at all.
 
I think I must just have a pleasant route to work (same route as 59).. never encountered any road rage, or ill feeling towards cyclists at all
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'kin snap, mate, up to a point

Brixton Hill all the way to The Cut, instead of over Waterloo Bridge
Sometimes I'll follow the 59 all the way if I fancy a change of bridge

My ride seems very pleasant, no bother at all usually
Then again, I'm never in a mad rush so can read the roads/pavements and pre-empt lemming-like pedestrians - a polite "excuse me coming through" works

:)
 
I love Waterloo Bridge, I love the surprisingly knackering climb coming round and off the IMAX roundabout onto the bridge..

It's a really nice ride isn't it.. what sorta time do you ride? I normally leave covent garden about 6, 6:30.. probably ridden past each other a few times :cool:
 
It's a great ride, especially at the moment

I like coming over Blackfriars Bridge going north and speeding off the bridge into the cycle lane, avoiding those who don't know what's the best road position for getting outta the way of left turning traffic

Usually on the road at 1745, silver Marin, rasta colours bag, (wish I'd got a different one now, haha) with lid on, one trouser leg rolled up

I say hello to everyone, and for some reason motorbike riders always like a chat at the lights

:)
 
I used to have one of those Air Zound things, loud and fun they might be for a bit, but in the end they're a bit of a nightmare.

Too fiddly to get your finger to in a real emergency and they really do scare the shit out of errant pedestrians. I had one bloke leap out of my way into the path of an oncoming bus when I gave him a blast:eek: :D :eek: :D
 
Juice Terry said:
I used to have one of those Air Zound things, loud and fun they might be for a bit, but in the end they're a bit of a nightmare.

Too fiddly to get your finger to in a real emergency...
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Then why not put it in a different place on your handlebars? Mine is right next to my thumb :D

Juice Terry said:
...and they really do scare the shit out of errant pedestrians. I had one bloke leap out of my way into the path of an oncoming bus when I gave him a blast:eek: :D...
Click to expand...
Why on earth would you want to blast pedestrians with an Air Zound? :confused: Shurely that is what a bell is for? I use my Air Zound for alerting cars, motorbikes, lorries, buses and so on. It's not really the right tool for clearing canal towpaths or whatever.
 
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