Originally Posted by starchase

I used to let a cheap Walmart bell announce for me until it broke, and I can't find the single note item to replace it and don't want to do experimental purchasing to find one (already wasted money doing that). Now I just give people on the sidewalk--no multi-use paths around my area--a wide berth especially since list year when I gave a jogger running past me wide berth on the sidewalk and inadvertently allowed my front tire to drop off the walkway causing a spill resulting in a cracked collarbone and a couple ribs, though I didn't realize it at the time and completed my 15 mile route; my first person-related crash in 4700 miles! But it did teach me to keep everyone wide berth!

Originally Posted by livedarklions

The safety of sidewalks for biking is a really bad illusion. You're actually very likely to get hit by a car pulling out of a driveway or crossing at the corner.

Originally Posted by DropBarFan

Yes...sidewalks OK at very low speeds but otherwise not great. There was a true-crime TV show: murder perp is driving along (in California IIRC) & a bicyclist zooms off the sidewalk & into the intersection, colliding with the perp's car. Rider was not critically injured but it was serious enough that cops were called...bad luck for the perp.

Worst area I've seen for sidewalk riding was Miami area...many drivers pull out of parking lots etc w/o looking. If one's riding on the street one has a bit extra time to slow down if necessary. In Boca Raton I got a warning ticket for riding on the sidewalk.

Originally Posted by livedarklions

Riding on sidewalks is also a good way to hit a pedestrian. There's a lot of blind entrances to a sidewalk --doors that open directly onto the sidewalk, shrubs hiding the front of the yard, people coming from around the other side of a car parked in the driveway, etc. I wouldn't go above 5 mph for fear of hitting a stroller emerging from one of those while I was riding. I have no desire to give up 15 mph or so on my cruising speed, so I stick to the street 99% of the time.

Originally Posted by ironnerd

Well... they are called side walks for a reason.

Fortunately, my route to work is about 1/2 quiet neighbourhood streets, 1/2 MUP (not attached to the road). There is a short 1/4 mile section where I ride on the sidewalk. I only rarely encounter anyone on this stretch. The option to the sidewalk is a curving overpass with a 45 mph speed limit and 55 mph traffic - at 06:00 a.m. - no thanks.

I have found that the local MUP is mostly MUP-ish in certain areas. Outside of the metro-zone it is a bike-road.

I do encounter people who do not hear my bell due to ear-buds. The LBS guy recommended ditching the bell in favor of a police whistle. Still not sure if that is the right way to go. There are moments when I ponder the air-horn though.

[[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jrLa8rAmLw]link]

Originally Posted by livedarklions

I actually have the opposite opinion, and obviously we won't be able to "prove" which is correct: I find the impersonal, inarticulate bell sound obnoxious, and respond to it instinctively like I'm being honked at-i.e, with annoyance. I think I am able to convey more information and do so politely with my voice, plus I can add polite terms such as please, thank you,, and good morning. On the occasions when they misunderstand and start scrambling over to the right further than they need to, I often follow up with a "I have plenty of room" so they relax. You're right that timing is important, but that's true with bells as well.


I know you probably don't believe this, but I get thanked for announcing by at least one person almost every time I use a MUP.

Like I said above, I have seen plenty of times where people who use bells have to actually yell to get people to move, I have never seen someone who told people what they're doing have to resort to a bell. And nothing works against noise-cancelling headphones, so don't even go there!

Originally Posted by livedarklions

Just fyi, Atlanta ordinance makes it illegal for anyone 13 or over to ride on any sidewalk.

Originally Posted by DropBarFan

That's a bit surprising. Sometimes roads are dangerous & sidewalks are the better option as long as the cyclist is polite & uses reasonable caution.

Originally Posted by DropBarFan

That's a bit surprising. Sometimes roads are dangerous & sidewalks are the better option as long as the cyclist is polite & uses reasonable caution.

Originally Posted by ksryder

What if I told you that laws vary from state to state

Originally Posted by ksryder

What if I told you that laws vary from state to state

Originally Posted by OBoile

Really? Most places that I'm aware of do not allow cycling on the sidewalks. Especially for adults. A bicycle is a vehicle. It belongs on the road.

Originally Posted by Boxkite

There is a nice paved trail where I like to ride. 'Announcing' is a good idea but more and more people are wearing ear buds, ear phones (the ones that totally cover your ears) or listening to radios/smart phones. When you do 'announce' they don't hear and get angry when passed! I just slow down a lot, observe their 'at the moment' habits then ease around after announcing. The worst are the 'ear budded multiple dog' walkers. The dogs are all over the trail and to each side in the grass with the leash acting like a moving fence. Eventually the dogs look around causing the owner to see 'what's up'. Sheesh! It still beats riding on the road and... my excuse for their lameness is... it gives me an opportunity to sprint! lol

Originally Posted by Gresp15C

My spouse is a distance runner, and she always announces when on a bike. She says the runners really do appreciate the courtesy.

Originally Posted by DropBarFan

I've never hit anyone riding on a sidewalk.

Originally Posted by sfh

Yeah. I'm a distance runner, and I always announce when I'm on a bike. When I'm running, I always announce when I approach a person or a group that's walking. Always. And when I'm running and a cyclist announces, I wave to acknowledge and thank them when they go by.

Sometimes the people scatter a little, but that's not because they're stupid. It's because they were thinking about something else when I announced. That's the entire purpose of announcing. It's okay to announce you're passing AND slow down until you're sure the path is clear and safe.

Originally Posted by livedarklions

I'm more than half-joking, and to call this a half-baked thought would be an insult to half-baked thoughts everywhere, ut maybe the real problem is that bikes are just too quiet. Is there a grown-up version of the playing card in the spokes trick one could use on MUPs? And, no, I really don't want to put anything in the spokes.

Originally Posted by livedarklions

I'm more than half-joking, and to call this a half-baked thought would be an insult to half-baked thoughts everywhere, ut maybe the real problem is that bikes are just too quiet. Is there a grown-up version of the playing card in the spokes trick one could use on MUPs? And, no, I really don't want to put anything in the spokes.

Originally Posted by ksryder

Chris King hubs.

Originally Posted by sfh

Where I live, there's a big increase in the number of electric cars. Damn . . . those things don't make a sound . . .

But for bikes, the hornet-nest sound of high-end rear hubs drives me nuts. I much prefer a bell to an automatic noisemaker . . . but . . . yeah, a bike (especially at speed) can easily sneak up on a pedestrian.

Originally Posted by sputniky

I announce my presence by backpedaling briefly so my really noisy hub is even noisier than usual. Most of the time people will indicate that they know I'm there by side stepping or moving their head.

If they don't acknowledge then I'll either pass extra wide with caution (earbud zombies) or give them a "hello."

I don't see much of the drama that has been discussed by some folks.