Originally Posted by
Cramic
Might be more a vent, but as I’m fairly new to cycling I’d appreciate hearing member’s thoughts on bell ringing to let people know you’re passing. I ring it on a case-by-case basis (if there’s a large speed differential, if I know we’re approaching a section where people often cross lanes, kids, etc.) but had a fairly unpleasant experience today.
Was on a shared bike/pedestrian path and there was a couple ahead. More leisure cyclists, both appeared to be in their fifties, and cycling single file with about 5m between them. Path doing a few twists when I came up on her rear and I free wheeled and coasted behind for about ten seconds. She heard my pawls/freehub (pretty loud on my bike) and looked back so knew I was there and that I would be passing. As we came around the last corner the path was clear for 100m ahead so I moved far right and passed her. As I did she called to her partner “bike passing” and I passed him shortly afterwards. He shouted after me, “know that bell on your bike? ******g use it”.
Totally unnecessary (in my opinion) and I returned to remonstrate, explaining that his partner knew I was there, had called to him, we were only doing about 10kmh and I passed a good 2m on his right. I actually felt I’d been more than polite, giving her space and waiting until I could be absolutely certain it was safe to pass.
I’m passed frequently by other cyclists on bike paths, at 30kmh plus, and rarely, if ever, does anybody ring their bell. I do if I’ve noticed a cyclist not keeping religiously left, but usually don’t if there’s good space to pass.
And conversely I passed a female cyclist on a bike path commute and knew we were coming to a section cyclists often cross both lanes to drop onto the road so rang my bell, once, as I was passing only for her to shout something after me (I don’t know what, to be honest, but she didn’t sound happy). I often find it an irritation when every bike rings their bell at me when, as a pedestrian, I always keep left.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
I imagine most people will ring on a case by case basis, and will be grown up enough to know that we’re not all going to agree on when that is so won’t hurl abuse after fellow cyclists, but just wondered if there is a consensus/etiquette. If the community thinks I should have rang my bell, even in that specific example, then I’ll have to ring literally when I pass everybody.
p.s. I’m in Australia, so we cycle/drive on the left.
I did a century last weekend, and at one point hopped into a small group that was significantly faster that many/most of the riders stretch out along the route. One of the group had a bell that he pinged as we were passing cyclists on the road. None of this pinging was directed toward me, but I still found it quite irritating. Maybe because I heard it repeatedly, maybe once wouldn't have been quite so annoying. I was quite surprised, as this was the first "hardcore roadie" I'd ever encountered with a bell in their bike. I avoid MUPs like the plague, presumably bells are more common there? The few times I find myself marooned on an MUP, when passing, I slow up and speak, as loud as I can without shouting, some variation of "I'm going to pass on your left, Folks" - seems to do the job without any drama.