Originally Posted by
jjafterdark
Most pedestrians appreciate a quick ring of the bell prior to passing. Quite a few actually say "thank you."
Some are startled, oddly enough. Or at least pretend to be; I think it may just be a case of them having their own kind of fun by over-reacting and startling their friends in turn.
Here's the big secret that I've concluded after about a dozen "announce vs. bell" threads. They both work about as well, and the big variable is which one the cyclist is most comfortable with.
The other big secret is that making some kind of noise is mandatory in a lot of states and/or cities, and people in those places who post here are unaware of that.