Why won't you use a bell on a shared path?
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I use a bell on my touring bike and hybrid. Both are the only bikes I own that’ll ever roll on an MUP. I use a bell and have experienced the following; pleasant waves, greetings like good morning, and thank you. I sometimes get yelled at to say something by old people who seemingly can’t hear the bell, completely ignored, and completely ignored by folks with headphones.
(I once asked an audiologist about this - I presumed there was something genetic about men that causes them to lose hearing earlier, and more severely. He shook his head and said, "No, it's just that men do more stupid things like shooting guns and playing with power tools." I thought for a moment, and agreed with him.)
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To get to the huge cemetery where I do my "serious" riding unpestered by pedestrians, dogs and slow cyclists, I have to negotiate 10km of shared path. On weekends, and particulalry since Covid, this path can sometimes teem with moving obstacles. If I used your methods I would be constantly shouting and slowing down unnecessarily. I'd have no voice left by Monday.
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Real roadies ride on the road, not on some kiddie path. Geez!
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Pre-ozone hole, it was possible to purchase a small Freon horn, not unlike what people used on boats. I got one of these as a kid, and had an absolutely delightful time with it until my mother confiscated it.
I recently bought one of these, but haven't tried it out yet. It seems a bit less obtrusive than a conventional bike bell. You can turn it off when you don't need it so it doesn't drive you nuts:
I recently bought one of these, but haven't tried it out yet. It seems a bit less obtrusive than a conventional bike bell. You can turn it off when you don't need it so it doesn't drive you nuts:
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On the bike paths of Sydney my success rate seems to have been higher than yours. If my advanced warning(s) have gone unheeded, I automatically make some calculations/judgements: are they truly oblivious?; should I slow down?; can I safely go around offpath? Am I so close to them now that another dingding may startle them into doing something dumb?
Doing nothing isn't an option, because by using the path I agreed to share it.
Doing nothing isn't an option, because by using the path I agreed to share it.
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That's easy.
Because bells suck.
https://youtu.be/K4N-1x0_-n0
p.s. Moisture v3(4?) is just as obvious as the previous cries for attention.
Because bells suck.
https://youtu.be/K4N-1x0_-n0
p.s. Moisture v3(4?) is just as obvious as the previous cries for attention.
#38
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When passing a person on foot, I usually say "On your left.", which clearly lets them know that I intend to pass on their left. They still move to the left rather than the right about 20% of the time. If I use a bell, it's about 50% of the time that they move to the left.
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Holy crap, that's some serious obliviousness in that vid! Nevertheless most of them eventually moved. I don't have a problem with multiple dings and with using my voice when necessary.
In a perfect world, no one (including me) would ever be oblivious. This world isn't perfect.
#42
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Anti-bike bell? Oh, brother.
Just use it to politely to make your presence known. If that doesn't work, either use your voice or sound your other louder horn.
Carry on. Don't let it ruin your day.
Just use it to politely to make your presence known. If that doesn't work, either use your voice or sound your other louder horn.
Carry on. Don't let it ruin your day.
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This is reality. Does not matter the MPH, it's a constant slow-go-slow-stop-go.
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bell shmell, from I'm just gonna learn some opera tunes.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehh8ZdIMMj4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehh8ZdIMMj4
As you can hear, a bell is basically useless there.
Last edited by indyfabz; 04-24-21 at 06:14 PM.
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I seldom feel the need to say anything when I pass, even on a shared path. I see some riders use their bell every time they pass any person, regardless of distance, which I find wholly unnecessary and completely annoying.