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A horn or bell is mostly for telling other people "hey I'm here, stay out of my way and dont suddenly cross into my path" My opinion as a cyclist is that I sho

A horn or bell is mostly for telling other people "hey I'm here, stay out of my way and dont suddenly cross into my path" My opinion as a cyclist is that I should basically only be using my bell on pedestrians when the pedestrians are wandering onto the bike lane. If im cycling through a shared space, I find it extremely rude to ring the bell, because it feels like I'm telling people to get out of my way, but they have just as much right to a shared path as I do. Some cyclists ring their bells because they're worried a pedestrian might suddenly turn into their path, but I think if one is concerned about that, it's a sign youre cycling too fast, and should just slow down. With cars, I will sometimes proactively ring my bell at them if I think they're not sufficiently aware enough of me though.

ndsipa_pomu 6mo ago
> With cars, I will sometimes proactively ring my bell at them if I think they're not sufficiently aware enough of me though. There's only a few types of car that will be "aware" of cyclists and I don't think ringing a bell will help their algorithms. Getting the attention of a driver, meanwhile, is difficult with a bell as often they'll be in a semi-soundproof cage with loud music on. (Also deaf drivers are a thing). I've never really considered using a bell for motorised traffic. I did once buy a loud air-horn, but it was so loud and abrasive that I never used it as it seemed really rude.
- eigenspace 6mo ago
  > I've never really considered using a bell for motorised traffic. It works surprisingly well if the car isn't moving quickly. Cars aren't as sound isolating as you'd think. My main use-case is that a car is stopped at an intersection, or crossing my lane so they can turn, and I'm worried they'll pull out and hit me because they're looking the wrong way focused on car traffic, and in these situations they almost always hear my bell.
0x3f 6mo ago
I think bells do have a communication use of course, just not really to be used as an emergency 'an accident is about to happen, immediately take action'. At least a bell sounds relatively polite if you're not spamming it. A horn is a bit aggressive, you have to modulate it. In a car I use two short tapped toots as a polite kind of 'excuse me' e.g. if someone hasn't noticed a light turning green. That seems more friendly than a sustained blast. On the bike with a bell I'll just say thank you as I pass, if they've moved for me. Usually seems to go down well enough.
- skeeter2020 6mo ago
  it's a good habit to just ring your bell when approaching things like merges and city intersections regardless if there's other people; you tend to do it earlier and might miss seeing someone.
deleted 6mo ago
[deleted]
walletdrainer 6mo ago
> If im cycling through a shared space, I find it extremely rude to ring the bell, because it feels like I'm telling people to get out of my way, but they have just as much right to a shared path as I do. It’s certainly rude to ring the bell in a aggressive manner, but many bells are capable of producing much softer, more polite sounds. In super busy old European capitals I find that people increasingly just ride around with speakers playing a constant tune at a reasonable volume, a massive improvement on dense streets full of varyingly sober people.
- eigenspace 6mo ago
  I still think that ringing bells at people is a little rude, regardless of the tone. Like imagine if you were at the grocery store, blocking the isle and someone lightly chimed a bell at you instead of just saying "excuse me". IMO if I'm in a dense pedestrian zone and I can't go around people and I can't communicate by voice, it means I'm going too fast.
  - walletdrainer 6mo ago
    >blocking the isle and someone lightly chimed a bell at you instead of just saying "excuse me". Well, at least here in Europe I’d have to spend a decent amount of time deciding which language to use.
    - eigenspace 6mo ago
      I'm also in Europe, and I always just either say the equivalent in the local language, or just use english. Even in the smallest most remote villages, you'd be pretty hard pressed to find someone who doesn't know the word "sorry".
      - walletdrainer 6mo ago
        I’ve found that speaking the wrong language often results in people freezing up as they process what I just said to them, that’s often counterproductive.
iamthemonster 6mo ago
My solution to this is that I ring my bell when I'm far from people, usually twice while I'm still a fair way away. It just gets pedestrians conscious that there's a bike around, while also being far enough away that it's not going to surprise them and I don't think they assume it's an aggressive bell. My least favourite is when a cyclist speeds past and shouts "on ya right" (I'm in Australia) but they shout it when they're so close that there's no chance of hearing and understanding in time.
- the_snooze 6mo ago
  That's how I do it too. I'll tap bell once (and let the ring sustain) when I'm about ~5 seconds from overtaking them so people know there's something coming up behind them, and the sustained sound tells them how fast it's coming. This is especially important with runners, who are prone to suddenly take a U-turn if they're at the end of their route. Pedestrians regularly wave acknowledgement or even say "thank you." Some other cyclists (especially on e-bikes) just blast by with no warning.
- jandrese 6mo ago
  The problem with bells is that they aren't very directional. It's hard for my brain to figure out from which direction the sound is coming from. Someone speaking "on your left" is much more directional, and it includes important context as to what the warning is about.
  - samdixon 6mo ago
    Its pretty safe to assume on a trail if you hear a bell that a bike is coming up behind you.
    - jandrese 6mo ago
      Or from the side or oncoming and he's just behind the crowd of pedestrians ahead of you.
      - 6mo ago
jwr 6mo ago
> A horn or bell is mostly for telling other people "hey I'm here, stay out of my way and dont suddenly cross into my path" This. I only use the bell on bike paths, too. Sometimes it feels like a game of pac-man, where baddies will wander into my path from all directions and in all kinds of ways. Cars doing a right turn, zombies staring into phones, people walking backwards (!), zombies staring into phones walking backwards, it doesn't end.
- lostlogin 6mo ago
  The ultimate cyclist killer: those stupid extending dog leashes.
  - jwr 6mo ago
    Back when I roller skated, the ultimate question: you see a person and a dog, several meters apart. Is there a leash between them? :-)
    - lostlogin 6mo ago
      Oof. If yes, you might be about to get nailed. If no, will the dog run after me and bite me? I’ve had a dog on my heels doing doing 40kmh. They were at my heel, past the back of my rear tyre. I was briefly a competitive sprint cyclist.
      - jwr 6mo ago
        FWIW, it's better to stop and talk to the dog. Dogs don't really want to bite you, most will just chase you and don't really even know why. If you stop and confront them, they are confused and don't know what to do next. Get off the bike on the side opposite of the dog and keep the bike between you and the dog just in case, if you are afraid.
        lostlogin 6mo ago
        Nope, I was out of there. This one was a biter.
mfashby 6mo ago
It's essential on narrow shared paths e.g. a canal towpath, when you're approaching a pedestrian from behind in order to avoid startling them when you pass. Most people walking the canal towpath around here know this, runners in particular will sometimes be give a wave or visual acknowledgement they've heard you without turning around.
jmull 6mo ago
Agreed. I saw one recently where the cyclist shouted out something like, "ON YOUR LEFT!" and all it did was startle the crap out of a jogger who spun around into the path of the bicycle. Luckily just a close call. That cyclist's "warnings", with no time for pedestrians to react properly, were really just a game of Russian roulette. (And really rude, as you say).
- empyrrhicist 6mo ago
  Shouting that while traveling too fast is indeed incorrect, but a polite "on your left" or bell while traveling an appropriate speed is considered good behavior to avoid surprising pedestrians.
  - jmull 6mo ago
    Outside of some stage actors and drill sergeants, there are probably few people who can project their voices well enough that a vocal warning is useful. You're either traveling slow enough that it's not necessary (and why yell at people if you have to?), or are too far away for someone to understand and get a bearing on who isn't already looking at you. A bell is still rude in a shared space but used correctly, a decent one can at least be effective.
    - bigblind 6mo ago
      If you just bell once or twice, and don't aggressively keep ringing, I'd never consider a bicycle bell in a shared space rude. I even consider it good manners, though as others have said, that varies between cultures. Being visually impaired, though, I'm grateful for cyclists who use their bell. It's immediately clear. For some reason, my brain takes slightly longer to process someone yelling "on your left!" or similar, than just a quick "ring ring".
    - empyrrhicist 6mo ago
      > A bell is still rude in a shared space I just don't think that is even a little bit true, or at least it's something that is very culturally specific and thus not generally applicable. I have a friendly sounding bell I use from an appropriate distance (and I can modulate the volume), and I routinely have people give a light wave to show they heard. In addition, the biggest complaint about cyclists in local social media is about them passing without notice.
empyrrhicist 6mo ago
> Some cyclists ring their bells because they're worried a pedestrian might suddenly turn into their path, This is wrong - on mixed use paths, it is customary and proper to announce "on your left" when passing, and a bell is a nice alternative. Even cycling slowly pedestrians can do some very erratic things, and moreover are very surprised when cyclists suddenly appear on their left (and may do something dumb in surprise!).
- jandrese 6mo ago
  On the bike trail it is crucial to do a shoulder check when changing lanes. Some people get "in the zone" and ignore all other traffic in the singular pursuit of the shortest times. They will get very very angry if you get in front of them, if they spot you at all instead of just slamming into your rear tire at full speed.
  - empyrrhicist 6mo ago
    I personally can't stand to ride without a mirror for situational awareness (or, if on road, a mirror and also radar).
- kube-system 6mo ago
  > This is wrong - on mixed use paths, it is customary and proper to announce "on your left" when passing This is neither customarily nor regulatory uniform. There are mixed-use trails near me where bells are required. There are some trails where most people use a bell, some trails where nobody uses a bell, and some where there is a mix. In my personal experience, the ratio of bikes to pedestrians and the purpose of the trail greatly affects how people tend to handle this.
- calyth2018 6mo ago
  Announcing "on your left" is a great way for someone to move left, because more often than not, they're oblivious on the shared paths, and the spotlight effect messes with their head.
mr_mitm 6mo ago
> I find it extremely rude to ring the bell, because it feels like I'm telling people to get out of my way, I got yelled at very rudely the other day for overtaking a pedestrian without ringing my bell. I thought I had plenty of space, rode at an appropriate speed and didn't want to be rude, like you said, but I guess you can never please everyone.
- FridgeSeal 6mo ago
  It sounds silly, but apart from liking the sound, this is why I really like wheels with loud hubs. I have a pair of Hunt wheels and they work fantastically, bonus points because they are “always on”, pedestrians are aware of them, but are never surprised.
  - andrewshadura 6mo ago
    I hate loud hubs. So disturbing. Also comes across as passive aggressive.
- redpola 6mo ago
  See how your comment has inbuilt sass? It doesn’t matter what you consider plenty of space and an appropriate speed- if you startle me, I’m going to yell at you for not ringing a bell to let me know you were there. Note that the worst kind of canal towpath cyclist is the one who slows to a crawl and creeps behind me for minutes sometimes unnoticed, biding their time for a passing spot with lots of space. Just ring the frigging bell and I will stand out of your way for the 3 seconds it takes you to get by!
stevage 6mo ago
>My opinion as a cyclist is that I should basically only be using my bell on pedestrians when the pedestrians are wandering onto the bike lane. If im cycling through a shared space, I find it extremely rude to ring the bell, because it feels like I'm telling people to get out of my way, but they have just as much right to a shared path as I do. The culture around this varies a lot. I'm in Melbourne, Australia. Virtually all bike paths are "shared", and many have signs telling you to ring your bell when approaching pedestrians - you're not telling them to move out of the way, you're telling them that you're there. In practice, I tend to use one ding to mean "I'm here" and multiple dings to mean "you're on the wrong side of the path and need to move". But in no situation do I rely on a bike bell to avoid an accident.
- Waterluvian 6mo ago
  I've always wanted two horns in my car: one that toots with a smile and a tip of the hat, and one that heralds your pending demise. It sounds like Australia cycle bell culture does that with short vs. long bell ding-a-lings. Which is kind of how it has worked with cars, except I find that more and more cars have a style of horn that's hard to control with the necessary precision. Maybe this is Canadian culture but I get very anxious that my horn will honk for a millisecond too long and the poor victim will think I'm angry at them.
  - skeeter2020 6mo ago
    go somewhere appropriate and do a little practice with the friendly multi-tap vs. the two-hand push! adding on a wave helps too; I wish more drivers waved...
    - Waterluvian 6mo ago
      I hate how many cars I see these days with windows so tinted that eye contact and waves are impossible. It feels dangerous to be unable to see the driver through their side window (eg. 4-way stop eye contact on who goes)
      - 6mo ago
haritha-j 6mo ago
Its a shared path yes but by two sets of people going at two very different speeds, so I don't feel particularly guilty about the bell, though I do try to avoid it if possible.
youknownothing 6mo ago
Thank you, I'm a cyclist too and I always try to respect pedestrians' space, and it really pisses me off when people don't. In many cities cycling on pavement is not allowed, yet some cyclists do it... which I'd be fine with, provided they understand that they're doing something they're not supposed to be doing and that they have no priority. But when they're invading pedestrian space like that AND ring the bell as if people were supposed to be making way for them, I literally want to throw a stick in their wheels.
- KomoD 6mo ago
  > But when they're invading pedestrian space like that AND ring the bell as if people were supposed to be making way for them Honestly, I prefer that over those damn electric scooters. Most people who ride them are complete morons. They don't pay attention, ride into traffic, go at high speeds and don't care about anyone except themselves. I’ve even been hit by one.
  - youknownothing 6mo ago
    YES! I get the point of mobility and all that but I wish someone would give a ticket to some of those a-holes. Honestly, town halls have been looking the other way for far too long on this matter.
calyth2018 6mo ago
https://www.ontario.ca/page/bicycle-safety https://www.ontario.ca/page/bicycle-safety We are required to have a bell in Ontario. Ontario, at the minimum, asks us to ring a bell, or verbally communicate, when we are passing people. I've lost count of the amount of people walking abreast taking both sides of a shared path. I've lost count of the amount of times I've rang a bell in vain to inform them of intent to pass. I've lost count of the amount of times I've tried verbally communicate in vain, to inform of intent to pass. And then these path users, completely oblivious of what's going on, act like I'm the villain when I do pass them despite doing what is required of me. Some even had holler back saying that I should have ran a bell, or tell them. If one's using a shared path, don't use headphones that completely block outside sound. If one wants to meditate, then get off the shared path.

ndsipa_pomu 6mo ago

> With cars, I will sometimes proactively ring my bell at them if I think they're not sufficiently aware enough of me though. There's only a few types of car that will be "aware" of cyclists and I don't think ringing a bell will help their algorithms. Getting the attention of a driver, meanwhile, is difficult with a bell as often they'll be in a semi-soundproof cage with loud music on. (Also deaf drivers are a thing). I've never really considered using a bell for motorised traffic. I did once buy a loud air-horn, but it was so loud and abrasive that I never used it as it seemed really rude.

eigenspace 6mo ago
> I've never really considered using a bell for motorised traffic. It works surprisingly well if the car isn't moving quickly. Cars aren't as sound isolating as you'd think. My main use-case is that a car is stopped at an intersection, or crossing my lane so they can turn, and I'm worried they'll pull out and hit me because they're looking the wrong way focused on car traffic, and in these situations they almost always hear my bell.

0x3f 6mo ago

I think bells do have a communication use of course, just not really to be used as an emergency 'an accident is about to happen, immediately take action'. At least a bell sounds relatively polite if you're not spamming it. A horn is a bit aggressive, you have to modulate it. In a car I use two short tapped toots as a polite kind of 'excuse me' e.g. if someone hasn't noticed a light turning green. That seems more friendly than a sustained blast. On the bike with a bell I'll just say thank you as I pass, if they've moved for me. Usually seems to go down well enough.

skeeter2020 6mo ago
it's a good habit to just ring your bell when approaching things like merges and city intersections regardless if there's other people; you tend to do it earlier and might miss seeing someone.

deleted 6mo ago

[deleted]

walletdrainer 6mo ago

> If im cycling through a shared space, I find it extremely rude to ring the bell, because it feels like I'm telling people to get out of my way, but they have just as much right to a shared path as I do. It’s certainly rude to ring the bell in a aggressive manner, but many bells are capable of producing much softer, more polite sounds. In super busy old European capitals I find that people increasingly just ride around with speakers playing a constant tune at a reasonable volume, a massive improvement on dense streets full of varyingly sober people.

eigenspace 6mo ago
I still think that ringing bells at people is a little rude, regardless of the tone. Like imagine if you were at the grocery store, blocking the isle and someone lightly chimed a bell at you instead of just saying "excuse me". IMO if I'm in a dense pedestrian zone and I can't go around people and I can't communicate by voice, it means I'm going too fast.
- walletdrainer 6mo ago
  >blocking the isle and someone lightly chimed a bell at you instead of just saying "excuse me". Well, at least here in Europe I’d have to spend a decent amount of time deciding which language to use.
  - eigenspace 6mo ago
    I'm also in Europe, and I always just either say the equivalent in the local language, or just use english. Even in the smallest most remote villages, you'd be pretty hard pressed to find someone who doesn't know the word "sorry".
    - walletdrainer 6mo ago
      I’ve found that speaking the wrong language often results in people freezing up as they process what I just said to them, that’s often counterproductive.

iamthemonster 6mo ago

My solution to this is that I ring my bell when I'm far from people, usually twice while I'm still a fair way away. It just gets pedestrians conscious that there's a bike around, while also being far enough away that it's not going to surprise them and I don't think they assume it's an aggressive bell. My least favourite is when a cyclist speeds past and shouts "on ya right" (I'm in Australia) but they shout it when they're so close that there's no chance of hearing and understanding in time.

the_snooze 6mo ago
That's how I do it too. I'll tap bell once (and let the ring sustain) when I'm about ~5 seconds from overtaking them so people know there's something coming up behind them, and the sustained sound tells them how fast it's coming. This is especially important with runners, who are prone to suddenly take a U-turn if they're at the end of their route. Pedestrians regularly wave acknowledgement or even say "thank you." Some other cyclists (especially on e-bikes) just blast by with no warning.
jandrese 6mo ago
The problem with bells is that they aren't very directional. It's hard for my brain to figure out from which direction the sound is coming from. Someone speaking "on your left" is much more directional, and it includes important context as to what the warning is about.
- samdixon 6mo ago
  Its pretty safe to assume on a trail if you hear a bell that a bike is coming up behind you.
  - jandrese 6mo ago
    Or from the side or oncoming and he's just behind the crowd of pedestrians ahead of you.
    - 6mo ago

jwr 6mo ago

> A horn or bell is mostly for telling other people "hey I'm here, stay out of my way and dont suddenly cross into my path" This. I only use the bell on bike paths, too. Sometimes it feels like a game of pac-man, where baddies will wander into my path from all directions and in all kinds of ways. Cars doing a right turn, zombies staring into phones, people walking backwards (!), zombies staring into phones walking backwards, it doesn't end.

lostlogin 6mo ago
The ultimate cyclist killer: those stupid extending dog leashes.
- jwr 6mo ago
  Back when I roller skated, the ultimate question: you see a person and a dog, several meters apart. Is there a leash between them? :-)
  - lostlogin 6mo ago
    Oof. If yes, you might be about to get nailed. If no, will the dog run after me and bite me? I’ve had a dog on my heels doing doing 40kmh. They were at my heel, past the back of my rear tyre. I was briefly a competitive sprint cyclist.
    - jwr 6mo ago
      FWIW, it's better to stop and talk to the dog. Dogs don't really want to bite you, most will just chase you and don't really even know why. If you stop and confront them, they are confused and don't know what to do next. Get off the bike on the side opposite of the dog and keep the bike between you and the dog just in case, if you are afraid.
      - lostlogin 6mo ago
        Nope, I was out of there. This one was a biter.

mfashby 6mo ago

It's essential on narrow shared paths e.g. a canal towpath, when you're approaching a pedestrian from behind in order to avoid startling them when you pass. Most people walking the canal towpath around here know this, runners in particular will sometimes be give a wave or visual acknowledgement they've heard you without turning around.

jmull 6mo ago

Agreed. I saw one recently where the cyclist shouted out something like, "ON YOUR LEFT!" and all it did was startle the crap out of a jogger who spun around into the path of the bicycle. Luckily just a close call. That cyclist's "warnings", with no time for pedestrians to react properly, were really just a game of Russian roulette. (And really rude, as you say).

empyrrhicist 6mo ago
Shouting that while traveling too fast is indeed incorrect, but a polite "on your left" or bell while traveling an appropriate speed is considered good behavior to avoid surprising pedestrians.
- jmull 6mo ago
  Outside of some stage actors and drill sergeants, there are probably few people who can project their voices well enough that a vocal warning is useful. You're either traveling slow enough that it's not necessary (and why yell at people if you have to?), or are too far away for someone to understand and get a bearing on who isn't already looking at you. A bell is still rude in a shared space but used correctly, a decent one can at least be effective.
  - bigblind 6mo ago
    If you just bell once or twice, and don't aggressively keep ringing, I'd never consider a bicycle bell in a shared space rude. I even consider it good manners, though as others have said, that varies between cultures. Being visually impaired, though, I'm grateful for cyclists who use their bell. It's immediately clear. For some reason, my brain takes slightly longer to process someone yelling "on your left!" or similar, than just a quick "ring ring".
  - empyrrhicist 6mo ago
    > A bell is still rude in a shared space I just don't think that is even a little bit true, or at least it's something that is very culturally specific and thus not generally applicable. I have a friendly sounding bell I use from an appropriate distance (and I can modulate the volume), and I routinely have people give a light wave to show they heard. In addition, the biggest complaint about cyclists in local social media is about them passing without notice.

empyrrhicist 6mo ago

> Some cyclists ring their bells because they're worried a pedestrian might suddenly turn into their path, This is wrong - on mixed use paths, it is customary and proper to announce "on your left" when passing, and a bell is a nice alternative. Even cycling slowly pedestrians can do some very erratic things, and moreover are very surprised when cyclists suddenly appear on their left (and may do something dumb in surprise!).

jandrese 6mo ago
On the bike trail it is crucial to do a shoulder check when changing lanes. Some people get "in the zone" and ignore all other traffic in the singular pursuit of the shortest times. They will get very very angry if you get in front of them, if they spot you at all instead of just slamming into your rear tire at full speed.
- empyrrhicist 6mo ago
  I personally can't stand to ride without a mirror for situational awareness (or, if on road, a mirror and also radar).
kube-system 6mo ago
> This is wrong - on mixed use paths, it is customary and proper to announce "on your left" when passing This is neither customarily nor regulatory uniform. There are mixed-use trails near me where bells are required. There are some trails where most people use a bell, some trails where nobody uses a bell, and some where there is a mix. In my personal experience, the ratio of bikes to pedestrians and the purpose of the trail greatly affects how people tend to handle this.
calyth2018 6mo ago
Announcing "on your left" is a great way for someone to move left, because more often than not, they're oblivious on the shared paths, and the spotlight effect messes with their head.

mr_mitm 6mo ago

> I find it extremely rude to ring the bell, because it feels like I'm telling people to get out of my way, I got yelled at very rudely the other day for overtaking a pedestrian without ringing my bell. I thought I had plenty of space, rode at an appropriate speed and didn't want to be rude, like you said, but I guess you can never please everyone.

FridgeSeal 6mo ago
It sounds silly, but apart from liking the sound, this is why I really like wheels with loud hubs. I have a pair of Hunt wheels and they work fantastically, bonus points because they are “always on”, pedestrians are aware of them, but are never surprised.
- andrewshadura 6mo ago
  I hate loud hubs. So disturbing. Also comes across as passive aggressive.
redpola 6mo ago
See how your comment has inbuilt sass? It doesn’t matter what you consider plenty of space and an appropriate speed- if you startle me, I’m going to yell at you for not ringing a bell to let me know you were there. Note that the worst kind of canal towpath cyclist is the one who slows to a crawl and creeps behind me for minutes sometimes unnoticed, biding their time for a passing spot with lots of space. Just ring the frigging bell and I will stand out of your way for the 3 seconds it takes you to get by!

stevage 6mo ago

>My opinion as a cyclist is that I should basically only be using my bell on pedestrians when the pedestrians are wandering onto the bike lane. If im cycling through a shared space, I find it extremely rude to ring the bell, because it feels like I'm telling people to get out of my way, but they have just as much right to a shared path as I do. The culture around this varies a lot. I'm in Melbourne, Australia. Virtually all bike paths are "shared", and many have signs telling you to ring your bell when approaching pedestrians - you're not telling them to move out of the way, you're telling them that you're there. In practice, I tend to use one ding to mean "I'm here" and multiple dings to mean "you're on the wrong side of the path and need to move". But in no situation do I rely on a bike bell to avoid an accident.

Waterluvian 6mo ago
I've always wanted two horns in my car: one that toots with a smile and a tip of the hat, and one that heralds your pending demise. It sounds like Australia cycle bell culture does that with short vs. long bell ding-a-lings. Which is kind of how it has worked with cars, except I find that more and more cars have a style of horn that's hard to control with the necessary precision. Maybe this is Canadian culture but I get very anxious that my horn will honk for a millisecond too long and the poor victim will think I'm angry at them.
- skeeter2020 6mo ago
  go somewhere appropriate and do a little practice with the friendly multi-tap vs. the two-hand push! adding on a wave helps too; I wish more drivers waved...
  - Waterluvian 6mo ago
    I hate how many cars I see these days with windows so tinted that eye contact and waves are impossible. It feels dangerous to be unable to see the driver through their side window (eg. 4-way stop eye contact on who goes)
    - 6mo ago

haritha-j 6mo ago

Its a shared path yes but by two sets of people going at two very different speeds, so I don't feel particularly guilty about the bell, though I do try to avoid it if possible.

youknownothing 6mo ago

Thank you, I'm a cyclist too and I always try to respect pedestrians' space, and it really pisses me off when people don't. In many cities cycling on pavement is not allowed, yet some cyclists do it... which I'd be fine with, provided they understand that they're doing something they're not supposed to be doing and that they have no priority. But when they're invading pedestrian space like that AND ring the bell as if people were supposed to be making way for them, I literally want to throw a stick in their wheels.

KomoD 6mo ago
> But when they're invading pedestrian space like that AND ring the bell as if people were supposed to be making way for them Honestly, I prefer that over those damn electric scooters. Most people who ride them are complete morons. They don't pay attention, ride into traffic, go at high speeds and don't care about anyone except themselves. I’ve even been hit by one.
- youknownothing 6mo ago
  YES! I get the point of mobility and all that but I wish someone would give a ticket to some of those a-holes. Honestly, town halls have been looking the other way for far too long on this matter.

calyth2018 6mo ago

https://www.ontario.ca/page/bicycle-safety https://www.ontario.ca/page/bicycle-safety We are required to have a bell in Ontario. Ontario, at the minimum, asks us to ring a bell, or verbally communicate, when we are passing people. I've lost count of the amount of people walking abreast taking both sides of a shared path. I've lost count of the amount of times I've rang a bell in vain to inform them of intent to pass. I've lost count of the amount of times I've tried verbally communicate in vain, to inform of intent to pass. And then these path users, completely oblivious of what's going on, act like I'm the villain when I do pass them despite doing what is required of me. Some even had holler back saying that I should have ran a bell, or tell them. If one's using a shared path, don't use headphones that completely block outside sound. If one wants to meditate, then get off the shared path.