When cyclists ding you, does it kill a little bit of you inside?

[energywavering]

Because it does me!!

And I tell you what I could probably handle the ding if a "thank you" came along after you move for them..

It's basically saying "ding ding I have right of way over you so MOVE"

The cyclists who ding are just plain rude.

Cyclists are supposed to go slow enough and pass far enough around pedestrians that the bell is unnecessary. If they can’t pass safely, that may mean stopping and walking the bike past. Being on my bicycle doesn’t mean I have priority over someone on foot. I go slow. I stop and walk. I am patient.

I run in local woods and always call out a cheery greeting as I approach anyone. Most are perfectly friendly, but some give me a proper earful about scaring them. So bell or call, you can't please everyone. I'm sure it would be more scary not to know I was there until I was on their shoulder, I've tried to be considerate, but I'm afraid some people would prefer there weren't actually any other people in their little world

@Blossom64265

The cyclists who ding are just plain rude.

Cyclists are supposed to go slow enough and pass far enough around pedestrians that the bell is unnecessary. If they can’t pass safely, that may mean stopping and walking the bike past. Being on my bicycle doesn’t mean I have priority over someone on foot. I go slow. I stop and walk. I am patient.

Where is that rule written down?

@Blossom64265

The cyclists who ding are just plain rude.

Cyclists are supposed to go slow enough and pass far enough around pedestrians that the bell is unnecessary. If they can’t pass safely, that may mean stopping and walking the bike past. Being on my bicycle doesn’t mean I have priority over someone on foot. I go slow. I stop and walk. I am patient.

You still let people know you're passing, even if there's plenty of space, otherwise they their dog or their child might suddenly change course and everyone gets hurt.

consistency/public advice re walkers. It would make it much better for everyone if pedestrians kept to the left in the direction of travel, like traffic on the roads

That sounds miserable - so when I'm walking along a footpath in the countryside with kids safe from traffic, no more running around looking at stuff, stopping/starting, chasing butterflies, having fun - they have to be route marched along keeping on the left (no you can't look at that interesting mushroom on the right hand side of the path!) just in case some rider (bike or horse) should be 'sharing' the path and ploughs through us at speed? And yes it has happened to me more than once with cyclists who gave me no time at all to corral said small children safely to one side.

Is this really what we want? Adult riders and drivers have a responsibility to behave like decent grown ups don't they?

I let everyone know I am passing (and I always slow right down). If someone has a small child or dog with them they might not be visible so it’s best that everyone is able to be fully informed as to who is in their vicinity, the cyclist and the pedestrians. If doesn’t matter if there appears to be enough space.

I appreciate a ding since I don't have eyes in the back of my head. The ones who just zoom past annoy me.

Bike brakes aren't that good and it's not always possible to stop quickly.

So slow down. You shouldn't be racing past and expecting people to scatter out of your way. Slow down, stop if you need to, wait until it's safe to overtake.

And yes it has happened to me more than once with cyclists who gave me no time at all to corral said small children safely to one side.

You can't have it both ways, do you want a warning (bell) or not?

No I don't mind I find it Nice , even exchange a pleasantry and they go past , I do wish we could all live in a world where we just get on with each other . Life wouid be so much less dramatic .

Oh to not get a thanks for hopping aside would leave me abit pissed . I'm yet to encounter that tho

No! How odd.

@Blossom64265

The cyclists who ding are just plain rude.

Cyclists are supposed to go slow enough and pass far enough around pedestrians that the bell is unnecessary. If they can’t pass safely, that may mean stopping and walking the bike past. Being on my bicycle doesn’t mean I have priority over someone on foot. I go slow. I stop and walk. I am patient.

How is it rude to ding a warning that you're behind someone?

If it were rude, then no one would have bells on their bikes. They're not a fashion accessory!

Bellac11
You acknowledge that you are warned and thanked but call that bullying??
You are conflating two things I said there. But yes it's possible to be a bully with a bell. The canal path is often quite narrow and there's no where to get off it - except through a hedge, up a wall or into the water.
On a two mile walk we can easily encounter 30+ cyclists, often several in a group, and very few will slow or stop. Ringing a bell doesn't give you right of way. To quote the Canals & Rivers trust website 'Pedestrians are generally the most vulnerable and have priority at all times'.

I don't ding anyone. I 'ring' the bell on my bike a few times to warn walkers on the cycle paths that I'm coming up behind them. Always say thank you as I pass. Hope that's good enough for you.

@orangeisthenewpuce

I don't ding anyone. I 'ring' the bell on my bike a few times to warn walkers on the cycle paths that I'm coming up behind them. Always say thank you as I pass. Hope that's good enough for you.

But bells say 'ding ding' or some might say 'ding dong'

I said 'ding ding' to a couple the other week while I was out on a bike that didnt have a bell

I wouldnt have said 'ring ring', that wouldnt make any sense

@silverclocks - I don't think I have said anything about a bell have I? You are putting words in my mouth. Not wanting it 'both ways' - whether they ring a bell or not is largely irrelevant as the person they are approaching may be deaf - riders should slow down and pass carefully at a speed they can safely stop without hitting a child who may not understand how much a bike will hurt if it hits them. It's not funny, is it?

@Blossom64265

The cyclists who ding are just plain rude.

Cyclists are supposed to go slow enough and pass far enough around pedestrians that the bell is unnecessary. If they can’t pass safely, that may mean stopping and walking the bike past. Being on my bicycle doesn’t mean I have priority over someone on foot. I go slow. I stop and walk. I am patient.

Surely that doesn't allow for pedestrians suddenly moving across your path or children, say, running around as they tend to do. A bell gives fair warning so that people can be aware of what's coming.

I've lost count of the number of cyclists over the years who expect me to apologise for not getting out of their way when they have dinged their bell. It's funny how I'm expected to say "sorry" for being deaf, yet they offer no apology for assuming I'm not.

@AnnaSW1

Gives me the rage as it's always when guys are cycling on the pavement. Get onto the fucking road!

Still, it's not as infuriating (or dangerous) as when motorists drive up on the pavement because they're too impatient to wait for the road to unblock or when they park their cars on the pavement so pedestrians including children & people with buggies are forced to walk in the road. Does that make you rage or nah?

Yes, particularly when they don’t say thank you. In fact what’s the point of a “ding” when they could simply say excuse me.
I ignore the “ding”. If they moan I simple say sorry but I’m partially deaf, which is true, I struggle with higher frequencies particularly in the “ding” range.

This all suggests that shared spaces don’t work very well in the Uk. Does anyone know how it is managed in countries where cycling is very popular like the Netherlands? Are there fewer shared spaces?

@Mindtheears

This all suggests that shared spaces don’t work very well in the Uk. Does anyone know how it is managed in countries where cycling is very popular like the Netherlands? Are there fewer shared spaces?

Well, Amsterdam is an absolute nightmare with cyclists everywhere. Being on foot there isn't for the faint hearted. When we were last there, I ended up with a badly gashed leg after being hit by a high speed cyclist whilst I was walking on a footpath on the water front behind the railway station. You really need eyes in the back of your head. But then again, you soon learn to be aware of your surroundings and look for bikes around you.

You've met a cyclist with a bell? Well done, I'm forever cursing the buggers that don't. I'd rather be pinged to move out of the way than run over.

Damned if we do and damned if we don't. I use a mixed use bridleway to get to my train.. Some people get the hump if I shout, some hate the bell and others hate me rolling by without either....

Can I ask that you wear a sign on your backs telling me how you would like me to notify you that I am going to pass you.