Page 12 | When cyclists ding you, does it kill a little bit of you inside?

liveforsummer · 28/03/2022 21:42

I'm sure it's better than us flying past you or knocking into you.

But why would you be doing either of those things? Surely if someone is wandering along absentmindedly you'd just slow a bit and pass wide, not fly past with inches to spare that might startle, or plough right in to them?

yellowsuninthesky · 29/03/2022 10:47

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

I agree, it sounds really imperious. And when I do ding my bell if there is a group across the pavement, they scatter all over the place in a panic and it doesn't really help anyway!

yellowsuninthesky · 29/03/2022 10:48

Yes but was there any dinging? The Netherlands generally get on with cycling with much less fuss than we do. This discussion would be hilarious I expect as shared paths are rare

There are loads of shared paths in the Netherlands.

You definitely get dinged on the shared paths in Germany.

user1497207191 · 29/03/2022 10:59

@yellowsuninthesky

Yes but was there any dinging? The Netherlands generally get on with cycling with much less fuss than we do. This discussion would be hilarious I expect as shared paths are rare

There are loads of shared paths in the Netherlands.

You definitely get dinged on the shared paths in Germany.

There are a lot more cyclists, so pedestrians/walkers are more aware of them and don't get shocked as easily! Dutch cyclists are certainly no more considerate towards pedestrians than British - they have the same attitude of "I'm coming through, get out of the way!" - the difference is the Dutch pedestrians are more aware because of the sheer number of cyclists.

tabulahrasa · 29/03/2022 11:09

I often walk on a canal path that’s mixed use, but not actually wide enough for cyclists to pass without you moving onto the grass.

What I’ve noticed is in general (there are exceptions)

female cyclists ding the bell with plenty of time for me to move me and my dog over and also slow down to pass and say thanks.

Men, they ding much later and then get annoyed that you haven’t teleported out of their way as they try to whizz past.

So yeah, sometimes it does seem a bit like, get out of my bloody way tbh.

SoyMarina · 31/03/2022 20:20

I only ever ding my bell at idiots walking while on their phones and/or in the cycle lane.

purpleme12 · 31/03/2022 21:10

If you didn't ding your bell the likelihood is I wouldn't realise you were coming behind me, phone out or not

Woeismethischristmas · 01/04/2022 08:00

@yellowsuninthesky

Yes but was there any dinging? The Netherlands generally get on with cycling with much less fuss than we do. This discussion would be hilarious I expect as shared paths are rare

There are loads of shared paths in the Netherlands.

You definitely get dinged on the shared paths in Germany.

I lived in the Netherlands. Perhaps less dinging as lots of exclusive paths for cyclists. You’d be dinged a lot in the town centre by cyclists didn’t feel rude though. People often cycling holding an umbrella, mobile etc.. They seem to cycle much slower on a city bike and everyone is in normal clothes it’s not a sweat and Lycra thing just a way to get where you are going at a decent speed. No hills makes it easier of course.

Mytholmroyd · 02/04/2022 17:15

no, it just means that you keep left when you see people coming towards you or know someone want to get past. Common sense.

That is not the law @yellowsuninthesky - walkers do not have to keep to the left or give way to riders of horses or bikes which shouldn't be on footpaths or pavements dinging their bells at all:

Pedal cyclists have a right to use bridleways, restricted byways and byways open to all traffic, but on bridleways they must give way to walkers and riders. Like horse riders, they have no right to use footpaths and if they do so they are committing a trespass against the owner of the land
www.ramblers.org.uk/advice/paths-in-england-and-wales/rights-of-way-law.aspx

QuebecBagnet · 02/04/2022 17:24

@MiddleParking

Yeah it fucks me right off especially on walking trails. Ding ding. And what?? Go round me. Or stop if there’s no room.

See I don’t get this. I cycle on shared use paths and I do ding my bell even if room to get round someone as a courtesy so I don’t make them jump/they don’t drift over to the other side of the path unaware I’m passing them and cause an accident. It’s amazing how many people don’t walk in a straight line.

I also walk on the same path and cyclists who come past me and make me jump piss me off. I feel like shouting at them to use their bell!

QuebecBagnet · 02/04/2022 17:27

Oh and I ding in plenty of time, I slow down and stop if necessary. I say thank you and wish people a good morning. People are pleasant back to me and say no problem and wish me a good day. They apologise if I have to stop while they catch a dog and I say no problem.

No drama, happy people, nobody falling out.

Iluvfriends · 02/04/2022 17:36

@MiddleParking

Yeah it fucks me right off especially on walking trails. Ding ding. And what?? Go round me. Or stop if there’s no room.

I wonder why bells are fitted to bikes....does anybody know 🤔.

I cycle on canal paths regularly and 'ding' people to pass. Would you rather not be alerted to my presence and then you alter your step into my path and i end up in the canal or one or both of us is injured.
I am moving faster than you, I ding, you are aware of me coming and keep to the line you are walking or move over to let me pass ....i thank you and go on my way. What exactly is your issue with this.

rumred · 02/04/2022 17:46

I don't ding generally. I slow down and say excuse me, because that's how I want to be treated when I'm walking

QuebecBagnet · 02/04/2022 17:50

@rumred

I don't ding generally. I slow down and say excuse me, because that's how I want to be treated when I'm walking

I’ve tried that and in my experience you need to be closer for people to hear you speaking, the bell travels further. Now I’m happy to do that and slow down but I found that if you leave it till you’re closer people jump, and panic. They don’t appreciate that I’ve slowed down and will stop if necessary.

nldnmum02 · 02/04/2022 18:26

Cyclists always tend to be insufferably entitled. If any get too close to me they get a good shove or my long brolly in their spokes.

QuebecBagnet · 02/04/2022 18:29

@nldnmum02

Cyclists always tend to be insufferably entitled. If any get too close to me they get a good shove or my long brolly in their spokes.

No they don’t. Don’t be a silly sausage.

QuebecBagnet · 02/04/2022 18:33

And anyone who was daft enough to put an umbrella in a bike spokes in real life rather than just in a strange fantasy would soon regret it.

I have forward and backward cameras on my bike. Each wheel on my main road bike is worth 1k per wheel. So anyone doing that would face a hefty bill. Obviously if the carbon frame of my bike was damaged that would be a few more thousand. And an assault charge on top. 😂😂🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻‍♀️

nldnmum02 · 02/04/2022 18:39

@QuebecBagnet

And anyone who was daft enough to put an umbrella in a bike spokes in real life rather than just in a strange fantasy would soon regret it.

I have forward and backward cameras on my bike. Each wheel on my main road bike is worth 1k per wheel. So anyone doing that would face a hefty bill. Obviously if the carbon frame of my bike was damaged that would be a few more thousand. And an assault charge on top. 😂😂🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻‍♀️

I’ve done it and so has a friend whose Pekingese was almost run over by a cycling see you next Tuesday. Pedestrians and motorists need to start asserting themselves.

QuebecBagnet · 02/04/2022 18:40

I’ve done it and so has a friend whose Pekingese was almost run over by a cycling see you next Tuesday. Pedestrians and motorists need to start asserting themselves.

In your little fantasy world maybe. 😂😂😂😂

nldnmum02 · 02/04/2022 18:45

@QuebecBagnet

I’ve done it and so has a friend whose Pekingese was almost run over by a cycling see you next Tuesday. Pedestrians and motorists need to start asserting themselves.

In your little fantasy world maybe. 😂😂😂😂

Your attitude just reaffirms what most cyclists are typically like. Hence why we do a have a chuckle when one of you comes a cropper after expecting an 18 wheeler juggernaut to get out of YOUR way 😂

Birdy272 · 02/04/2022 18:51

You seem positively unhinged.

Why someone who spends most of their time sitting on their arse would want to pick a fight with someone who spends hours ever day exercising is beyond me 🥴

QuebecBagnet · 02/04/2022 18:55

It’s you with the sicko attitude problem @nldnmum02. I’m not the one laughing about breaking the law, assaulting people, laughing at the thought of them dying in accidents. You sound a very troubled person and I really think you ought to see a doctor before you end up picking on the wrong person who beats you up after you assault them or landing yourself a criminal conviction and a very big bill.

QuebecBagnet · 02/04/2022 19:14

This article is a good read. www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2022/mar/03/anti-cycling-trolls-andrew-tierney-online-abuse

I particularly agree with this;

Tierney believes poisoning the online well can have real-world effects. “Someone stating on social media, ‘Let’s run over cyclists’ can make other people think it’s acceptable to intimidate cyclists in real life,” he says.

“Some of the hate comments are supposed to be jokes, probably done for likes. But even if it is just a joke to the poster, people reading those comments might be encouraged to harm cyclists in real life.”

He wonders how many close overtakes – so-called punishment passes – are happening soon after reading online comments raging against people riding bikes.