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"

I agree, OP. I hate it. It sounds imperious and entitled. They seem to think that walkers should throw themselves into the bushes so they can race past. I always see cyclists scattering elderly walkers off the path near me.

I do wonder, though, if part of it is the sound of the bell itself. I don't mind if cyclists call 'hello,' or 'excuse me,' or 'on your left' or something like that. I propose something more like a clown horn, something friendly and comical sounding. It would bring the cyclists down a peg or two and maybe would be a fun sound to hear instead of a ding ding demand.

I don’t misunderstand the ding, it just annoys me anyway. I wouldn’t express it to the cyclist, I’d smile and say isn’t it a lovely morning (as long as they’d dinged more than 0.5 seconds before getting to me).

A bell is far easier to hear than someone's voice coming from behind you

No, it’s fine. Obviously, if they were cycling on a pavement that would piss me off no end. And no cyclist should ever assume the pedestrian can hear their bell.

Thank you for raising this, OP. I will replace my bike's bell with an airhorn straight away, and trust this will meet with your approval.

@GoldenOmber

Would you rather people shouting “HELLO I’M TERRIBLY SORRY BUT I’M COMING UP BEHIND YOU ON A BIKE ON THIS NARROW SHARED USE PATH AND WOULD LIKE TO PASS WITHOUT SCARING YOU OR FLATTENING YOUR DOG, THANKS EVER SO”?

To be fair, that's more or less what I do when I'm on my bike. I slow down and often stop on a shared use path, because otherwise it would be a bit rude. If I can tell someone hasn't registered my presence, I'll announce myself by saying something like, 'Hello, I'm just coming past you here."

I've always been a very rule- and law-abiding person and somewhat judgemental of cyclists that use pavements. But honestly, seeing the sheer unreasonableness and level of aggression that otherwise normal members of the general public exhibit towards cyclists, I am increasingly understanding why many cyclists prefer to break the rules and take their chance with aggression from pedestrians rather than use the roads and encounter the aggression from drivers. Wouldn't the world be a much lovelier place if everyone was just a bit more 'live and let live'?

It sounds imperious and entitled

Of course it doesn't
It's just a warning. My voice doesn't carry very well and if I called out a walker wouldn't hear me.

Oh, and I always say thank you.

I wish more cyclists would use bells, after all, that's what they're for. I appreciate the warning. A thanks would be nice though if I move for them.

I cycle on designated shared pedestrian/cycle tracks and do ding gently to warn people I am going to be passing or to ask them to move over a bit if they are spread out ( these are wide tracks) I always thank people and smile because I am aware that it can sound a bit bossy. Some people do get cross about it - they get an even bigger ‘ thank you SO much’ which is a bit passive aggressive of me !

Am hyper aware passing small children and dogs.

@GoldenOmber

Would you rather people shouting “HELLO I’M TERRIBLY SORRY BUT I’M COMING UP BEHIND YOU ON A BIKE ON THIS NARROW SHARED USE PATH AND WOULD LIKE TO PASS WITHOUT SCARING YOU OR FLATTENING YOUR DOG, THANKS EVER SO”?

I mean this is basically what I do, give or take some path description...

I am generally very happy to move and go round someone but what I don't want is for them to move unpredictably - a bike crash isn't going to kill anyone but I sprained both knees and both ankles after swerving round a woman with a pram who a) was on the (segregated, cycle only - separated by about 6 ft of grass from the pedestrian section) path and b) moved last minute (and I wasn't going fast - my bike handlebar caught in a railing so my bike stopped and I did not).

When I’m walking down the canal paths and cyclists ding their bell behind me I then have the choice of stepping into the canal or the long wet grass (and possible dog poo) at the side of the towpath so they can shoot past me.

@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"

I’d rather them have right of way over me… they’re faster!… Are you the type who doesn’t move and slows them down? That’s worse!

@RampantIvy

It sounds imperious and entitled

Of course it doesn't
It's just a warning. My voice doesn't carry very well and if I called out a walker wouldn't hear me.

Oh, and I always say thank you.

It does to me.

However, I don't think a cyclist has EVER said thank you to me, let alone slowed down or stopped for me, so maybe this is colouring my perception. I do live in an area with lots of MAMILs.

i say thank you
i am annoyed that bikes dont have bells and just take you by surprise

@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.

Stop and then what?… They still need to over take you at some point.

We have lots of shared use cycle paths/walkways near us. I prefer cyclists to alert me to their presence, especially if I'm walking with my dogs as I can make sure they are kept out of the way.
The ones that really give me the rage are the kids, it's always kids, on quad bikes and scramblers.

I’ve never had a thank you. They are usually in the distance dinging the next people.

Well what else am I, a cyclist, supposed to do if I am on a narrow shared path and am passing pedestrians? Would you prefer it if I didn't ring my bell and you risk stepping into my path? (I always pass pedestrians as widely as possible in case they haven't heard or are hearing impaired). I do say thanks though.

@Sparklingbrook

When I’m walking down the canal paths and cyclists ding their bell behind me I then have the choice of stepping into the canal or the long wet grass (and possible dog poo) at the side of the towpath so they can shoot past me.

Yes! The same here. It also happens on the narrow walking path by the river. Shall I throw myself into the barbed wire or into the river?

I listened to the bell sound of about 20 bells before I chose my bell, though! I wanted a pleasant not shrill sound. There's a huge variety out there.

Mine is easy to stop with my thumb so that it only makes a brief sound if I want. I ding also before going around corners or hedges or whatever, where people might not expect me or there might be another cyclist coming.

I think a lot of people would be much happier if they just believed that the cyclists were trying to let them know they were near so that they weren't surprised, and that they could both pass without being injured. So what if a few cyclists do have a feeling of entitlement - most don't, and if you believe that most don't, then you'll have a much more pleasant walk. Getting annoyed by a bell isn't going to stop it happening, and assuming most cyclists are being aggressive and meaning 'coming through' by it is just guaranteeing that you'll be annoyed, and it'll ruin your day. Why not just assume that most are trying to let you know that they're there? or that they're not driving their cars and causing congestion or pollution that you'd otherwise be inconvenienced by? Or that they're just nice people out enjoying the day too? It doesn't matter if those things are not always strictly true for any given cyclist - they will be for a lot of them, and by assuming the best, you'll just make your day nicer.

I wish more cyclists would ding. I'm sick if being surprised by cyclists coming up behind me with no warning and making me jump. I cycle - for leisure - and always warn people of my approach using my bell but I do also thank them for moving out of the way so I can get passed. But I have also had the lycra clad brigade overtake me without warning - and they approach very fast from behind on country lanes. Given the number of pot holes around these parts it is not unlikely that I could swerve out slightly to avoid one at the last minute and take one of these selfish cyclists (who give you no room whatsoever) out!

The problem with shouting is that you need to shout (or you weren't be heard) is that can also come across as aggressive. Also, if you shout at a group of people they all stop, turn around and look as you could be shouting for any reason.

A bell is universally recognisable so people don't need to look, they just stay in their lane / move to single file / move to the side as applicable. It also cuts through other noise more effectively than a voice.

A shared use path doesn't mean that everyone should move at the same speed and never overtake one another. It means that a variety of users are considerate of one another. A cyclist isn't ringing their bell as some sort of show of dominance. They are alerting other users to their presence so they don't get a fright and so they can let the cyclist past when convenient.

@beastlyslumber there’s a really narrow tight bit of path just before a tunnel on the canal. Sign says ‘cyclists dismount’. But it never happens.

@Killermontstreet

Well what else am I, a cyclist, supposed to do if I am on a narrow shared path and am passing pedestrians? Would you prefer it if I didn't ring my bell and you risk stepping into my path? (I always pass pedestrians as widely as possible in case they haven't heard or are hearing impaired). I do say thanks though.

Slow down and wait for a safe space to overtake.