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"

@TwinklyBranch

Yes it drives me crazy! I go out walking on my own, and keep to one side of a very wide path, they've got absolutely no reason to ring their stupid little bell!

They’re warning you that they’re there, so you don’t step out in front of them. They’re not demanding anything of you.

You’re entitled to assume the worst of their motives spend the rest of your walk in a fuming cloud of resentment if you want, but that doesn’t sound much fun for anyone.

@SoupDragon

Unless they are shared use, which means shared, neither have 'right of way' although pedestrians always have priority being the most vulnerable user.

So the cyclist should surely wait until they are able to pass a pedestrian "wide and slow" rather than ding their little "get out of my way" bells?

they're not 'get out of my way' bells - they're just bells. Why make your day miserable by assuming the worst of people?!

Even if there was room to pass pedestrians wide and slow, I'd still ding to let them know I was there, because pedestrians are very unpredictable, and can easily veer into your path without realising, however wide the path is (possibly even more likely if it's wide). I'd go slowly around them, but it's much easier on a narrow path if they would walk single file, for example, when someone is trying to get past. I don't think most people would really think that a bike should slowly stay behind pedestrians walking two abreast on a path that is big enough for a cyclist to pass if they walked single file. But you have to let them know.

And a cyclist dismounted and walking past pedestrians takes up more room - often there is room to pass carefully and slowly when cycling on a relatively narrow path, but it would be much harder if the cyclist was on foot. You'd end up with a parade of cyclists wheeling their bikes for ages behind pedestrians who won't move slightly over. I don't want that as a pedestrian or as a cyclist. I'd much rather they ding, I can get out of the way slightly, and then continue to enjoy a peaceful walk rather than feeling rushed and pressured with people behind me waiting to pass.

Also many shared use paths never end up with enough space that you could pass a pedestrian with tons of room to spare - they're just not that wide. As a pedestrian, I find it easier to stand at the edge or step onto grass that a cyclist would.

@AndAsIfByMagic

If it's meant as a warning of their approach it's fine and considerate. If they expect me to move out of their way then it's rude and they can fuck right off.

New rules on the roads about leaving plenty of room when overtaking cyclists. A shame so many don't return the favour. Don't get too close. Dismount and push the bike. That's the safe thing to do.

So I should get off, and push my bike, which means I would be walking along at the same speed as you, next to you, clogging up the pathway with 3 abreast (you, me and my bike)

Sounds sensible yes?

They’re warning you that they’re there, so you don’t step out in front of them. They’re not demanding anything of you.

This, exactly. I don't want someone to unexpectedly step in front of my even though I am cycling slowly by - much better to alert a pedestrian.

I don’t mind a bell that is a genuine warning or request to step to one side from a cyclist that is a way behind, but these seem to be a minority. I walk a lot by canals and most bells seem to be right in my ear and in a split second they’ve hurtled by. I don’t think it’s on to be going so fast in a shared space. I’ve no time to react to the bell, so what is the point? Kind of adds to the insult in the same way as saying ‘excuse me’ while physically muscling in does.

Not just bells though. I was walking in a national trust park a few weeks ago on a road shared by pedestrians, cars and cyclists. A pack of cyclists came belting through with the leader aggressively barking commandments at walkers. Really bad attitude.

I have a nice winding path next to my house that is not designed for cyclists. There seems to be a few that enjoy using it but they piss me off when the ring their bell at me and expect me to drag my pram off the path onto the grass to let them pass. Did it once but not fast enough for the grumpy bastard so petty or not I will not step off a pedestrian path on to grass for a cyclist.

Better than the ones who came down my lane in such a fury who didn't ding and then shouted 'move' at me.

Shared pedestrian/cycle paths are a crappy last resort of cycle route design but YABU for being upset or surprised to find, er, bikes using them.

You could walk to one side leaving space for a bike to pass, so there would be less need to ring the bell? But plenty of people also complain of cyclists creeping up behind and whooshing past without warning. I always thank people who have actually moved to let me past where it's narrow but not every single person on the route.
If bikes distress you so much then maybe avoid shared paths?

No, I’m grateful for the warning.

If a path shared and wide enough for the cyclist to overtake safely, why would you get annoyed at a cyclist using their bell to warn you they are approaching?
To the posters saying they should wait, if you're walking down a pavement and a cyclist comes up behind you the cyclist should wait, would you do that if you can up behind someone on foot walking more slowly than you? Or would you ask them to move out of your way?
Honestly, cyclists can't win either way.

There’s a difference between a polite “ping” - much appreciated - and an aggressive DING DING DING DING DING I WILL NOT BRAKE, MOVE, which is rude and unnecessary.

@bellac11 - I know what you’re saying, but it does seem like cyclists take priority over both pedestrians and motorists in many cyclists’ minds and that cannot be right. You either follow the principle that progress shouldn’t be impeded and expect the slower to get out of the way or you prioritise the more vulnerable road user. As it is, I find myself crawling often along in a car behind cyclists - one the other day was so slow he actually exchanged a few sentences with someone walking on the pavement while a convoy of cars built up behind - and then expected to constantly make way for them when I’m out walking.

Apologies if I missed it but the revised Highway code covers this:
Walking, cycling or riding in shared spaces
""
There is new guidance in the code about routes and spaces which are shared by people walking, cycling and riding horses.

People cycling, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle should respect the safety of people walking in these spaces, but people walking should also take care not to obstruct or endanger them.

People cycling are asked to:

not pass people walking, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle closely or at high speed, particularly from behind
slow down when necessary and let people walking know they are there (for example, by ringing their bell)
remember that people walking may be deaf, blind or partially sighted
not pass a horse on the horse’s left
Read the updated rules
Rule H1 (Introduction)
Rule 13 (Rules for pedestrians)
Rule 62 (Rules for cyclists)
Rule 63 (Rules for cyclists)

My two hobbies are walking and cycling. I have always thought it very rude to start ringing bells at people if you can pass them easily without 'dinging' them - but I have been shouted/sworn at so many times by pedestrians/walkers for not ringing my bell that I now feel I have to.

I try to make my bell sound apologetic, though, even if people are ambling along in what is clearly marked as a cycling lane.

@Killermontstreet

So on a busy, narrow, shared path, cyclists are just supposed to wheel their bikes behind you because you won't deign to move 2 feet? Now that is entitled.

Oh the irony of an entitled cyclist not realising how entitled they sound.

On a busy narrow shared path you expect pedestrians to move out of your way because you are far more important? Hilarious.

Dismount and push.

It drives me crazy when cyclists silently come up behind me and expect me to just realise they are there.
I have no problem moving to one side with a polite ding of their bell in good time. Far better than my accidentally jumping into them when I suddenly sense there is someone right by my shoulder.

Cycle bells alert you to their presence, they aren't saying 'get out of the way', they are saying 'I'm here'.

I might walk in a straight line normally, but if there is eg a puddle I might suddenly swerve, but I wouldn't do that if I knew there was a bike behind me...

I don’t mind mostly, it’s just to keep everyone safe, dh is a keen cyclist so I understand. But- I really do mind the ignorant cyclist who dinged as he was virtually on top of us when we were on the canal footpath feeding the ducks and was swearing as he went past because dds wheelchair meant he had to slow down. It works two ways.

[quote ClafoutisSurprise]@bellac11 - I know what you’re saying, but it does seem like cyclists take priority over both pedestrians and motorists in many cyclists’ minds and that cannot be right. You either follow the principle that progress shouldn’t be impeded and expect the slower to get out of the way or you prioritise the more vulnerable road user. As it is, I find myself crawling often along in a car behind cyclists - one the other day was so slow he actually exchanged a few sentences with someone walking on the pavement while a convoy of cars built up behind - and then expected to constantly make way for them when I’m out walking.[/quote]
The majority of my travel is in a car. We cycle for leisure

I will always make way for cyclists on the road, it costs me nothing, I dont mind waiting behind a cyclist

On a bike, yes might not be reprsentative of the cyclist being spoken about here, Im an overweight, nervous middle aged woman on a slow bike. But its common sense that on a shared use path (which is not a road as you referred to road users) that faster moving form (runners or horses for example) will overtake when safe the slower moving form

That is much like, the very rare times I have ventured onto the road with the bike, I dont sit in the middle of the lane, I cycle about a metre out, that way cars dont have to sit behind me unless its absolutely necessary (such as a narrow road with another car coming towards us both)

I do like the way you 'know' whats in cyclists minds though

I'm normally very mild mannered, but I do shout at cyclists who have made me jump by overtaking me closely without alerting me as to their presence.

@JennyHogon

My two hobbies are walking and cycling. I have always thought it very rude to start ringing bells at people if you can pass them easily without 'dinging' them - but I have been shouted/sworn at so many times by pedestrians/walkers for not ringing my bell that I now feel I have to.

I try to make my bell sound apologetic, though, even if people are ambling along in what is clearly marked as a cycling lane.

Its not rude to let people know you are coming past, you're not the first person to say this and its quite bizarre, in what way is it rude. Its like saying hello

Dismount and push

I appreciate you’re trying to make some “ahHA now the selfish cyclists know what it’s like for the poor beleaguered drivers!” point here, but ‘dismount and push’ is just silly.

The Highway Code sets out how cyclists should act around pedestrians in shared spaces, as well as how drivers should act around cyclists on the road. It is both simple and sensible and fairly easy for most people to follow.

@GoldenOmber

Dismount and push

I appreciate you’re trying to make some “ahHA now the selfish cyclists know what it’s like for the poor beleaguered drivers!” point here, but ‘dismount and push’ is just silly.

The Highway Code sets out how cyclists should act around pedestrians in shared spaces, as well as how drivers should act around cyclists on the road. It is both simple and sensible and fairly easy for most people to follow.

Dismount and push would mean that Im just going for a walk with my bike, like a dog with wheels.

Im also a very slow walker, it takes me about 45mins to walk a mile, so I would have to get on my bike periodically to catch up with the walker that Ive got off for, get off again, walk a bit, fall behind, get back on, catch up with them and so on

They would think Im stalking them!!!!

[quote AndAsIfByMagic]@Killermontstreet

So on a busy, narrow, shared path, cyclists are just supposed to wheel their bikes behind you because you won't deign to move 2 feet? Now that is entitled.

Oh the irony of an entitled cyclist not realising how entitled they sound.

On a busy narrow shared path you expect pedestrians to move out of your way because you are far more important? Hilarious.

Dismount and push.[/quote]
So if there is space for the pedestrian to step to the side and create space for a cyclist to pass, are you saying that they shouldn't? Why not? The only reason I can see is so the pedestrian can say "know your place!" to the cyclist. Why would someone want to do that, other than being a complete knob?

I agree that cyclists can't win re bells. If you don't ring you end up coming up behind someone walking who is completely oblivious, weaving about all over the path, and then make them jump because they suddenly realise you are right behind them.

If you do ring some people take offence. If possible I try to call out "excuse me" instead of ringing.

Some pedestrians can be just as selfish as some cyclists, walking four abreast or with a dog or a long lead taking up the whole width of the path. I don't think it's unreasonable for a cyclist to want to travel faster than walking speed! If I wanted to travel at walking speed I would walk.

I'm talking about on dual use cycle/footpaths here. Cyclists have no right to be on pavements. But generally I think pedestrians need to be a bit more aware of other path users too.

It can be irritating. I dislike lots of cyclists though