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Original poster

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

298 replies

energywavering · 27/03/2022 09:48

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"

OP posts:
Lunificent · 27/03/2022 13:47

I find it more annoying in the supermarket when someone very assertive asks me to move to so they can get past, when if they put themselves out ever so slightly they could easily get past me.

Brushteethwashface · 27/03/2022 13:50

Wouldn’t ring my bell at pedestrians on a pavement ever (do cycle on a small stretch of pavement on route to work because otherwise the ridiculous cycle lane set up means I have to rejoin a really busy A road but I get off and walk if pedestrians are on it)
When I first started cycling I didn’t used to use my bell on a shared use cycle way because felt it was bit rude and get out of my way but then I got told him off by a man who I was safely and slowly overtaking who said “you need to use your bell love Hmm” but I actually do think it’s the best way of warning people, always always say thank you though.

bellac11 · 27/03/2022 13:57

Well exactly, its better to remain on the bike but just pull over a bit and wait.
It takes ages for me to get off my bike so I would hold people up in any case. I just stop and sit on the seat until someone goes past

Herejustforthisone · 27/03/2022 13:59

I always ding so I’m certain people won’t step into me and get hurt. I always acknowledge it with a cheery thank you.

EveryCloudIsGrey · 27/03/2022 14:02

It depends. A little polite ding is very welcome.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 27/03/2022 14:13

No it means, "there's a cyclist behind you don't jump out of your skin and yelp when I ride past"

Don't be an arse about cyclists making their presence known. Horse riders have been trying to get them to make us aware of their presence rather than speeding past silently and spooking the horses for years. Of course a cheery hello is nicer than a bell but a bell does the job.

Pedallleur · 27/03/2022 14:18

I don't use a bell. I moderate my speed accordingly and say excuse me and thank you.

Boxowine · 27/03/2022 14:25

They should be braking/slowing down as they pass. Not just dinging like “get out of my way”. Now with all the ebikes you may as well be sharing a path with motorbikes. And these are the olds who haven’t biked in years and no longer have a sense of the etiquette. They just go barreling along.

Original poster
energywavering · 27/03/2022 14:41

Lots of interesting replies here!
But just to be clear there are 2 occasions from my experience which I am referring to, and I think you'd agree (well, some of you) that the cyclist should've acted better...

  1. I was walking on the pavement in a rural town setting when a man on a mountain bike dinged me and my son when he was very close behind us. We moved out his way and he didn't say thank you

  2. Walking along a wide footpath, with son and DH. This footpath is used for walking, bikes and horses. Really wide and more than enough space for 2 of those methods to easily pass each other. Another man on a mountain bike came up behind us, dinged us repeatedly as if we needed to move out the way, we didn't move because there was loads of space, and he then shouted "thanks a fucking bunch" as he angrily cycled past.

I understand a polite ding from far back to notify the person you're there, followed by a thank you. But a lot of cyclists seems to think they have priority over you in any setting and the bell is used to get their way!

OP posts:
bellac11 · 27/03/2022 14:48

@energywavering

Lots of interesting replies here! But just to be clear there are 2 occasions from my experience which I am referring to, and I think you'd agree (well, some of you) that the cyclist should've acted better...

  1. I was walking on the pavement in a rural town setting when a man on a mountain bike dinged me and my son when he was very close behind us. We moved out his way and he didn't say thank you

  2. Walking along a wide footpath, with son and DH. This footpath is used for walking, bikes and horses. Really wide and more than enough space for 2 of those methods to easily pass each other. Another man on a mountain bike came up behind us, dinged us repeatedly as if we needed to move out the way, we didn't move because there was loads of space, and he then shouted "thanks a fucking bunch" as he angrily cycled past.

I understand a polite ding from far back to notify the person you're there, followed by a thank you. But a lot of cyclists seems to think they have priority over you in any setting and the bell is used to get their way!

Well of course OP those people were nasty arseholes, but Im sure you've come across other nasty arseholes on the road (assuming you drive), on public transport (if you dont), in shops, in cafes, in all walks of life

But for some reason the cyclists remain demonised in your head and thats a shame.

Silverclocks · 27/03/2022 15:04

It's actually illegal to sell a bike without a bell, so one must assume they are intended to be used.

No cyclist should be on the pavement, but on a shared path or bridleway, sounding a warning so that you can let them past is exactly what they're for.

Badbadbunny · 27/03/2022 15:39

@energywavering

Lots of interesting replies here! But just to be clear there are 2 occasions from my experience which I am referring to, and I think you'd agree (well, some of you) that the cyclist should've acted better...

  1. I was walking on the pavement in a rural town setting when a man on a mountain bike dinged me and my son when he was very close behind us. We moved out his way and he didn't say thank you

  2. Walking along a wide footpath, with son and DH. This footpath is used for walking, bikes and horses. Really wide and more than enough space for 2 of those methods to easily pass each other. Another man on a mountain bike came up behind us, dinged us repeatedly as if we needed to move out the way, we didn't move because there was loads of space, and he then shouted "thanks a fucking bunch" as he angrily cycled past.

I understand a polite ding from far back to notify the person you're there, followed by a thank you. But a lot of cyclists seems to think they have priority over you in any setting and the bell is used to get their way!

That kind of person isn't limited to cyclists though is it? I've experienced similar from pedestrians and car/van drivers too. If someone is an entitled arrogant prick, they'll act the same whatever their form of transport.
Badbadbunny · 27/03/2022 15:45

It's a shame that there hasn't been any 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 way, when a cyclist is coming up to someone, they'd either already be on the left so enabling the cyclist to pass, or would move over the left upon hearing the bike. Without that kind of advice, pedestrians head all over the place when they hear a bike as they don't know where to go, that means the cyclist doesn't know which side to pass until the walkers have moved aside. Obviously, I'm talking about shared use paths and like canal tow paths,, public footpaths, bridleways etc rather than pavements (as cyclists really shouldn't be on pavements) which are totally different.

irregularegular · 27/03/2022 15:48

I'm annoyed by cyclists who don't ring their bell when they come up behind me on a footpath. It's a courtesy and safety thing.

I always ring my bell. Then go past fairly slowly and say thank you.

TonTonMacoute · 27/03/2022 15:53

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

Cyclists should not be on pavements but on shared paths it helps to warn people that you are coming up behind them or someone could get hurt.

OP has given two examples of rude cyclists. So what!? There are rude, motorists, rude horse riders and yes even rude pedestrians.

There are also rude fellow bus and train passengers, rude people in supermarket queues and rude people in cafes, in launderettes anywhere you care to mention but to people like the OP it's always cyclists they grumble about most.

Alexandra2001 · 27/03/2022 15:54

@JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon

No it means, "there's a cyclist behind you don't jump out of your skin and yelp when I ride past"

Don't be an arse about cyclists making their presence known. Horse riders have been trying to get them to make us aware of their presence rather than speeding past silently and spooking the horses for years. Of course a cheery hello is nicer than a bell but a bell does the job.

I'm afraid thats not really true.

I used to use a bell and it scared the xxxx out of people, so i tried a Morning/Afternoon/Hello/Excuse (whilst also slowing right down) but then got back "You should have bell"

Ride on the road and its "You should be on a cycle path" lol!

So now i just speed up and go as fast and as silently past walkers (on cycle paths) as i can .....

No, i don't really but if your a walker out on a shared cycle path, then surely you should expect cyclists and also be a little more appreciative that they slow and let you know they are there?

Mindtheears · 27/03/2022 15:54

I used to not use my bell and call “excuse me” until I got told off for not using my bell. I just swallow my discomfort now, use my bell with plenty of notice and say thank you as I pass. I’ll try and forget that I saw this thread.

Mindtheears · 27/03/2022 15:55

And I don’t cycle on the pavement

TeenPlusCat · 27/03/2022 15:57

You can hear a bell a lot further back than an 'excuse me'.

Silverclocks · 27/03/2022 15:58

In the second example OP gives the bell is still important. (Depending on the age of the child).

There may well be sufficient room for the cyclist to pass easily assuming everyone continues in a straight line but children often don't. If child darts off chasing a bird or a leaf, unaware that a cyclist is about to pass, cyclist has no time to stop.

bellac11 · 27/03/2022 16:01

I often havent got the breath to say excuse me

Alexandra2001 · 27/03/2022 16:01

@Silverclocks Its illegal to sell a bicycle without a bell but it is not a legal requirement to have a bell on a bicycle once it has been sold.

But if one is fitted, it must work!!!

Silverclocks · 27/03/2022 16:02

[quote Alexandra2001]@Silverclocks Its illegal to sell a bicycle without a bell but it is not a legal requirement to have a bell on a bicycle once it has been sold.

But if one is fitted, it must work!!![/quote]
I know this, but as you can't sell a bike without one it would be weird if it was all wrong to use it Grin

Alexandra2001 · 27/03/2022 16:06

@TeenPlusCat

You can hear a bell a lot further back than an 'excuse me'.
Not really.

So what do you do if your a runner coming up behind walkers? Carry a bell? lol

Plus bells come in all sorts of types & volumes, believe me, when you come up behind 4 or 5 people engaged in healthy conversation, a ships fog horn is required!

Alexandra2001 · 27/03/2022 16:09

I know this, but as you can't sell a bike without one it would be weird if it was all wrong to use it

Of course its not wrong to use it but many people are in their own little world whilst out for a walk and it really doesn't matter what you use or say, some people just get arsey..... and thats before you get into their dogs jumping out of the hedge 100m ahead or behind them!!

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