To think that cyclists should ring the bell when they coming at you from behind?

[DogCalledRudis]

Dont count how many times i've been nearly hit by a silent cyclist...

I've taught my daughter to shout out a cheery hello/good morning. I think that's a lot less rude than dinging a bell.

oh gosh, left and right would confuse me though I would stand frozen to the spot n fear of moving the wrong way and getitng mown down...

I do like that approach though as it is less misconstrued.

Im just sick of all the 'cyclists' on the pavements. One shouted at me to move the other day and then he did the same to a neighbour ahead if me. The elderly and infirm neighbour stood his ground and put his stick out and pointed out the cycle path on the road right by him, and the cyclist meekly used the cycle path along the rest of the road. No helmet, though.

I thought it was a legal requirement to have a bell.

Just checked and no. They have to be sold with a bell, but you can then take it off and shout.

Yep, just as it's a legal requirement to have lights and for adults not to ride on the pavements, you mean?

My dad wouldn't you full stop.....ever....even if bell is in ear...he's deaf....it's your responsibility as the cyclist to make room for people like him. I'd be cross if you behind re ringing bell as it's rude. Think about it.

I tend to slow down and shout hello. I've been shouted at loads for using the bell.

I always make sure someone is aware I'm there before passing.

Some daft woman just stepped off the pavement right in front of me the other day. She decided to look to her right just as I was braking & swerving & saying "Excuse me". She replied "Sorry" but it was actually SOHREEEYUH like a pissed-off kid would say & then I could hear her bitching to her husband (who also stepped into the road without looking, just after she did) as I cycled away.

If people are walking (or horse riding) in the road & I approach them from behind, I usually call out "Coming past on your right" or something similar. Seems to work well.

Wow. Really surprised that anyone finds cycle bells rude.

most cyclists do either ring the bell or say 'excuse me'. But with half the population blotted out by headphones or deafened by them, it is a challenge.

I hate cyclists whizzing past me with no bell but if they do ring I find it very hard to tell which side they are on and often step into their path - and am rubbish with left and right so shouting wouldn´t help

they often expect me to move out of their way even though I obviously have a baby and toddler with me so am not very maneuverable in the time needed

so yes, get off the pavement

Isn't the fine £50 for riding on pavements....

Wow. Really surprised that anyone finds cycle bells rude

Of course it's rude when we all have voices and can communicate personally.

I've been shouted at for using a bell too, a man and his two dcs were walking in front of me, on the cycle path !

Very rude. Unless a shared path you shouldn't be there and if shared walkers get right of way full stop. Wants wrong with slowing down and using your voice please and thank you.....

If I have a bell, I use it just to alert people to my presence, I don't expect them to move out of my way - I do that bit! But my current bike has no bell, so I just say excuse me if someone hasn't noticed I'm there.

sorry, need some context here! Are you a pedestrian? Do you mean a cyclist on a pavement - they shouldn't be on the pavement anyway, unless it is a specific shared space. You say you've been nearly hit - but not actually hit? Which suggests the cyclist can see you perfectly clearly and avoids you? Possibly if he rang his bell you might change direction smack into the cyclist's line, as it were?

Need more info before I can say if you're being U.

Using a bell isn't rude! The noise of a bell travels a lot further than my voice so I can alert pedestrians earlier that I'm coming. I usually find that less alarming to them than cycling closer then shouting "excuse me". I usually wait for a wider part of the path before I try to overtake anyway.

Cheepy that's why I call out "Coming on your left!" and they always look in the correct direction but I always allow them to keep "their" bit of path and I move round them...I just alert them in case they suddenly veer to one side.

I had to stop today as two lovely, very elderly greyhounds were taking their stroll they were in the middle of the cycle path and their owner was going "John! John!" to try to coax them out of the way...they wouldn't budge though and plodded onwards. Don't blame them...they were obviously a great age and couldn't be arsed!

Were they both called John?

Given that 1 in 6 of the UK population has a hearing loss, I think cyclists should do more than just ring the bell, (ie, slooow).

We don't have shared use pavements in our area but it doesn't stop the cyclists using them, coming up and trying to overtake pedestrians very close by them.

Pisses me off, some bellend shouted and swore at me the other day then decided to go onto the main road and ride up the wrong side of the road.

Can't say I'm a huge fan of the bell. If as a cyclist you can't overtake safely without interaction then you should ask politely if you can get past. Obviously you should slow down anyway, unless there's masses of room on the shared path. If you're on a pavement, then you should be going at walking pace or not at all IMO.