Center Parcs - bike bell question

[ILovesPeanuts]

Here now at SF. Cycling along a road (not path), slowly, single file on left. On right (opposite side of road) is a woman walking and screeching “Use your bells! It’s not hard! Use your bells” At everyone who was nowhere near her.
We were the opposite side of the road to her. At least 4 meters in between. I could understand it if we weren’t on the opposite side of a wide road and were skimming past or were closer. Or on a narrow path.
We do use our bells but where necessary. We like to think we are considerate cyclists.
Are we wrong? Does everyone else ring their bell constantly? Haven’t noticed it. It’d be pretty noisy if we did and there’d be constant bells in all directions! There are hundreds of bikes here.
What does everyone else do?

[TokyoSushi]

Nope she's batshit.

[emmathedilemma]

I'd only use my bell if I was cycling up behind someone and needed to overtake them fairly closely. I was at CP recently and thought it would have been useful if there were some "rules of the road" such as keep left as some people were nothing short of a liability on those bikes but what you were doing seems perfectly fine.

[ILovesPeanuts]

Thank you both. Just cycled back and observed - where bikes are passing people and it's a wide road and are able to give a wide berth they're not ringing bells. If they did the bells would be devalued as it would be one big constant cacophony of bells.
I agree some etiquette guidance on roads would be useful. I've been to CP many times but seems there's less tolerance of bikes this time - if people are walking 4 abreast up road and you ting bell they often won't move aside but really bikes and walkers need to share roads.
I can't help thinking the screechy lady isn't at the best holiday place for her.

[buildernewbie]

I cycle a lot and use my bell
To warn walkers of my approach if I'm on my local canal bank or on a walking path.

When walking, it's really unnerving to have cyclists whizz past you without warning - in fact, it's stopped my elderly dad from walking because it unnerves him so much.

You sound like you're doing everything correctly. She sounds unreasonable.

[ILovesPeanuts]

Yes Buildernewbie I agree and I'd ring my bell in those situations too.
In local Forest I've had people thank me for ringing bell and others get cross as they assume I'm telling them to move rather than just warning I'm there. Here at CP there is a constant stream of bikes everywhere - mix of hired and owned. I'd ring my bell if within 2 meters for sure or on a path where there weren't loads of bikes.
I'm sorry your Dad got unnerved, I understand that, as some people aren't considerate and come too close.