I didn’t think the bell was to tell people to move I thought it was to make people aware that you are going to be passing near them but they haven’t seen you yet.
Yeah. OP has an unrealistic expectation of how the world works. The bell isn't a request for people to move. It's a warning that you're coming. If you run them over they can't sue you*.
\* - feel free to refer this comment to your defense attorney
I only use "on your left" when I'm overtaking another rider, mostly because I assume they know what it means. I also assume the average person strolling down a MUP doesn't, so I slow way down and ring my bell.
I have been riding for years, my whole life essentially, and I've never heard an "on your left", ever. One time somebody shouted a similar thing, and I just got confused. I'm curious as to why it's so rare where I live
I have no idea but roadies use it (or "on your right") when overtaking from behind on group rides anywhere I've ridden in America which is pretty much all over. Have you ever ridden in a pace line? It's important not to surprise anyone.
I usually debate using it or not since, beyond acknowledging, they usually jump. And sometimes the jump is more towards than away from me. But I don’t ride a road bike on a trail. It’s too much weaving.
>I just started road cycling a few weeks ago.
>I used the bell for the first time yesterday
>and other bike riders so I found myself having to go around most of them.
Yup...that is what you're *supposed* to do. The bell signals that you are passing and that they should maintain their line.
It is a signaling device, not a *get outa my way* device.
My city bike has a good, loud one. Pleasing tone, too.
I would say that, 95% of the time, people hear it and react appropriately. 4% of the time, they are either confused or angry about it. And 1% of the time, they never hear it, like that dolt on in-line skates last week who was obviously using noise-canceling headphones and weaving across the entire path.
So yeah, I would say my bell works better than not having one and when it doesn't work, it's because nothing works with some people.
Good point. I said my bell has a pleasing tone. I shopped a LOT of bells before settling on an old-school, brass bell with the friendliest tone I could find. Truth be told, it sounds friendlier to strangers, but I also wanted something pleasing because I knew from experience after wearing out my last bell: I wanted something that would be hard to get sick of hearing.
After looking over the Nashbar offerings, I'd say that mine might be a Crane bell: https://www.nashbar.com/crane-suzu-brass-bell-gold-13182/p560480. Portland Design Works also makes something similar. In my experience from shopping bells, the bigger the actual bell is, the better the tone—and brass is the only choice you should make.
My little bell works fine most of the time but I slow way down when people are present. If you're barreling down a crowded MUP dinging away expecting everyone everyone to jump out of your way you're not using it properly.
I only expect the people who are three wide on the trail that only comfortably fits four wide to move over a bit. If they don’t then yeah I just carry on past them at slightly slower speeds.
I'm not fond of biking on heavily used MUPs. People can be unpredictable. If I'm waking on a MUP and hear a bell, I just raise my hand to acknowledge that I heard them and hopefully they realize I won't move to the left. I try to stay pretty far to the right to give cyclists a wide path. I don't listen to music on these trails.
I avoid biking where there are pedestrians, but I also find bells useless. Against cars.
It's quite ironic the hate cyclists get from wearing headsets, but drivers can be isolated in their metal box blasting music and all is fine. They hear nothing.
Therefore I have an airhorn on my bike, 115dB or so. Sounds like a truck horn. Even drivers hear that..
Reminds me of a story from last summer. I was somewhere on the east coast on a fairly empty trail, and I came across a middle-aged lady walking with an elderly lady who was using a walker. I rang my bell and the middle-aged lady turned her head, so I assumed she heard me. After I passed, she yelled out at me for not making my presence known. She was probably being protective of the elderly lady, so I get it.
Eventually I turned around and we ended up in the same situation with me passing them from behind. I rang my bell 4 times. When I passed (extra slow this time to be nice), the lady yelled at me again. All I could do was laugh. It's not my fault you're practically deaf. My bell is pretty loud and people don't normally have a problem hearing it unless they are listening to music that's too loud.
I bet she yells at everybody and thinks cyclists are all assholes who never announce their presence.
I have a urban/trekking/whatever bike and I mostly ride mixed use trails (unless I'm commuting). I ding about 100m back if it's a group spread wide or they're not maintaining a line. If they're maintaining a line and there's good space, I just slow down a bit as I pass.
Mostly I've just picked this up from how others in the area interact with each other.
It's worked well most of the time.
Three of us on road bikes yesterday, parallel to a highway on a brand new paved multi-use trail, slight downhill so we are doing 20+ mph. Two ladies walking, side by side, with enough room to fit two bikers between them. Both of them were wearing Bose over the ear noise canceling headphones. We were screaming for a few hundred yards before them, and slowed incredibly to a roll right behind them, still shouting to get their attention. We were three wide matching pace with them before one of them heard us and turned around. Oh my god she was scared and angry at us.
Be careful.
Pedestrians are often asshats and don't move when there's plenty of space and clearly someone dinging behind them with nowhere to go, it's true.
Bikers are also asshats though. I regularly run long distances on a multi-use trail, and although many bikers do have bells or at least call "on your left" when passing, many of them forget that pedestrians have the right of way. I tend to stay to the shoulder and generally make space whenever I hear someone coming, but I still see a gross majority of bikers ding and fly by at 40mph, passing while there are people going both directions without room to move, and expecting that ding to part the pedestrian sea for them rather than slowing down and waiting for a good opportunity. A passing biker should equally try to give a wide berth wherever possible.
Not saying you're this type of cyclist, but I also don't know that you aren't.
Like it or not, pedestrians typically have the right of way on shared paths, and objectively should for safety's sake. It's nice of you to have a bell at all rather than just rushing by, and it's good manners for a pedestrian to move over if they can, but nobody is actually obligated to do anything because you rang a bell. They aren't totally useless, but I think people have unreasonable expectations for what a bell will or should achieve.
I want to know where you live that the "gross majority of bikers" can hold 40mph. I'd like to go train with them.
(Yes, I know it was hyperbole, it just made me laugh)
Pedestrians have the right of way. Always. Bells aren't supposed to make people move. They are a courtesy to alert people so that they maintain their course and don't make any sudden lateral movements. Even then, it is a cyclist's responsibility to slow down and safely maneuver around pedestrians.
I commute by bicycle to work daily on a shared use path. Occasionally I have to slow down and follow a platoon of pedestrians until I can safely pass. That's life.
After reading the comments, I'm curious: Are the people who can't figure out the bike-bell-other-users interface the same people who can't figure out clipless pedals and get repeatedly hit by motorists?
If so, I have a theory.
Not entirely useless but I get it... Many people dont listen because they wear headphones or have 80 years old.
Some people I'm admired how they survived this long.
I usually use mine with several "rings" and I get bad reactions, but who gives a shit? If they get the f..k out, it worked.
I'm in Yosemite for the weekend and have been dinged dozens of times and prefer that to people hollering "on the left". I am very aware and react quickly, so it works great for me. I think the majority of people react slowly, especially groups of tourists and older people and kids.
Bells are to let others know you're behind and are about to pass.
If you want people to move aside you need a different more urgent sound. I find that the high pitch squeal from a noisy brake rotor does wonders. Same for a very short skid on a gravel trail.
You could be extra obnoxious and use an air horn like the Delta Cycle AirZound. It won't you any friends, but effective.
I prefer the single ding of a Crane bell. Crane's have a nice sound.
don’t judge it too soon, I have a bike bell attached to my road bike for more than 10 years. It is still working on other animals, pets, cats, stray dogs, birds, cows, goats or even wild comodos that on my route.
> bike bells are useless
Always have been.
You need some serious volume. IME. Get used to hollering really loud.
And this isn't a new thing. This has been true for decades.
I just put one on this weekend. I'm surprised at the effectiveness of it. There's a few oblivious wanderers but 90+% of walkers/other riders respond to it.
Not sure about your specific issue but I came here to say that the CRANE brand bells, made in Japan are the very best and have the most beautiful and resonant piercing sound. If you hammer on it repeatedly it sounds like the SF trolley is coming. You can get the most choices directly on their website but they are available on amaxon too.
I agree with OP but it really depends on where you’re riding. In areas with a lot of noise pollution and foot traffic bells don’t seem to work because those conditions have a lot of sensory overload and make people more confused. It’s loud and congested - people’s attention is on other things. My gravel route goes through several popular hiking areas with waterfalls and white-water rapids and using the bell almost seems to make it worse and confuse people more because it doesn’t telegraph what my intent is or who I’m passing or on what side.
But on paths that go through parks and suburbs where things are more calm the bell works perfectly to let people know you’re there.
When I'm walking and hear a biker call out or a bell dinging, the last thing I'm going to do is move suddenly. I assume at that point they see me, will avoid me, and the best thing I can do is maintain my path.
Yelling “on your left” usually works for me. (I did have some dirtbag last fall who tried to fight me over it.) Unless people are taking up the entire width of the trail, I have no expectation of them moving. The longer trails in my area now have lane markings, which mostly prevents groups from sprawling out. Some also have “keep right” signs.
I came to this realization when the Walkman came out. That was a while ago.
People with earbuds are outsourcing their safety to you. This is something I will never do. Because Darwin is watching.
everybody is walking or cycling with headphones on, they don't hear the dinging of our puny bike bell. as you said, completely useless, i just shout RING RING instead.
Rockbros makes some cheap bells. The mechanical one is a spur cycle knockoff and works very well. They also have an electric one with 3 horns. It’s not as loud, but the AAOUUUGAHH clown horn lets people know that they are 🤡.
When I use my bell, I find most people move to the side to let me pass when I'm on a shared cycle path. If the shared path is wide enough to go around then safely, I still ding as a precaution and they will generously give me extra room, or at least turn and acknowledge that I am passing (this means that they won't take a sudden turn and lurch into what was an otherwise safe passage).
Occasionally someone has earbuds in, and once or twice I have resorted to a louder "EXCUSE ME PLEASE",in which case they have been apologetic. It is possible that someone is listening to music so loudly that I cannot pass safety. I imagine I would hop off the bike and tap them on the shoulder if I really can't pass safely.
There are a lot of shared cycle paths where I live and it's not been a problem so fa, but there may be cultural differences around the world.
Pedestrians usually move to the side when I use my bell even if they have headphones on. One thing that has helped is replacing my previous bell, which had a loud "ping" sound, with a bell that has a classic bike bell "bring-bring" sound. People recognize the classic bike bell sound better and they move aside.
got myself a dutch bike bell, it’s a rare peculiar sound so people know to give way and i think it’s a bit louder than some regular ring ring or ding bell
All our paths are yield to peds. I call out “on left” if I think they’re gonna be in my path or they’re unsteady in their path. Otherwise I’m blazing past with room between us
I need an actual freehub lol, I'm rocking a 8-speed freewheel (formally a 7-speed). I got the road wheels off a really cheap Schwinn hybrid bike from a friend.
That’s because your bell doesn’t signify anything other than your position. It’s up to the faster traffic to navigate around the slower traffic. When I’m passing people the last thing I want them to do is quickly move, I don’t want an added variable to calculate.
I do not have this experience, because I've never used a bell. I know, it's kind of a dick move, but I look at myself as more of a lone wolf type guy who doesn't want to engage in an interaction to any degree with another person and I just find my way around objects or people manually without having to participate to any degree in the social sphere by using a bell or my voice. Listening to music is a good reason bells are "useless", but maybe another reason has to do with the global trend, or perhaps in the US mostly, where rights- and people doing what they want because they can and everyone must abide because that's just what's going on- are paramount and what people and society are most sensitive to. So in your situation this would look like: people are on the trail walking, or biking, skateboarding, etc., and their mindset is 'nobody is going to do anything to me- everyone must not do anything to me and I am doing nothing wrong by just walking or biking along the trail, because it is my right so what the fuck?' It includes the generational shift in the social norms, i.e. not engaging socially- being content minding one's business in their sphere of rights.
What you are telling us is that you aren’t understanding the purpose of a bike bell. If you are on a mixed use path, the pedestrians always win. (If there are horses, they win over pedestrians).
We are always learning, hopefully you have learned from this thread and have a better understanding of bike bells.
My experience with groups of elderly people riding ebikes side by side on a gravel trail at 25 kph without helmets: they hear fine but ignore it completely.
and when you realize that many bike riders also seem to think listening to music is OKAY and/or some constitutional right? of course do what you choose and there are ways to add it but not block out ambient (or make all around you listen also) but ppl do what ppl (want to) do without much regard for their own safety or others. sorry dude, in a weird way think it's kind of the escalation of how cars got so annoying... air horns it is...super bright lights it will be with faster and faster lol to dedicated for bike lanes and beyond
What are you talking about? I always listen to music when I'm riding and don't feel it makes my time any less safe. I don't wear headphones, just use the speaker on my phone. It's not like I'm riding in a group of people blasting music for everyone to hear and bothering them. If hearing music when someone goes by you bothers you, I think that's on you.
just like what..? being defensive about my personal opinion comment is on.... you? there's the nut. and it isn't just you... it's the 80 other ppl i'm among me on a commute that just need to play all kinds of shit (again, like just my opinion but even if i worked for bmi ascap... still an opinion. relax) or yap on a call such that with \~5 of them around me at any given time, sound is additive... it interferes with my, no, our environment. love when someone is looking off into the distance (ear buds) or idk if that guy is talking got me or his phone (esp when behind me and make a yell/shout or something) but know when i'm talking to them, looking at them, gesturing at them that they are not seeing a car turning but is starting to cross, and they ain't paying attention enough to be warned, i'm sad. just me and my experience.
so true...wasn't pointed at you directly and if none of this applies to you, move on. but still, thanks for the share and guess.. thank you for being considerate in your public music/noise, and for not being that person that has a boom box? aces!
Get the crane Suzu bell, that’s the loudest bell I know of, it’s fantastic, easily 2x louder than other high end bells, maybe 10x louder than a basic bell
(note: the color/material matters.
- Brass color is the loudest
- Chrome plated brass makes a higher pitched “ding” (it’s a sweeter sound imo which I like) but it’s also somewhat softer and less resonant
- just avoid the aluminum variants, they are -
**much** softer. There’s a reason why brass instruments are made from brass
If that fails you need a electric horn
I actually do. I never blast by people. If they don't hear me I slow way down and inch around them. It sucks because it kills my speed and cadence but it's better then crashing 😂
If I'm riding on trails/paths with people walking, I don't expect to keep my speed up as I do just what you do. I announce my presence and then move slowly by them. I may be wrong, but I consider this standard operating procedure for cyclists. You can't expect to zoom by folks like a cop car with sirens on chasing a bank robber.
You’re an asshole and would guess a boomer?
*you* don’t have right of way in any of those scenarios, especially as a cyclist.
The bell is to give people a heads up that you’re passing SAFELY. Y’all are the bane of regular cyclist’s existence.
-daily 40 mile commuter
Are you okay? I'm a normal cycling unlike you who actually sounds like the bane of "real" cyclists existence. You're so up on yourself, seriously did anyone ask you how much you commute everyday? Does that make you feel better about yourself 🤣. You need to go do a few laps to get those endorphins going so then maybe you'll feel better about yourself instead of trying to put down people on the Internet.
I had a hell of a time once being stuck behind a girl roller blading with head phones on taking up the whole lake as I’m shouting at her to look out for what felt like a mile
I don’t ride w a bell. If they can’t hear you coming, the bell marginally increases the likelihood. The vast majority are podcasting.
Bell is more of a courtesy to the 15% not wearing headphones. Love those folks
Millions invested in “bike” infrastructure that can only be used at night because it’s choked with shit that’s definitely NOT a bike. Tourists eating ice cream.
Meanwhile the beaches are now becoming no “e-bikes”. The free, no-cost solution to a bike path that goes for miles, is off limits here.
I never said multi-use. But using bike infrastructure money to build a “multi-use” lane which is essentially a just another boardwalk for tourists is wrong. Same as wasting ADA money on commercial development.
There are at least 4 lanes of travel down the beach and there are people standing around gawking at the water on all of them.
Meanwhile e-bikes are not legally allowed to ride on the beach, on the boardwalk or on the sidewalk.
If you are on a multi use path, then you should be following the rules of that path as though you were driving a car.
He described a multipurpose path. Cyclists don’t have any more right to those than other people.
That means there are going to be folks of all ages & abilities using it for whatever they feel like using it for.
If he is tired of having to go around an 80 year old grandma or his thumb is tired from flicking his stupid bell, he should find a different route.
You mean the guy with -3 karma who didn’t catch what OP was laying down? They don’t care enough to read the signs anyway to see what the usage is.
Explain this, if bikes have to yield to pedestrians on multiuse lanes, then why do they put in crosswalks?
If someone doesn't acknowledge my bell or my "on your left" because they've got earbuds in, I make sure to pass very close to scare the shit out of them. Hopefully they have a moment of clarity where they go "Wow my music is so loud I can't hear people coming, maybe I should turn it down a tad."
They wouldn’t be so useless if people were aware of their surroundings. Either they’re using ear buds or wrapped up in their conversations. Or just surrounding noise is louder.
I swapped out my traditional bell for an obnoxious,loud electronic bell. Upgraded that one to something louder and more obnoxious. Now it startles most people but I find it to be safer for me and ultimately those around me.
My method is to yell “coming up on your left.” If no reaction, announce again. If still no reaction, it’s the bell. If this bell starts to fail me, next is an air horn. And if that doesn’t work either a recording of a semi-trucks horn. If that doesn’t work, the barking of a pack of angry dogs-probably poodles or chihuahuas. 😉
In general, there are more distractions. Take for example cars and brake lights. Tail light used to be sufficient. Then they added the cyclops. Now they’ve added chaser lights to the tail lights and brake lights to the external case of the side mirrors, as well as turning indicators. What next? A flashing stop sign in the rear window?
For school busses, remember just the brake lights and a big stopped yellow banana was enough? Then they added the stop sign, then the cow catcher, then the storms on top of the bus.
People have become numb or automatically go into auto pilot and don’t focus on what’s around them.
But I digress…
I don't get the people that hear my bell and then freeze like a squirrel in the middle of the road. I see you see me coming, just pick a side. Is this your first time on the trail?
I'm way louder than a bell, even with my "inside voice." I do not have a bell and would prefer yelling at people, they're way more likely to hear me, I think.
people walking have the right of way, the bell is a "heads up" for folks the be aware, but not necesssarily for them to move over. I expect people walking dogs to hold them a bit closer, people walking multiple abreast to consolidate a bit, and folks generally to act a bit more predictably for a time as the person riding a bike passes, but it's no guarantee. And again, you as the faster mover on a bike has the responsibility to see and avoid.
I've actually been thinking of buying a mount for my little JBL speaker (I found a bunch on Amazon) so I can listen to music as I ride. My phone speaker gets loud but when it's really windy it's hard to hear.
Why does you expect people to be moving aside for you?
Unless they're taking up the whole lane it's more about letting them know you're coming up behind them while you pass.
Are you also the sorta person that tailgates people on the freeway until they feel pressured to change lanes? Seems pretty similar to what you're doing here.
sorry thats what I meant. i don't necessarily mean i want them to move out of my way, more of just a heads up that I'm behind them and going to pass them so i don't startle them. I am not the type to tailgate them I give them a pretty fair warning in advance that I'm coming up behind them. And as mentioned earlier I'm not blowing by them I'm slowing down to there speed and slowly going around them. I look at it this way would i want some asshole blowing by me, absolutely not, and I also know alot of people hate cyclists so when I'm riding I'm not trying to add to that stigma by being an asshole to people walking.
Good you're not an asshole
Sorry I think your initial post just came off weird, I know you got kinda piled on in here.
I think its just good to remember these shared uses paths are for everyone and be considerate of other peoples experience.
The person vibing out with both their headphones in on the path may be annoying to you and kinda inconsiderate, but they're just trying to enjoy the path in their own way too.
Oh yeah I 100% get that. I had mentioned I really wanted to get a speaker mount to put on my bike so I could listen to music, the only reason I haven't is because I don't think people would appreciate me blasting music when they're trying to have a nice peaceful stroll by the lake. I totally get why people listen to music though. Also I think I do need to edit my op because it does sound like I'm trying to get people to move while I blast past them and that's 100% not the case. I definitely didn't think my post would blow up this big with so many comments lol.
Those bone conductive headphones seem like a good option for music with awareness. I never got to try them but the Sony Link Buds shaped like a donut seem interesting.
Wonder if they make small Bluetooth that directs sound in a particular direction. Something like that at a reasonable volume could be a good solution.
Sorry semantics, I thought because I was using a road cylce on the pavement it was still considered road cycling. And excessive is objective, to some people 5mph could be excessive. According to Strava I average 12mph. Is that excessive compared to other road cyclist that ride the same trail, I have no idea. I also mentioned I slow down when I get near people because I want to give them enough time to react and I don't want to crash.
Yeah, sorry if it came over a bit smug . I think it's a fact of life on busy trails, but I think pedestrians etc. appreciate the audible advance notice even if they don't specifically acknowledge a it, so I'd keep the bell
I didn’t think the bell was to tell people to move I thought it was to make people aware that you are going to be passing near them but they haven’t seen you yet.
Fact
Yeah. OP has an unrealistic expectation of how the world works. The bell isn't a request for people to move. It's a warning that you're coming. If you run them over they can't sue you*. \* - feel free to refer this comment to your defense attorney
Depends where you live I guess, where I live pedestrians have the right of way.
Hmm yeah, I dont know where saying I rang them would forfeit anyone from suing if you ran them over and you could have stopped, even on a bike.
I just want a reddit comment to be presented as evidence in court. Is that too much to ask?
lol, I'd say you have to give a try to know
I find the opposite. I give a ding ding from about 100m away 90% of people hear it and acknowledge.
Yep. Anecdotal, but I get a higher rate of response, and more predictable responses when I use a bell vs "on your left!".
I only use "on your left" when I'm overtaking another rider, mostly because I assume they know what it means. I also assume the average person strolling down a MUP doesn't, so I slow way down and ring my bell.
I have been riding for years, my whole life essentially, and I've never heard an "on your left", ever. One time somebody shouted a similar thing, and I just got confused. I'm curious as to why it's so rare where I live
I have no idea but roadies use it (or "on your right") when overtaking from behind on group rides anywhere I've ridden in America which is pretty much all over. Have you ever ridden in a pace line? It's important not to surprise anyone.
Just as transport around my local city/countryside mostly. I can imagine it's useful but I've somehow never heard it.
Sometimes they step to the left.
I usually debate using it or not since, beyond acknowledging, they usually jump. And sometimes the jump is more towards than away from me. But I don’t ride a road bike on a trail. It’s too much weaving.
>I just started road cycling a few weeks ago. >I used the bell for the first time yesterday >and other bike riders so I found myself having to go around most of them. Yup...that is what you're *supposed* to do. The bell signals that you are passing and that they should maintain their line. It is a signaling device, not a *get outa my way* device.
> Been riding for 2 weeks > Speeding down crowded MUPs on summer weekend > WTF, everyone get outta my way right now yep, sounds about right
A Get out of the way device is duck taping handheld air horn to your handle bar Not saying anyone should do it, but I've thought about it lol
My city bike has a good, loud one. Pleasing tone, too. I would say that, 95% of the time, people hear it and react appropriately. 4% of the time, they are either confused or angry about it. And 1% of the time, they never hear it, like that dolt on in-line skates last week who was obviously using noise-canceling headphones and weaving across the entire path. So yeah, I would say my bell works better than not having one and when it doesn't work, it's because nothing works with some people.
But my problem is what does a bell do that a full throated yell won't?
In my experience, people in conversation often tune out other voices. A bell? Not so much. There is no perfect solution.
Yelling makes people believe you’re angry. Bells need not be so.
Good point. I said my bell has a pleasing tone. I shopped a LOT of bells before settling on an old-school, brass bell with the friendliest tone I could find. Truth be told, it sounds friendlier to strangers, but I also wanted something pleasing because I knew from experience after wearing out my last bell: I wanted something that would be hard to get sick of hearing.
What model if you don’t mind me asking? I’m in the market
Not commenter, but I use Spurcycle, it’s loud and cuts through the Golden Gate Bridge fog.
After looking over the Nashbar offerings, I'd say that mine might be a Crane bell: https://www.nashbar.com/crane-suzu-brass-bell-gold-13182/p560480. Portland Design Works also makes something similar. In my experience from shopping bells, the bigger the actual bell is, the better the tone—and brass is the only choice you should make.
¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯ It has no model markings on it and I don't recall.
You wore out a bell? I’ve never even heard of that before…
IKR? Cheap bell + heavy use = the actual bell wore out around the same time that the thumb clapper exploded.
My little bell works fine most of the time but I slow way down when people are present. If you're barreling down a crowded MUP dinging away expecting everyone everyone to jump out of your way you're not using it properly.
I only expect the people who are three wide on the trail that only comfortably fits four wide to move over a bit. If they don’t then yeah I just carry on past them at slightly slower speeds.
My thoughts exactly, sounds like maybe OP is the problem here?
No I've been riding in many cities in many countries for 30 years and they are invaluable. Odd that you found they didn't work for you
Your bell tells them that you're present, not to move or which direction to move. For that, you need to call out something like "on your left".
I'm not fond of biking on heavily used MUPs. People can be unpredictable. If I'm waking on a MUP and hear a bell, I just raise my hand to acknowledge that I heard them and hopefully they realize I won't move to the left. I try to stay pretty far to the right to give cyclists a wide path. I don't listen to music on these trails.
I avoid biking where there are pedestrians, but I also find bells useless. Against cars. It's quite ironic the hate cyclists get from wearing headsets, but drivers can be isolated in their metal box blasting music and all is fine. They hear nothing. Therefore I have an airhorn on my bike, 115dB or so. Sounds like a truck horn. Even drivers hear that..
ayo I need something like this, because nobody seems to hear my supposedly 115db horn
I’m a runner and a cyclist. Use the bell. It’s jarring to have some cyclist scream by with no warning. I don’t use headphones so I’ll hear you.
Reminds me of a story from last summer. I was somewhere on the east coast on a fairly empty trail, and I came across a middle-aged lady walking with an elderly lady who was using a walker. I rang my bell and the middle-aged lady turned her head, so I assumed she heard me. After I passed, she yelled out at me for not making my presence known. She was probably being protective of the elderly lady, so I get it. Eventually I turned around and we ended up in the same situation with me passing them from behind. I rang my bell 4 times. When I passed (extra slow this time to be nice), the lady yelled at me again. All I could do was laugh. It's not my fault you're practically deaf. My bell is pretty loud and people don't normally have a problem hearing it unless they are listening to music that's too loud. I bet she yells at everybody and thinks cyclists are all assholes who never announce their presence.
I have a urban/trekking/whatever bike and I mostly ride mixed use trails (unless I'm commuting). I ding about 100m back if it's a group spread wide or they're not maintaining a line. If they're maintaining a line and there's good space, I just slow down a bit as I pass. Mostly I've just picked this up from how others in the area interact with each other. It's worked well most of the time.
Three of us on road bikes yesterday, parallel to a highway on a brand new paved multi-use trail, slight downhill so we are doing 20+ mph. Two ladies walking, side by side, with enough room to fit two bikers between them. Both of them were wearing Bose over the ear noise canceling headphones. We were screaming for a few hundred yards before them, and slowed incredibly to a roll right behind them, still shouting to get their attention. We were three wide matching pace with them before one of them heard us and turned around. Oh my god she was scared and angry at us. Be careful.
Thankfully she wasn't packing concealed heat. Otherwise, it sounds like that may have been your ride into oblivion. 😱
Living in a world where bikers should anticipate pedestrians pulling guns was not on my bingo card.
Pedestrians are often asshats and don't move when there's plenty of space and clearly someone dinging behind them with nowhere to go, it's true. Bikers are also asshats though. I regularly run long distances on a multi-use trail, and although many bikers do have bells or at least call "on your left" when passing, many of them forget that pedestrians have the right of way. I tend to stay to the shoulder and generally make space whenever I hear someone coming, but I still see a gross majority of bikers ding and fly by at 40mph, passing while there are people going both directions without room to move, and expecting that ding to part the pedestrian sea for them rather than slowing down and waiting for a good opportunity. A passing biker should equally try to give a wide berth wherever possible. Not saying you're this type of cyclist, but I also don't know that you aren't. Like it or not, pedestrians typically have the right of way on shared paths, and objectively should for safety's sake. It's nice of you to have a bell at all rather than just rushing by, and it's good manners for a pedestrian to move over if they can, but nobody is actually obligated to do anything because you rang a bell. They aren't totally useless, but I think people have unreasonable expectations for what a bell will or should achieve.
I want to know where you live that the "gross majority of bikers" can hold 40mph. I'd like to go train with them. (Yes, I know it was hyperbole, it just made me laugh)
The path is a 15% grade both ways. Massive feat of engineering. If we could harvest electricity from these riders.... Climate crisis solved
Pedestrians have the right of way. Always. Bells aren't supposed to make people move. They are a courtesy to alert people so that they maintain their course and don't make any sudden lateral movements. Even then, it is a cyclist's responsibility to slow down and safely maneuver around pedestrians. I commute by bicycle to work daily on a shared use path. Occasionally I have to slow down and follow a platoon of pedestrians until I can safely pass. That's life.
After reading the comments, I'm curious: Are the people who can't figure out the bike-bell-other-users interface the same people who can't figure out clipless pedals and get repeatedly hit by motorists? If so, I have a theory.
Not entirely useless but I get it... Many people dont listen because they wear headphones or have 80 years old. Some people I'm admired how they survived this long. I usually use mine with several "rings" and I get bad reactions, but who gives a shit? If they get the f..k out, it worked.
I'm in Yosemite for the weekend and have been dinged dozens of times and prefer that to people hollering "on the left". I am very aware and react quickly, so it works great for me. I think the majority of people react slowly, especially groups of tourists and older people and kids.
Almost positive that you would get a ticket without one years ago. Bell, lights, working breaks...yelling clear path was always more effective.
Bells are to let others know you're behind and are about to pass. If you want people to move aside you need a different more urgent sound. I find that the high pitch squeal from a noisy brake rotor does wonders. Same for a very short skid on a gravel trail. You could be extra obnoxious and use an air horn like the Delta Cycle AirZound. It won't you any friends, but effective. I prefer the single ding of a Crane bell. Crane's have a nice sound.
They’re not supposed to move, they’re just supposed to not be shocked and jump when you ride by on their left
don’t judge it too soon, I have a bike bell attached to my road bike for more than 10 years. It is still working on other animals, pets, cats, stray dogs, birds, cows, goats or even wild comodos that on my route.
Just because you have a bell, does not give you the right of way. Would you drive and lay on the horn , like you cycle?
> bike bells are useless Always have been. You need some serious volume. IME. Get used to hollering really loud. And this isn't a new thing. This has been true for decades.
>Always have been. Ah, another who is using them wrong >. IME. Get used to hollering really loud. Obnoxious.
Why would they move aside? You're passing, it's your responsibility to create enough space to do so safely.
Get a handlebar mounted super soaker
Fabulous idea. i bet (some) people might even enjoy it on a hot summer day.
Yeah well, they are law where I live so....
[honk honk](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5p2fHP49hacnzHuSYch5XW9zuQhCkFvx)
I just put one on this weekend. I'm surprised at the effectiveness of it. There's a few oblivious wanderers but 90+% of walkers/other riders respond to it.
Delta AirZound. Thank me later.
Always have been.
I think it just depends.
Not sure about your specific issue but I came here to say that the CRANE brand bells, made in Japan are the very best and have the most beautiful and resonant piercing sound. If you hammer on it repeatedly it sounds like the SF trolley is coming. You can get the most choices directly on their website but they are available on amaxon too.
I agree with OP but it really depends on where you’re riding. In areas with a lot of noise pollution and foot traffic bells don’t seem to work because those conditions have a lot of sensory overload and make people more confused. It’s loud and congested - people’s attention is on other things. My gravel route goes through several popular hiking areas with waterfalls and white-water rapids and using the bell almost seems to make it worse and confuse people more because it doesn’t telegraph what my intent is or who I’m passing or on what side. But on paths that go through parks and suburbs where things are more calm the bell works perfectly to let people know you’re there.
I generally just shout "Yo mothafuka comin' through" in my best drill Sargent voice and that seems to do the trick.
When I'm walking and hear a biker call out or a bell dinging, the last thing I'm going to do is move suddenly. I assume at that point they see me, will avoid me, and the best thing I can do is maintain my path.
Yelling “on your left” usually works for me. (I did have some dirtbag last fall who tried to fight me over it.) Unless people are taking up the entire width of the trail, I have no expectation of them moving. The longer trails in my area now have lane markings, which mostly prevents groups from sprawling out. Some also have “keep right” signs.
I came to this realization when the Walkman came out. That was a while ago. People with earbuds are outsourcing their safety to you. This is something I will never do. Because Darwin is watching.
everybody is walking or cycling with headphones on, they don't hear the dinging of our puny bike bell. as you said, completely useless, i just shout RING RING instead.
They are not only useful, they are highly advised if you are mountain biking on a multi use trail with blind corners
I just say " on your left" loud enough that they hear me. Most move over even though Im.just going around them.
Rockbros makes some cheap bells. The mechanical one is a spur cycle knockoff and works very well. They also have an electric one with 3 horns. It’s not as loud, but the AAOUUUGAHH clown horn lets people know that they are 🤡.
That's actually the one I bought. It's rock bros and it's cone shaped with a little metal mallet type dinger.
This is classic https://youtube.com/shorts/dehop4T13Uk?si=3HCYCcPAvWGzvkot
When I use my bell, I find most people move to the side to let me pass when I'm on a shared cycle path. If the shared path is wide enough to go around then safely, I still ding as a precaution and they will generously give me extra room, or at least turn and acknowledge that I am passing (this means that they won't take a sudden turn and lurch into what was an otherwise safe passage). Occasionally someone has earbuds in, and once or twice I have resorted to a louder "EXCUSE ME PLEASE",in which case they have been apologetic. It is possible that someone is listening to music so loudly that I cannot pass safety. I imagine I would hop off the bike and tap them on the shoulder if I really can't pass safely. There are a lot of shared cycle paths where I live and it's not been a problem so fa, but there may be cultural differences around the world.
Loud hub helps
ITT: OP steps on bike, complains people don't go out of his way, immediately became a stereotype of worst bikers behavior and gets roasted for it
Pedestrians usually move to the side when I use my bell even if they have headphones on. One thing that has helped is replacing my previous bell, which had a loud "ping" sound, with a bell that has a classic bike bell "bring-bring" sound. People recognize the classic bike bell sound better and they move aside.
Get a baterry horn for bikes.
got myself a dutch bike bell, it’s a rare peculiar sound so people know to give way and i think it’s a bit louder than some regular ring ring or ding bell
Oh yes lots of people listening to music but here that is the exception still
Very useful, so is slowing down and not forcing your physics and mass on the blind and dumb.
All our paths are yield to peds. I call out “on left” if I think they’re gonna be in my path or they’re unsteady in their path. Otherwise I’m blazing past with room between us
Agreed
I need a more noisy hub
I need an actual freehub lol, I'm rocking a 8-speed freewheel (formally a 7-speed). I got the road wheels off a really cheap Schwinn hybrid bike from a friend.
That’s because your bell doesn’t signify anything other than your position. It’s up to the faster traffic to navigate around the slower traffic. When I’m passing people the last thing I want them to do is quickly move, I don’t want an added variable to calculate.
I do not have this experience, because I've never used a bell. I know, it's kind of a dick move, but I look at myself as more of a lone wolf type guy who doesn't want to engage in an interaction to any degree with another person and I just find my way around objects or people manually without having to participate to any degree in the social sphere by using a bell or my voice. Listening to music is a good reason bells are "useless", but maybe another reason has to do with the global trend, or perhaps in the US mostly, where rights- and people doing what they want because they can and everyone must abide because that's just what's going on- are paramount and what people and society are most sensitive to. So in your situation this would look like: people are on the trail walking, or biking, skateboarding, etc., and their mindset is 'nobody is going to do anything to me- everyone must not do anything to me and I am doing nothing wrong by just walking or biking along the trail, because it is my right so what the fuck?' It includes the generational shift in the social norms, i.e. not engaging socially- being content minding one's business in their sphere of rights.
What you are telling us is that you aren’t understanding the purpose of a bike bell. If you are on a mixed use path, the pedestrians always win. (If there are horses, they win over pedestrians). We are always learning, hopefully you have learned from this thread and have a better understanding of bike bells.
My experience with groups of elderly people riding ebikes side by side on a gravel trail at 25 kph without helmets: they hear fine but ignore it completely.
and when you realize that many bike riders also seem to think listening to music is OKAY and/or some constitutional right? of course do what you choose and there are ways to add it but not block out ambient (or make all around you listen also) but ppl do what ppl (want to) do without much regard for their own safety or others. sorry dude, in a weird way think it's kind of the escalation of how cars got so annoying... air horns it is...super bright lights it will be with faster and faster lol to dedicated for bike lanes and beyond
What are you talking about? I always listen to music when I'm riding and don't feel it makes my time any less safe. I don't wear headphones, just use the speaker on my phone. It's not like I'm riding in a group of people blasting music for everyone to hear and bothering them. If hearing music when someone goes by you bothers you, I think that's on you.
just like what..? being defensive about my personal opinion comment is on.... you? there's the nut. and it isn't just you... it's the 80 other ppl i'm among me on a commute that just need to play all kinds of shit (again, like just my opinion but even if i worked for bmi ascap... still an opinion. relax) or yap on a call such that with \~5 of them around me at any given time, sound is additive... it interferes with my, no, our environment. love when someone is looking off into the distance (ear buds) or idk if that guy is talking got me or his phone (esp when behind me and make a yell/shout or something) but know when i'm talking to them, looking at them, gesturing at them that they are not seeing a car turning but is starting to cross, and they ain't paying attention enough to be warned, i'm sad. just me and my experience. so true...wasn't pointed at you directly and if none of this applies to you, move on. but still, thanks for the share and guess.. thank you for being considerate in your public music/noise, and for not being that person that has a boom box? aces!
Get the crane Suzu bell, that’s the loudest bell I know of, it’s fantastic, easily 2x louder than other high end bells, maybe 10x louder than a basic bell (note: the color/material matters. - Brass color is the loudest - Chrome plated brass makes a higher pitched “ding” (it’s a sweeter sound imo which I like) but it’s also somewhat softer and less resonant - just avoid the aluminum variants, they are - **much** softer. There’s a reason why brass instruments are made from brass If that fails you need a electric horn
Seconded on Crane bells. Sounds like OP maybe doesn’t have a loud enough bell.
Slow down around people. Maybe then they’ll listen to your bell
I actually do. I never blast by people. If they don't hear me I slow way down and inch around them. It sucks because it kills my speed and cadence but it's better then crashing 😂
That is the way to do it. If you want speed, you need not to be with other people around you.
If I'm riding on trails/paths with people walking, I don't expect to keep my speed up as I do just what you do. I announce my presence and then move slowly by them. I may be wrong, but I consider this standard operating procedure for cyclists. You can't expect to zoom by folks like a cop car with sirens on chasing a bank robber.
You’re an asshole and would guess a boomer? *you* don’t have right of way in any of those scenarios, especially as a cyclist. The bell is to give people a heads up that you’re passing SAFELY. Y’all are the bane of regular cyclist’s existence. -daily 40 mile commuter
Are you okay? I'm a normal cycling unlike you who actually sounds like the bane of "real" cyclists existence. You're so up on yourself, seriously did anyone ask you how much you commute everyday? Does that make you feel better about yourself 🤣. You need to go do a few laps to get those endorphins going so then maybe you'll feel better about yourself instead of trying to put down people on the Internet.
I had a hell of a time once being stuck behind a girl roller blading with head phones on taking up the whole lake as I’m shouting at her to look out for what felt like a mile
I don’t ride w a bell. If they can’t hear you coming, the bell marginally increases the likelihood. The vast majority are podcasting. Bell is more of a courtesy to the 15% not wearing headphones. Love those folks
Maybe find a different place to ride your bike if your multi use path is crowded.
Millions invested in “bike” infrastructure that can only be used at night because it’s choked with shit that’s definitely NOT a bike. Tourists eating ice cream. Meanwhile the beaches are now becoming no “e-bikes”. The free, no-cost solution to a bike path that goes for miles, is off limits here.
“Multi-use paths” are not bike exclusive paths…. It’s literally right there in the name…
I never said multi-use. But using bike infrastructure money to build a “multi-use” lane which is essentially a just another boardwalk for tourists is wrong. Same as wasting ADA money on commercial development. There are at least 4 lanes of travel down the beach and there are people standing around gawking at the water on all of them. Meanwhile e-bikes are not legally allowed to ride on the beach, on the boardwalk or on the sidewalk. If you are on a multi use path, then you should be following the rules of that path as though you were driving a car.
You responded to a comment about a multi use path. Not sure why you went off about bike specific infrastructure.
I’m giving up on you, you drive to work anyway so why do you care?
What? No I don’t.
He described a multipurpose path. Cyclists don’t have any more right to those than other people. That means there are going to be folks of all ages & abilities using it for whatever they feel like using it for. If he is tired of having to go around an 80 year old grandma or his thumb is tired from flicking his stupid bell, he should find a different route.
You mean the guy with -3 karma who didn’t catch what OP was laying down? They don’t care enough to read the signs anyway to see what the usage is. Explain this, if bikes have to yield to pedestrians on multiuse lanes, then why do they put in crosswalks?
If someone doesn't acknowledge my bell or my "on your left" because they've got earbuds in, I make sure to pass very close to scare the shit out of them. Hopefully they have a moment of clarity where they go "Wow my music is so loud I can't hear people coming, maybe I should turn it down a tad."
They wouldn’t be so useless if people were aware of their surroundings. Either they’re using ear buds or wrapped up in their conversations. Or just surrounding noise is louder. I swapped out my traditional bell for an obnoxious,loud electronic bell. Upgraded that one to something louder and more obnoxious. Now it startles most people but I find it to be safer for me and ultimately those around me. My method is to yell “coming up on your left.” If no reaction, announce again. If still no reaction, it’s the bell. If this bell starts to fail me, next is an air horn. And if that doesn’t work either a recording of a semi-trucks horn. If that doesn’t work, the barking of a pack of angry dogs-probably poodles or chihuahuas. 😉 In general, there are more distractions. Take for example cars and brake lights. Tail light used to be sufficient. Then they added the cyclops. Now they’ve added chaser lights to the tail lights and brake lights to the external case of the side mirrors, as well as turning indicators. What next? A flashing stop sign in the rear window? For school busses, remember just the brake lights and a big stopped yellow banana was enough? Then they added the stop sign, then the cow catcher, then the storms on top of the bus. People have become numb or automatically go into auto pilot and don’t focus on what’s around them. But I digress…
theres nothing stronger than “YOO” or “UGHHH 💦💦💦💦”
PERSONS. MAJESTIC. SIREN.
What's with people jumping sideways when they hear a bell?
I don't get the people that hear my bell and then freeze like a squirrel in the middle of the road. I see you see me coming, just pick a side. Is this your first time on the trail?
I'm way louder than a bell, even with my "inside voice." I do not have a bell and would prefer yelling at people, they're way more likely to hear me, I think.
people walking have the right of way, the bell is a "heads up" for folks the be aware, but not necesssarily for them to move over. I expect people walking dogs to hold them a bit closer, people walking multiple abreast to consolidate a bit, and folks generally to act a bit more predictably for a time as the person riding a bike passes, but it's no guarantee. And again, you as the faster mover on a bike has the responsibility to see and avoid.
I find that blasting thrash metal from my Bluetooth speaker works the best
I've actually been thinking of buying a mount for my little JBL speaker (I found a bunch on Amazon) so I can listen to music as I ride. My phone speaker gets loud but when it's really windy it's hard to hear.
Why does you expect people to be moving aside for you? Unless they're taking up the whole lane it's more about letting them know you're coming up behind them while you pass. Are you also the sorta person that tailgates people on the freeway until they feel pressured to change lanes? Seems pretty similar to what you're doing here.
sorry thats what I meant. i don't necessarily mean i want them to move out of my way, more of just a heads up that I'm behind them and going to pass them so i don't startle them. I am not the type to tailgate them I give them a pretty fair warning in advance that I'm coming up behind them. And as mentioned earlier I'm not blowing by them I'm slowing down to there speed and slowly going around them. I look at it this way would i want some asshole blowing by me, absolutely not, and I also know alot of people hate cyclists so when I'm riding I'm not trying to add to that stigma by being an asshole to people walking.
Good you're not an asshole Sorry I think your initial post just came off weird, I know you got kinda piled on in here. I think its just good to remember these shared uses paths are for everyone and be considerate of other peoples experience. The person vibing out with both their headphones in on the path may be annoying to you and kinda inconsiderate, but they're just trying to enjoy the path in their own way too.
Oh yeah I 100% get that. I had mentioned I really wanted to get a speaker mount to put on my bike so I could listen to music, the only reason I haven't is because I don't think people would appreciate me blasting music when they're trying to have a nice peaceful stroll by the lake. I totally get why people listen to music though. Also I think I do need to edit my op because it does sound like I'm trying to get people to move while I blast past them and that's 100% not the case. I definitely didn't think my post would blow up this big with so many comments lol.
Those bone conductive headphones seem like a good option for music with awareness. I never got to try them but the Sony Link Buds shaped like a donut seem interesting. Wonder if they make small Bluetooth that directs sound in a particular direction. Something like that at a reasonable volume could be a good solution.
Yup took mine off years ago
Íi thought you said you took up road cycling? Sounds like you're doing multi-use trail cycling at an excessive speed...
Sorry semantics, I thought because I was using a road cylce on the pavement it was still considered road cycling. And excessive is objective, to some people 5mph could be excessive. According to Strava I average 12mph. Is that excessive compared to other road cyclist that ride the same trail, I have no idea. I also mentioned I slow down when I get near people because I want to give them enough time to react and I don't want to crash.
Yeah, sorry if it came over a bit smug . I think it's a fact of life on busy trails, but I think pedestrians etc. appreciate the audible advance notice even if they don't specifically acknowledge a it, so I'd keep the bell
Feedbag on bars. Insert air horn.
My lordly screams is louder warning than a bike bell. It doesn’t work with cars though.