Pedestrians and 'the bell'
Soundbox
Posts: 6,243 Forum Member
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Each day I cycle 5 miles along the canal towpath (its a shared cycle and footpath) and of course there are people walking along too which have as much priority as me. I have two methods of letting them know I am behind and would like to pass - ringing the bell at them or speaking to them.
I used to use the bell, however some people took this as 'pushy' and instead of moving to one side chose to ignore the ringing and just carry on walking.
I then tried what I consider to be the better option, slowing down to their speed and speaking to them politely "excuse me, please may I pass by" and "thank you" after passing but this seems to upset people more. They get quite uppity "you scared me half to death - why don't you use the bell" or some other moan.
I don't understand it - there am I with a smile and trying to be nice and all I get is moaning. It's not like cyclists are unexpected - its quite a busy route.
Any suggestions on how to get past without issue?
I used to use the bell, however some people took this as 'pushy' and instead of moving to one side chose to ignore the ringing and just carry on walking.
I then tried what I consider to be the better option, slowing down to their speed and speaking to them politely "excuse me, please may I pass by" and "thank you" after passing but this seems to upset people more. They get quite uppity "you scared me half to death - why don't you use the bell" or some other moan.
I don't understand it - there am I with a smile and trying to be nice and all I get is moaning. It's not like cyclists are unexpected - its quite a busy route.
Any suggestions on how to get past without issue?
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Comments
You could also buy one of these for the benefit of people wearing headphones - http://www.airzound.co.uk
Although for the record, only once have I used my AirZound on a pedestrian and that's because they walked gaily off the kerb looking at their phone without a care in the world.
what if they`re deaf? i`m hearing impaired and i don`t always hear a bell, an air horn right behind could easily make someone jump INTO your path or the road, canal, hedge other cyclists or pedestrians.
You will avoid all confrontation too if you did the above.
I have tried this method - getting off, walking briskly and then say excuse me to pass and even that got me moaned at.
I wish more people were like the school kids I pass - I say 'scuse me, they move over a bit, give me a smile (which I reciprocate) and we're all on our way.
I personally would like to see cycle/bike sharing paths banned I had to jump out of the way last week when one cyclist over took another and the only place he had to go was at me I had to jump onto the grass.
The standard advice for cyclists using shared paths is to ring the bell when coming up behind anyone, regardless if they're in your way. It's a simple courtesy to avoid surprises.
But no, people like you think it's "rude".
Great idea. Let's make the paths exclusive for cyclists.
However, it is difficult if people are deaf or have headphones on, as you have no real right to pass or get angry if they don't move.
I slow on approach and speak politely. This usually works. A friend I mountain bike with (canal towpaths form a small part of our repertoire) has a sort of whistling leitmotif he uses whenever he approaches people. That also seems to work most of the time but irritates the hell out of me.
i`m guessing you aren`t going to blast your airhorn once you`re past and you wouldn`t have to be that close up for an airhorn to make a person jump.
And your reply is so polite in every sentence.
Being tinkled at is rude you have no more right to move me out of the way than I have to move you if you can't get past. WAIT.
*sorry
I didn't intend it to be.
And you have no right to block my route if there's plenty space for us to share the path. Which is why I would ring my bell.
Why would you be moving me if I can't get past?
It's a shared path no more than 1.5 meters wide so not possible to pass safely without us both taking care otherwise there is a risk of going into the canal (which I have seen happen).
It happens along the canal towpath near where I live. I think if its quiet enough, I should be able to hear if someone is approaching because you can hear the noise of the bike wheels scrunching the stones on the ground, perhaps? one ring should be fine for me personally, since my hearing is quite good but what does my head in is/are cyclists who ring their bell multiple times continuously and bike fast.
I don't tend to move in right to the far side of the path and stop walking just to let them through, as in my estimations there should be more than enough room for them to pass, as long as no-one is coming the other way, so I just move to the side of the path but I keep moving as when im walking along there, I'm doing a half hour walk whre im supposed to keep my heart rate above a certain level, yadda yadda. As long as there's enough room for people to pass then I don't see the issue? but I think the only thing I really dislike is when people fly along the path and only warn people by ringing their bell, maybe 3/4/5 times. If we, as pedestrians, are expected by them to slow down for them and we're both equally allowed to use the path, why don't they slow down a little too?.
I'm sure there are plenty of well behaved, pleasant cyclists too, just there are numerous pushy ones as well. It actually stresses me out when I hear the bell rung so many times - a bit ironic considering such walks are supposed to be a form of de-stressing, which I apparently really need(!).
ETA - the other thing thats ocassionally happens, which genuinely baffles me, is if they ring their bell, I move in to the side, their still a bit behind me so I keep moving, they ring their bell again and I stop for a moment, briefly, just so they'll go past as their right behind me and so they'll get out of my way and they keep ringing it again! like what more can I do, honestly? head back home?. If its a child then I suppose I let that go as they probably don't realise its rude, though I'd hope their parent(s) would tell them not to over use the bell but if its an adult, there's no excuse as far as im concerned. One ring on the approach is enough, surely? not that it does any good if the pedestrian is listening to an iPod or something - they probably can't hear you anyway. I'm not sure what the answer is as such - wider paths ideally(!).
Try steering your bicycle around people.
Here's an idea. How about, you know, just being nice? It takes no effort for someone to move over a bit if someone is coming up behind you. It's got nothing to do with rights, just don't be an arsehole. I don't like buzzing past people on a bike as it sometimes surprises them, so even if there is room I will normally make sure they know I'm there.
I find it better to slow and say "Hi, excuse me" than ring a bell, it's just a bit more personable. Usually followed up with "lovely day/miserable weather eh?" and "thank you".
press then :rolleyes :, it`s still loud enough to cause a fright.
if there`s room to go round safely why would you need to ring your bell.
How about you just stop your bike until there is room to pass and don't be an arsehole expecting people to move out of your way.
I take it you hold the same view of car drivers attempting to pass bicyclists on a road?
I bet you wouldn't like it a car, bus or lorry tooted there horn at you everytime they wanted to pass, do you move your bike to the side of the road everytime a faster vehicle wants to pass?
And if you think I'm going to amble on behind you for several miles, you are very much mistaken. Luckily, I've never encountered anyone like you in real life!
Consideration makes the world go round.