Shall I sound my bell, shout, wait patiently 'till they.....

[rheicel]

Shall I sound my bell, shout, wait patiently 'till they notice me, or just avoid shared path?

I was in a good mood this morning to start with, planning to go out and do at least 50 km cycling. While I was in the Artarmon shared path I noticed theres a lot of pedestrian walking. This leads me to decrease my speed to about 15-20 kph.

The first batch I encounter was a bunch of dudes mix of middle age guys and some teenies. I sounded my bell politely, as they are occupying both lane of the the shared path. While they gave some room for me to pass them, I heard some background trash talk ...something like that bell is really annoying. I was in a good mood, had only done about 8 km, so I pretend I did not hear that.

The second batch were conscious, a family (husband/wife/baby/4-6yo boy in a kids bike ) in single line on the left side and they saw me before I even saw them. I greeted them Good Morning and the young boy greeted back. This group is really encouraging and cancels out my first encounter above.

Still in a good mood, I met the third group. Two mommies, one granny, and 2 babies in a pram. They are obviously chatting while walking, thinking they own the shared path. I reduced my speed so that I can just stay at their back, thinking that if they notice me, they will give me some space to pass them. After a couple of metres following them, they heard my freewheel noise and started giving space for me to pass. The only problem is that one of the mommy started shouting at me, "WHERE IS YOUR BELL?", YOU SHOULD RING YOUR BELL!, BLAH bLAH BLAH!

After that, I thought I am not having a good morning, decided to ride on the road, go up to Chatswood, Lane Cove National Park and head back home completing only 23km and not even half of what I am intending to do. Sigh!

I just don't know what to do with some pedestrians. I am riding alone, how much more if they see a group of at least 8/10 riders passing them. Anyway, happy Anzac day to all!

[Hergest]

Just ring your bell, that's what it's for. If someone gives you grief once you've gone past, well bugger 'em.

[find_bruce]

I found gently tapping ipeds on the shoulder got my pointy across very effectively

[bychosis]

Please refer 'to ding or not to ding' very long thread.

[HappyHumber]

On the occasion I get similar grief, I just reply with the dismissive "Damned if I do, Damned if don't" and leave it at that.

[roller]

After that, I thought I am not having a good morning, decided to ride on the road, go up to Chatswood, Lane Cove National Park and head back home completing only 23km and not even half of what I am intending to do. Sigh!

fragile work ethic, on anzac day too, i bet some of the soldiers landing on gallipoli would have liked to have gone home after being met with bullets and the occasional grenade.



j/k.

[warthog1]

just avoid shared path?

If it is possible to avoid it then that is your solution I reckon.

[Marty Moose]

I call out riders and thank them for moving if they do so.

[Baalzamon]

Would you rather I sound my air horn. I'll stop and let you get 50m infront then blast it. Ride back up and then get your opinion, bell or horn

[TTar]

I found gently tapping ipeds on the shoulder got my pointy across very effectively

That sounds like fun, but could end badly for the rider if the iPed's psycho or litigious.

I've taken to sounding the valve from a rubber chicken squeeze toy as a last resort -- it expresses duck more than chicken and seems to penetrate. My theory is the iPeds, however deeply they're buried under their noise, do hear the bell, but just dismiss it as part of the music. A quacking duck sound-effect would be a rarity on the youngsters' playlists, I imagine.

I've had cause to deploy it only twice so far and it's proven a most entertaining iPed Clearance Device. It'll be even better when I perfect the art of acting like we've just been swooped by a loopy duck.

[Lukeyboy]

Just shout NO BRAKKKEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS LOOOOOOOK OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT! That'll get them to move out of your way

Another option is to buy some small speakers and play the Jaws music louder and louder as you get closer and closer Either that or some Wagner as you form attack formation

[rheicel]

Just shout NO BRAKKKEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS LOOOOOOOK OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT! That'll get them to move out of your way

Another option is to buy some small speakers and play the Jaws music louder and louder as you get closer and closer Either that or some Wagner as you form attack formation

Good idea, thanks.
I wonder if there are available bicycle bells or horns that will set the mood of the pedestrians to a good mode! Same like a hypnotising machine!

[wombatK]

Either that or some Wagner as you form attack formation

You mean like

I like where your head is at, but think you'd need to have a squadron of 8 or 9 cyclists
for the trick to work...

[Mulger bill]

Just shout NO BRAKKKEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS LOOOOOOOK OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT! That'll get them to move out of your way

Another option is to buy some small speakers and play the Jaws music louder and louder as you get closer and closer Either that or some Wagner as you form attack formation

Good idea, thanks.
I wonder if there are available bicycle bells or horns that will set the mood of the pedestrians to a good mode! Same like a hypnotising machine!

Try one of THESE, you can youtube it for the sound.

[rheicel]

Just shout NO BRAKKKEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS LOOOOOOOK OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT! That'll get them to move out of your way

Another option is to buy some small speakers and play the Jaws music louder and louder as you get closer and closer Either that or some Wagner as you form attack formation

Good idea, thanks.
I wonder if there are available bicycle bells or horns that will set the mood of the pedestrians to a good mode! Same like a hypnotising machine!

Try one of THESE, you can youtube it for the sound.

Nice find.... Would be good to know how to keep it handy while cycling. I have seen the youtube video, sounds like a police, lol

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[wombatK]

Nice find.... Would be good to know how to keep it handy while cycling.

And even better to know how to spit it out quickly enough when you
face plant because the peds jumped the wrong way

[Mulger bill]

Nice find.... Would be good to know how to keep it handy while cycling. I have seen the youtube video, sounds like a police, lol

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

One of these hooked to the shoulder strap of the backpack. Easy to grab and impossible to drop. In known zomped spots like say... anywhere in Melbs CBD, I usually have it ready for instant use. You can get lots of different sounds out them with practice but the full blast scream is always the attention getter.

[trailgumby]

Great find, MB. The reaction would be priceless

[g-boaf]

Shall I sound my bell, shout, wait patiently 'till they notice me, or just avoid shared path?

I was in a good mood this morning to start with, planning to go out and do at least 50 km cycling. While I was in the Artarmon shared path I noticed theres a lot of pedestrian walking. This leads me to decrease my speed to about 15-20 kph.

The first batch I encounter was a bunch of dudes mix of middle age guys and some teenies. I sounded my bell politely, as they are occupying both lane of the the shared path. While they gave some room for me to pass them, I heard some background trash talk ...something like that bell is really annoying. I was in a good mood, had only done about 8 km, so I pretend I did not hear that.

The second batch were conscious, a family (husband/wife/baby/4-6yo boy in a kids bike ) in single line on the left side and they saw me before I even saw them. I greeted them Good Morning and the young boy greeted back. This group is really encouraging and cancels out my first encounter above.

Still in a good mood, I met the third group. Two mommies, one granny, and 2 babies in a pram. They are obviously chatting while walking, thinking they own the shared path. I reduced my speed so that I can just stay at their back, thinking that if they notice me, they will give me some space to pass them. After a couple of metres following them, they heard my freewheel noise and started giving space for me to pass. The only problem is that one of the mommy started shouting at me, "WHERE IS YOUR BELL?", YOU SHOULD RING YOUR BELL!, BLAH bLAH BLAH!

After that, I thought I am not having a good morning, decided to ride on the road, go up to Chatswood, Lane Cove National Park and head back home completing only 23km and not even half of what I am intending to do. Sigh!

I just don't know what to do with some pedestrians. I am riding alone, how much more if they see a group of at least 8/10 riders passing them. Anyway, happy Anzac day to all!

You are actually supposed to get off your bike and go past them on foot. If they are runners or fast walkers, you'll need to run so you get far enough ahead of them so they can't overtake you again.

And while doing that, you must not unreasonably block them, as they have right of way to do as they want!

Otherwise - you might get some speakers and play the opening of Orff's Carmina Burana - O Fortuna...

[high_tea]

Sigh. Cyclists must give way to pedestrians. Pedestrians must not unreasonably obstruct, well, anybody. Oh, and cyclists must not cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver or pedestrian. That's the legal situation, roughly speaking. How it follows from this that pedestrians have "right of way to do as they want" is beyond me.

To the OP: It is my experience, too, that pleasing everybody you come across is basically impossible. I will mention that squealing brakes are good for focussing pedestrians' minds.

Oh, and if I had to choose music, it would be "For Whom the Bell Tolls". My highbrow pick would be the 1812 Overture. The bit with the artillery, natch

[rheicel]

Sigh. Cyclists must give way to pedestrians. Pedestrians must not unreasonably obstruct, well, anybody. Oh, and cyclists must not cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver or pedestrian. That's the legal situation, roughly speaking. How it follows from this that pedestrians have "right of way to do as they want" is beyond me.

To the OP: It is my experience, too, that pleasing everybody you come across is basically impossible. I will mention that squealing brakes are good for focussing pedestrians' minds.

Oh, and if I had to choose music, it would be "For Whom the Bell Tolls". My highbrow pick would be the 1812 Overture. The bit with the artillery, natch

Yeah you are right, it is always going to be hard to please everybody. Why can't all people be cyclist!

[Walst]

On the occasion I get similar grief, I just reply with the dismissive "Damned if I do, Damned if don't" and leave it at that.

That's my attitude too.

Comments and verbal abuse are the least of my worries on a commute.

In the OP's situation I'd probably give a cheeky ding-ding after receiving the expert advice.

[rheicel]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts guys! I've decided I will just keep on using my bell and if they get annoyed by it, I will just pretend I never hear them (which is most of the time, hard!)