Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

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andione1983
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Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby andione1983 » Mon Jul 22, 2013 4:57 pm

My bother is a cop and reckons he gave a ticket to a guy for not having a bell? Has anyone been fined for not having a bell on their bicycle? I think he said the fine was $180

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby nescius » Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:11 pm

From the Australian Road Rules, Part 15 - Additional rules for bicycle riders
258 Equipment on a bicycle
A person must not ride a bicycle that does not have:
(a) at least 1 effective brake; and
(b) a bell, horn, or similar warning device, in working
order.
Offence provision.
I've never been fined, and I don't know anyone who has ever been fined for this. I've never been stopped by the police whilst on my bicycle either, I think it's the sort of thing they will ping you for if you fail the attitude test.
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andione1983
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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby andione1983 » Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:18 pm

That's what happened... He was a smart arse on parole and no helmet and something else. So he copped $500 in fines that day and exactly the same in fines the next day... Lol $1000 in two days but as it goes probably will never pay

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby find_bruce » Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:25 pm

Riding without a bell accounts for 2.9% of fines issues to cyclists in NSW, on average roughly 300 per year.

I suspect almost all of those would have been pulled over for something else - see number 1, 2 & 3 on that list.

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby Percrime » Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:29 pm

andione1983 wrote:My bother is a cop and reckons he gave a ticket to a guy for not having a bell? Has anyone been fined for not having a bell on their bicycle? I think he said the fine was $180

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Yep its the law. Its a stupid law....as some of us are perfectly happy using our voices. Its hard to imagine a cop actually so low as to write the ticket but its happened. Make your brother buy his own beer from now on. My bell is mounted on the seatpost.

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby andione1983 » Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:30 pm

Lol he threw the book at him cause he was being a smart arse.. I can understand that lol

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby andione1983 » Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:31 pm

I'm quite happy yelling out.. Coming past.

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby im_no_pro » Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:34 pm

Next time you see someone with a bell on their seatstay, you will know why :lol:
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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby andione1983 » Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:37 pm

im_no_pro wrote:Next time you see someone with a bell on their seatstay, you will know why :lol:
lol

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby RonK » Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:37 pm

??? This is a surprise?
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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby jasonc » Mon Jul 22, 2013 6:32 pm

less than $10 and it saves you a lot more. just have one on your bike.

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby il padrone » Mon Jul 22, 2013 6:38 pm

Has been the road rule for the last 50-70 years or more. Where were you when they took us to the Kew traffic school ??
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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby blkmcs » Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:31 pm

Percrime wrote:
andione1983 wrote:My bother is a cop and reckons he gave a ticket to a guy for not having a bell? Has anyone been fined for not having a bell on their bicycle? I think he said the fine was $180

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Yep its the law. Its a stupid law....as some of us are perfectly happy using our voices. Its hard to imagine a cop actually so low as to write the ticket but its happened. Make your brother buy his own beer from now on. My bell is mounted on the seatpost.
I find it hard to imagine a cyclist so stupid as to not have a bell!
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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby ldrcycles » Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:43 pm

blkmcs wrote: I find it hard to imagine a cyclist so stupid as to not have a bell!
For what purpose other than avoiding a fine or riding on paths? On the road a bell isn't going to do a damn thing, surely you don't think a motorist is going to hear a little 'ting-ting' and not run you down?
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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby greyhoundtom » Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:46 pm

ldrcycles wrote:
blkmcs wrote: I find it hard to imagine a cyclist so stupid as to not have a bell!
For what purpose other than avoiding a fine or riding on paths? On the road a bell isn't going to do a damn thing, surely you don't think a motorist is going to hear a little 'ting-ting' and not run you down?
+1

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby trailgumby » Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:47 pm

blkmcs wrote:I find it hard to imagine a cyclist so stupid as to not have a bell!
Oops! LBS didn't put one on my either of my most recent purchases, and I forgot to get one when I dropped in today :oops:

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby BigPete » Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:49 pm

blkmcs wrote:
Percrime wrote:
andione1983 wrote:My bother is a cop and reckons he gave a ticket to a guy for not having a bell? Has anyone been fined for not having a bell on their bicycle? I think he said the fine was $180

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Yep its the law. Its a stupid law....as some of us are perfectly happy using our voices. Its hard to imagine a cop actually so low as to write the ticket but its happened. Make your brother buy his own beer from now on. My bell is mounted on the seatpost.
I find it hard to imagine a cyclist so stupid as to not have a bell!

Why is a cyclist stupid not to have a bell?
I don't have a bell on one of my bikes after it broke. I never used it while it was on the bike and more importantly it takes up valuable handle bar space for other items that I do use.

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby Paul B » Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:50 pm

[/quote]
I find it hard to imagine a cyclist so stupid as to not have a bell![/quote]

That is a joke ... right ??
Image

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby il padrone » Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:50 pm

ldrcycles wrote:
blkmcs wrote: I find it hard to imagine a cyclist so stupid as to not have a bell!
For what purpose other than avoiding a fine or riding on paths? On the road a bell isn't going to do a damn thing, surely you don't think a motorist is going to hear a little 'ting-ting' and not run you down?
Yep. To meet your legal obligation.


Geez we ask the same of motorists who use a mobile phone or don't stop right on the stop line :roll:


BTW two of my bikes don't have bells, and I'm OK with taking the chances on them. They don't get ridden too much, and not usually on bike paths. But I don't begrudge the rule.
Last edited by il padrone on Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby g-boaf » Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:51 pm

ldrcycles wrote:
blkmcs wrote: I find it hard to imagine a cyclist so stupid as to not have a bell!
For what purpose other than avoiding a fine or riding on paths? On the road a bell isn't going to do a damn thing, surely you don't think a motorist is going to hear a little 'ting-ting' and not run you down?
Smartest thing I've read on here in a while. And the little ding-ding doesn't do much on cycle ways either. You need the Airzound for those occasions so that the ipod users can hear you.

For the OP - I suggest you search for the topic "To ding or not to ding" to see pages and pages of endless deliberation on the topic. :lol:
Last edited by g-boaf on Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby WyvernRH » Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:51 pm

blkmcs wrote:I find it hard to imagine a cyclist so stupid as to not have a bell!
Ah that would be me then.
Think of a square built chap about 5' 8" tall, bald (tho you can't tell under the helmet) with a short gray beard wearing Ground Effect no-logo cycling gear riding a steel gray Claud Butler that has never seen a bell in 40 years.
See, not much imagination required at all... :P
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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby Percrime » Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:53 pm

A bell has a place in some persons repertoire of polite behavior. To me using it in its only useful role of warning peds on a shared path it seems a slightly imperious "get out of the way peasant" thing. Especially when done to me. (I know its usually not meant that way...its just how I feel) I prefer a polite "Passing" But by all means call me 'stupid' for believing that a bell does not actually make anyone safer. Do use yours when a truck pulls out in front. I,ll use the brakes.

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Last edited by Percrime on Mon Jul 22, 2013 8:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby jcjordan » Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:59 pm

greyhoundtom wrote:
ldrcycles wrote:
blkmcs wrote: I find it hard to imagine a cyclist so stupid as to not have a bell!
For what purpose other than avoiding a fine or riding on paths? On the road a bell isn't going to do a damn thing, surely you don't think a motorist is going to hear a little 'ting-ting' and not run you down?
+1
+1

Bells have in my experience proven to do more harm than good.

Pedestrians have no idea what this piddly ding noise means so they either ignore it or stop suddenly to investigate.

They then move on front of you as you try and maneuver around them.

Better to voice your actions.

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby g-boaf » Mon Jul 22, 2013 8:00 pm

Prefer to call out passing on the right instead, along with slowing down now. I can speed up again pretty fast so I don't lose much time.

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Re: Apparently it's law to have a bell on a bike?

Postby lucky7 » Mon Jul 22, 2013 8:05 pm

My cousin got stopped by Police while riding, and (I suspect amongst other things) was asked to show the Aus Standards stickers inside his helmet. Unsure of the interaction that may have preceded this, but that is surely one step beyond fining for no bell?

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