I don't know where such an attitude comes from. I certainly don't see it on the bike paths of Melbourne. Most likely to get complaints from peds when you call out "bike", along the lines of "Where's your bell ?"ColinOldnCranky wrote:I don't have to use a bell nor do I. A few times I did use one and mostly it was OK but a couple of times I would get a ped self-primed to respond to any cyclist on "her" path ringing a bell. Of course, once the rapidly turned scowling face sees.......
It's really sad when people can be so ready-primed to bitch and complain.
One of the virtues of a bell is that I can ring it for pedestrians no matter how done in I am from that hill-clmb, and it will carry a good distance. If I call "bike approaching" from 30m out it has to be a shout and it sounds too agressive. A bell ring readily carries for that sort of distance, with no tone of malice. I reckon a few on here who seem to get aggro from peds over their bell might just be leaving the dinging a bit too late . 20m away is notification, 2m away is rude.