Advocacy & Safety - "Buy a bell ya hippy!!"

I forgot to post this, but a while ago I was riding home on some of the bike trails that run throughout Columbia. I came up behind a guy walking a little dog that was trotting all over the path on one of those long Flexi leashes. I slowed down considerably (I was doing a brisk 17mph or so) to a walking pace,maybe 4 mph, and calmly said, "coming around on your left" loud enough for him to hear me. He whips around like I tazed him and quips "You know if you would slow down and buy a bell you wouldn't have this kind of problem!"

I quit goat thinkin' and whipped back with "What, and miss your glowing personality?" and powered off.

He yelled something after me but I didn't hear it, I was too busy chuckling to myself. This kind of problem? Would you rather just have a random ding that gives you no indication of where in the hell I am? Love me some holier than thou d-bags and their yappy little dogs.

bells rule on the MUP. survey says.. "Bell"

Eh, they're so impersonal. I'd rather talk to people instead of 'honking' at them. It makes sense on a car because of higher speeds and the fact that you're enclosed, but on a bike, good old fashioned personal contact is still an option. Hell, that's part of the reason I like them so much.

I'd rather peter along talking to someone than ding a tiny bell at them and blow by without a word.

The sound of your unexpected voice probably startled him. A bell might have been a better solution. I don't find any fault with your action/reaction. However the "d-bag" comment is a little harsh, considering you don't know the man at all. (Yappy little dog's not withstanding).

I prefer one of these; http://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/readitem.pl?Accessory=1015625493

Next time blast one of these at him, from at least 100' away, to get his attention.

I forgot to mention the dirty look, the fact he was on a cellphone at the time, and the fake tan. That and the tone of voice should make the d-bag comment a bit more justified.

That and I tend to be a little harsh.

I prefer one of these; http://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/readitem.pl?Accessory=1015625493

Next time blast one of these at him, from at least 100' away, to get his attention.

Who didn't see a response like that coming?

I forgot to mention the dirty look, the fact he was on a cellphone at the time, and the fake tan. That and the tone of voice should make the d-bag comment a bit more justified.

That and I tend to be a little harsh.

And immature, obviously.

Either that or an uncanny judge of character.

Sometimes they get mad at you no matter what you do.

Just avoid the MUP at all cost, they are worthless. But if you must ride on one, then definitely use a bell. The "ring ring" bell is actually very pleasant, and universally announces you as a cyclist. People instantly recognize it, they don't need to process the words that they are hearing when you say "on your left" or some such thing.

On many occasions I'll be coming up on pedestrians, ring the bell from a distance, and without even looking back the pedestrians will simply move over to let me through.

The paths through Columbia are actually pretty interesting and a nice change to the roads during rush hour. They're usually fairly empty during week days so it's usually not a problem.

I 'get' bells and that people accept them as being handy, but I'd rather slow down for a second, say hi to someone, let them know I'm coming by, give them a smile, maybe even throw out a comment about the weather. I know I could do all of that with a ding but eh, I dunno, just seems impersonal.

Guess it's just my immaturity :D Hi from another Ducati owner, I ride an '07 Monster.

Bells are trumped by ipods.

whipped back with "What, and miss your glowing personality?" and powered off.

:lol::roflmao2::lol::roflmao2::lol:

Now that's what I like to hear in an A&S thread!

-Kurt

Eh, they're so impersonal. I'd rather talk to people instead of 'honking' at them. It makes sense on a car because of higher speeds and the fact that you're enclosed, but on a bike, good old fashioned personal contact is still an option. Hell, that's part of the reason I like them so much.


I agree, but you can ring the bell and still exchange a pleasant "hello" or whatever as you're passing. People often turn and smile when a grown man is riding past them on a bike ringing a ridiculous little bell. That's my experience, anyway :)

I find that if someone can look at me in stretchy pants and keep a straight face, they can't be trusted.

My typical riding kit:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_02zlkdaxXDs/Sdan5Tu2fsI/AAAAAAAABik/KoscxeSpPsM/s400/nacho-libre.jpg

I quit goat thinkin' and whipped back with "What, and miss your glowing personality?" and powered off.


Brilliant. :roflmao2:

I prefer one of these; http://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/readitem.pl?Accessory=1015625493

Next time blast one of these at him, from at least 100' away, to get his attention.

I have got to get me one of those!


Sometimes they get mad at you no matter what you do.

I was thinking the same thing, especially if you starteled them.


Bells are trumped by ipods.

And bells are so gay.

I do not like bells.

When a few of the peds became a problem on the “Bike Path” (as in illegal for peds to be on), I adjusted my V-brakes such that a very light touch (no real braking power) would cause them to squeal. As I approached the rude peds that were taking up both sides of the “Bike Path”, I would squeal my brakes, watch the peds jump off the path and as I passed at speed would say “thank you”.

Now for those that think it is hard to adjust brakes so they will not squeal at all, try adjusting them so they only squeal without any braking power.

I heard the same thing from a ped the other day. I've always thought I could yell much louder than a bell. Besides, it just doesn't look "Cool" on my roadie!

In MD they are required I believe.

And if you used a bell the little yapper would have expressed a Pavlovian Response and the owner would have had to stop to feed him. Some people exist forthe sole purpose of being miserable.

This seems a such a small problem that one wonders why it is even mentioned. But then, here I am typing away.

I forgot to post this, but a while ago I was riding home on some of the bike trails that run throughout Columbia. I came up behind a guy walking a little dog that was trotting all over the path on one of those long Flexi leashes. I slowed down considerably (I was doing a brisk 17mph or so) to a walking pace,maybe 4 mph, and calmly said, "coming around on your left" loud enough for him to hear me. He whips around like I tazed him and quips "You know if you would slow down and buy a bell you wouldn't have this kind of problem!"

I quit goat thinkin' and whipped back with "What, and miss your glowing personality?" and powered off.

He yelled something after me but I didn't hear it, I was too busy chuckling to myself. This kind of problem? Would you rather just have a random ding that gives you no indication of where in the hell I am? Love me some holier than thou d-bags and their yappy little dogs.

On the bike or on foot in front of the biker, I do prefer a bell to "On your left!"

Which do you guys prefer: the "ring-ring" bell, or the "ding"? The latter seems to be more common nowadays.

Which do you guys prefer: the "ring-ring" bell, or the "ding"? The latter seems to be more common nowadays.

I have the monster hamburger sized "ring-ring" bell. It is *the* bell noise. There is no mistaking it for some wussy little dainty ding. Those types of bells are for meditating to in a zen garden or something :)

I've got a dainty little "ting ting" thing, it's so frikkin gay it's not funny, but that's why I have it. Most of my fellow MUPpets hear my dainty little 'ding ding' and turn around expecting a 4 year old on a tricycle or a gay couple named Tristan and Roger in matching fluro tracksuits and carrying man-bags. When they see a 240lb guy that looks a lot like a Guantanamo inmate they go into spasms as they clear the way.

I've got a dainty little "ting ting" thing, it's so frikkin gay it's not funny, but that's why I have it. Most of my fellow MUPpets hear my dainty little 'ding ding' and turn around expecting a 4 year old on a tricycle or a gay couple named Tristan and Roger in matching fluro tracksuits and carrying man-bags. When they see a 240lb guy that looks a lot like a Guantanamo inmate they go into spasms as they clear the way.

:roflmao2: I think those guys ride in the state park across from my neighborhood.

I was behind a older lady and said "behind you" she was startled, turned around to look, stepped off the path in a hole and went down. I stopped to help her up, but I felt bad for scaring her even though I was quite a ways off when I told her I was coming up.

Which do you guys prefer: the "ring-ring" bell, or the "ding"? The latter seems to be more common nowadays.

(they are only more common because they're cheap I think)

ring ring all the way :)

In MD they are required I believe.

Mandatory bell equipment was removed in 2006 for Maryland.

Zing zing...bells are for hippies, who knew?? :)

Which do you guys prefer: the "ring-ring" bell, or the "ding"? The latter seems to be more common nowadays.


I have the "ding" it's OK

I prefer the "ring-ring"...

But my absolute favorite is the "ding -dong"

Sounds like the doorbell from Leave it to Beaver...

It's fun to have a "ring-ring" AND a "ding-dong" and use them both...:D

I've got bells on both my commuter and my road bike. In fact, I put a bell on my road bike last week precisely because it's so silly. My girlfriend has two bells on her commuter, exactly an octave apart. It's a rather eerie effect. A buddy of mine as one of those air horns, and holy crap is it loud. Even when you're expecting it it's still startling. I'm seriously considering it...

And immature, obviously.

Ok I have got to ask this and please don't take it the wrong way. Are you a pacifist or passive?

I am also going to put one of these on my bike; http://www.wolo-mfg.com/001-002-003-big.jpg The one I am going to get will play the Dukes of Hazard Dixie.

Ok I have got to ask this and please don't take it the wrong way. Are you a pacifist or passive?

My guess he/she is a pompous elitist.

My guess he/she is a pompous elitist.

You never know, they might be the Heir to the Massengil fortune.

My guess he/she is a pompous elitist.

Satire aside there is a time to be passive and a time to not be.

I think a bell from 30ft away is less startling than a voice from 5ft away, and a voice from 30ft away is either unintelligible ("on my what side now?") or sounds pissed off because it's shouting.

Basically a bell sounds like 'bike coming through' and saying 'on your left' sounds like someone is saying something.

And brring-briiing over ding any day of the week.

I ride on an MUP for a few miles on some of my rides, and I've noticed that youngsters (i.e. anyone younger than me!) are often puzzled or freaked out by bells, because they don't know what they are. But the last time I passed a couple old ladies out for an afternoon stroll, one of them commented about how nice it was to hear a bicycle bell. YMMV.

I have a brring-brring bell on my commuter, a ding bell (Japanese brass) on my touring bike, and a ding-ding bell on my folder.

I prefer one of these; http://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/readitem.pl?Accessory=1015625493

I was thinking this too.:D

But <in Darth Vader voice> never underestimate the power of the bike bell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtv2_-2mHck:D

But <in Darth Vader voice> never underestimate the power of the bike bell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtv2_-2mHck:D

:roflmao2: I loved the scenes on the escalator and shopping aisle.

I was thinking this too.:D

But <in Darth Vader voice> never underestimate the power of the bike bell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtv2_-2mHck:D

I wonder if that would work while navigating though Wal Mart.

I think it's a Pavlovian thing that only works in Japan.;):D

My wife and kids are Japanese and they think that, because it's so true, that clip is hilarious .:lol:

I wonder if that would work while navigating though Wal Mart.In a Hawaii Wal-Mart, most defiantly, as half the people blocking the isles are Japanese tourist.

ha ive been walking and someone got me with a "on your left" completely by surprise i almost fell over but i regained composure. i think when anyone yells something at anyone it has the ability to make you flinch and some people get real offended when they get shook and must retaliate either verbally or violently. think about when people sneak up on you with a good yell out the passenger side. i know it makes my rage burn. hahah but thats far from warning someone of your presence. im just saying some people just get angry when they get scared its a natural thing.

i think when anyone yells something at anyone it has the ability to make you flinch

"I think" that when you are speaking of the phrase "on your left," you should be more careful about accusing all users of it as "yelling."

-Kurt

Just get one of those bells that hangs down and attach it to the frame (like all the Harley's do). I don't remember the purpose, but it's for luck or something, and it will ding peacefully while you ride. You won't hear it after awhile, and it will let grumpy old men walking their foo foo dogs a warning!

Just get one of those bells that hangs down and attach it to the frame (like all the Harley's do).I am pretty sure what you are seeing is the horn.