I will say with years of experience that a BELL works 10x better than your voice. I don't see how a bell could possibly offend anyone, but if it did, screw them. I'm more concerned with keeping myself and everyone else safe.

That video above is pretty accurate for the states too. Much of the time they don't even turn around. They know it's a bicycle and scoot to their right.

LOL at the escalator btw.