Originally Posted by
noglider
@
PaulRivers, sometimes, I just ring my bell very gently, but I see your point. What you (and I) want is a passive sound, one that others will know we didn't initiate. I used to ride with a SunTour Perfect freewheel which had a loud ratchet. To warn pedestrians I was close to them, I just coasted. It worked.
I used to click my brake levers. Now I damp my bell with a finger.