Studies show that those who used firearms in a bear situation were more likely to be killed than those who had no protection at all. The same thing applies to human attacks. OTOH, bear spray has been effective in 90% of bear attacks. The other 10% . . .
The trick is apparently to discharge the spray at exactly the right moment.

The thing about the jersey pocket sort of thing is that by the time you get the thing out and the cap off, it's already too late. Wild critters move fast. What you really want is two bear canisters hung around your neck on a cord, ready for use. That's what my Alaskan hunter friends advise. That's quite a look to rock on a bike. They'd dig that in Baltimore.

That guy who had his tent eaten by a wolf on the Alcan could have used some spray, that's for sure.