Originally Posted by
Reflector Guy
I agree. I bought one (the regular one, not compact) and returned it for a refund after a couple weeks of trying to pretend that high pitched tone was going to be recognizable to pedestrians as a bike bell. It was a nice bell to look at however and only took up minimal space on my handlebar.
What would the bell sound otherwise be recognized as? Its a bell and that sound doesnt naturally exist. If you hear it as a pedestrian, it is clearly not just background noise from woodland creatures so it makes you aware someone is approaching from behind.
Maybe I have been gone from the burbs for too long and there are now sounds that are the same as a high pitched bell so pedestrians there no longer recognize the sound?
The best answer to all this is- ride roads as much as possible and leave MUPs to runners, walkers, and families when possible. That reduces the odds of even needing to use a bell of any kind.