Originally Posted by
choddo
I always think of these on shared use paths. There isn’t really another context where they make sense for me. If someone steps out into the road I’m reaching for the brakes / calling out / taking avoiding action, not thinking about a bell.
And in the shared use path context, I think they sound insistent and assumptive. They also tell the pedestrain nothing about where you intend to go so they just panic.
I am rarely thinking about a bell it is instinctive at this point. I prefer not telling a someone where I am going because then they tend to go in that direction rather than the opposite. If I say on your left they will move left in many cases. If I use a bell they have to look and figure it out even if it is a bit of panic. I am not responsible for their lack of spatial awareness but I also don't want to have to yell at them.
A bell has no emotion and it requires some brain usage on behalf of the listener. If I am saying something to them it is "Coming up behind you" which again requires brain usage which is important when sharing a path. If they don't have to think they will just again here direction and go in that direction and that is not good for anyone.