Originally Posted by
dinges
Don't bike come standard with a bell there ? They do here (Netherlands).
Netherlands is different. Most bikes sold there are sold as actual real transportation. Most North American bikes are sold as toys that end up rusting in the shed after the "kid" takes them for a spin a couple of times and then loses interest.
It's a legal requirement to be allowed on the road, along with reflectors (red rear, yellow on the pedals, white rim reflectors on the tyres).
I doubt that side reflectors do much. Anyway, in many places in North America a bell is a legal requirement as well, but a lot of cyclists don't have it, and aren't even aware they're supposed to have one. It's not a huge deal, after all, and isn't often enforced.