Alerting people to your presence.
Discussion
What do people use to make others aware of their approach.
I am cycling mainly on routes so have the usual walkers, horse riders etc etc.
I am shouting excuse me which is mainly effective but sometimes wonder if there is a better solution.
Not convinced a bell is the most manly option.
I am cycling mainly on routes so have the usual walkers, horse riders etc etc.
I am shouting excuse me which is mainly effective but sometimes wonder if there is a better solution.
Not convinced a bell is the most manly option.
I've ordered a couple of these for my road bike and MTB. Haven't been delivered yet but hopefully will be decent!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/-oi/oi-the-bi...
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/-oi/oi-the-bi...
dirtbiker said:
I've ordered a couple of these for my road bike and MTB. Haven't been delivered yet but hopefully will be decent!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/-oi/oi-the-bi...
Looks like another great Knog bike product. Why are they using Kickstarter? https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/-oi/oi-the-bi...
Can I make a plea for cyclists to use a bell, please? As a walker I cannot hear you approaching and a gentle tinkle from a reasonable distance to allow me to lookup or behind me and clear a path for you would save me being startled and you from having to brake.
I'm also a cyclist and I use this method.
It works.
I'm also a cyclist and I use this method.
It works.
I use a bell, and sometimes it doesn't work. Occasionally it makes things worse, where I've only sounded it to alert pedestrians to my approach because the passing space is limited. Then when I ding the bell the group fractures and fills the entire path until they get it together again.
Although if I see a runner in headphones it brings out my inner knob-head and I don't make any attempt at communicating my approach, preferring to laugh as they jump out of their skins.
I've also cycled straight at the 'head down, engrossed in phone' types, and come to a halt directly in front of them. Then I wait for them to either walk into me, or they walk around, just to prove a point.
Mostly though, even if I was trying for a Strava KOM at the time, I just slow down and speak to a person. Sometimes it'll turn into a conversation, and once I got reacquainted with a former colleague this way. It works especially well with 'orses and 'orsey types. Slow right down, say a loud "good morning" or whatever, and ask if they're happy for me to pass. I even rode along with an army officer out on his 'hunter' on the local MOD training area. Just behave like a civilised human being and people tend to treat you like one.
Although if I see a runner in headphones it brings out my inner knob-head and I don't make any attempt at communicating my approach, preferring to laugh as they jump out of their skins.
I've also cycled straight at the 'head down, engrossed in phone' types, and come to a halt directly in front of them. Then I wait for them to either walk into me, or they walk around, just to prove a point.
Mostly though, even if I was trying for a Strava KOM at the time, I just slow down and speak to a person. Sometimes it'll turn into a conversation, and once I got reacquainted with a former colleague this way. It works especially well with 'orses and 'orsey types. Slow right down, say a loud "good morning" or whatever, and ask if they're happy for me to pass. I even rode along with an army officer out on his 'hunter' on the local MOD training area. Just behave like a civilised human being and people tend to treat you like one.
yellowjack said:
...Although if I see a runner in headphones it brings out my inner knob-head and I don't make any attempt at communicating my approach, preferring to laugh as they jump out of their skins.
I've also cycled straight at the 'head down, engrossed in phone' types, and come to a halt directly in front of them. Then I wait for them to either walk into me, or they walk around, just to prove a point..
At least you recognise you're being a "knob-head" I've also cycled straight at the 'head down, engrossed in phone' types, and come to a halt directly in front of them. Then I wait for them to either walk into me, or they walk around, just to prove a point..
but tow-paths are for everyone not just cyclists so I'm puzzled to know exactly what point you're trying to prove?RichB said:
yellowjack said:
...Although if I see a runner in headphones it brings out my inner knob-head and I don't make any attempt at communicating my approach, preferring to laugh as they jump out of their skins.
I've also cycled straight at the 'head down, engrossed in phone' types, and come to a halt directly in front of them. Then I wait for them to either walk into me, or they walk around, just to prove a point..
At least you recognise you're being a "knob-head" I've also cycled straight at the 'head down, engrossed in phone' types, and come to a halt directly in front of them. Then I wait for them to either walk into me, or they walk around, just to prove a point..
but tow-paths are for everyone not just cyclists so I'm puzzled to know exactly what point you're trying to prove?No, the incidents with the runners in headphones tend to be on wide gravel fire roads on local military training areas. They deserve their 'mild scares' because they've shut themselves off to the world and no amount of bells ,whistles, horns or shouts seems to be able to shake them out of their "zone". I'd do it to headphoned cyclists too, to be fair, but I've not seen many hereabouts.
The straight at the head-down phone user? That was on a wide, clearly marked cycle path. This doofus was walking, like so many other dimwit pedestrians, on the wrong side of a solid white line. I can't go round him, because that would mean crossing onto the clearly marked pedestrian only side, and I can't afford the FPN
It wasn't dangerous, either. I didn't ride into him, just stopped, as you would as the driver of a car, for example, safely and in good time. Then I let his distraction with the phone bring him to me. Only when he saw my front wheel directly in front of his feet did he look up and come to a rapid halt, and then gather himself together, walk around me only to re-establish himself on the cyclist's side of the path. For this reason I seldom ride on cycle paths that are painted onto 'Footways' as I prefer the relative safety of the carriageway thanks all the same.Apologies if I missed a reference to tow-paths in the OP - I was on about more general situations. Like I said, my road biking tends to be on more rural roads with no separate footway, my 'utility' cycling on the carriageways of urban roads, and my off-road cycling on bridleways, byways, official MTB trail centres and local MOD land. If I'm going to ride tow paths I yield priority to EVERYONE, as I don't want to end up in the canal, nor cause anyone else to get a dunking. I try to do that only occasionally, and then when I know it's going to be quiet too.
I use my bell. However you'd be amazed by the number of people who confuse the ding of a bell with you shouting 'get the f
k out of my way'. Or at least their reaction suggests so. Also many people are just on another planet altogether even when not plugged into a phone. A bell does 'say' cyclist coming through more than calling out though IMO.
k out of my way'. Or at least their reaction suggests so. Also many people are just on another planet altogether even when not plugged into a phone. A bell does 'say' cyclist coming through more than calling out though IMO.Whistle a daft tune, "Colonel Bogey " , " the National Anthem", "Eastenders Theme" LOUDLY everyone looks, its more friendly than a bell which is sometime equated with a car horn. Always say "thanks", not "thank you" as this can sometimes be misheard when going past.Never really had a problem when people do hear me.
Of course as others have suggested some with earphones or are genuinely hard of hearing this is not going to work.
Of course as others have suggested some with earphones or are genuinely hard of hearing this is not going to work.
batbuilder92 said:
Whistle a daft tune, "Colonel Bogey " , " the National Anthem", "Eastenders Theme" LOUDLY everyone looks, its more friendly than a bell which is sometime equated with a car horn. Always say "thanks", not "thank you" as this can sometimes be misheard when going past.Never really had a problem when people do hear me.
Of course as others have suggested some with earphones or are genuinely hard of hearing this is not going to work.
Looks like I will have to change my ways as have always said 'thank you'.Of course as others have suggested some with earphones or are genuinely hard of hearing this is not going to work.
Thanks for the tip.
If its morning: Morning!
If its afternoon: Afternoon!
Evening...yep....Evening!
Often I usually say the above even if they dont need to move over!
Job Jobbed
I usually give them a smile and say thanks when they move over, everyone happy, no issues, no complaining that "everyone in life is rude" etc
Ive tried bells, but people done hear them until its too close, I guess the weather can mask high pitch noises and your ear fails to detect higher pitch as you get older, also the horses often hear the bell, but not the riders
Just gottta treat others how you want to be treated and ignore the idiots
I do think some riders dont realise how fast they are going , or the speed difference between walkers and cyclists even when you slow down on a bike. Bit like how car drivers dont realise you need to give a bigger gap than you think to cyclists
If its afternoon: Afternoon!
Evening...yep....Evening!
Often I usually say the above even if they dont need to move over!
Job Jobbed
I usually give them a smile and say thanks when they move over, everyone happy, no issues, no complaining that "everyone in life is rude" etc
Ive tried bells, but people done hear them until its too close, I guess the weather can mask high pitch noises and your ear fails to detect higher pitch as you get older, also the horses often hear the bell, but not the riders
Just gottta treat others how you want to be treated and ignore the idiots
I do think some riders dont realise how fast they are going , or the speed difference between walkers and cyclists even when you slow down on a bike. Bit like how car drivers dont realise you need to give a bigger gap than you think to cyclists
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