Friday 30th April 2004

Gi's a Bell

Bells to become compulsory on new bicycles

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It's a little known fact that until 1983 it was compulsory to fit new bicycles with a bell. The Thatcher Government decided for some reason that this was unnecessary and wasted some time abolishing the requirement.

Now they're about to become mandatory again.

[danhay]

Whatever next...whistles too?

[Munter]

The way I rode a bike I never had time to use a bell. How pointless!

[DustyC]

danhay said:

Whatever next...whistles too?

for pedestrians!!!


Bells are crap on bikes anyway, noone can hear them.

What a stupid waste of time and effort that could be concentrated elsewhere.

[sook]

I'm going to fit an airhorn!

[anonymous-user]

There are some fantastic quotes on the BBC article on this.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3667513.stm

BBC said:

Nick Palmer, the Labour MP for Broxtowe, agrees. He has campaigned for compulsory bells for five years, after several thousand of his constituents signed a petition in favour of such a Bill.

Nice to see that Labour MPs really have their finger on the pulse of the important issues of the day!

[ewenm]

Pedestrians expect me to warn them of my approach so they don't step out in front of me... How am I expected to predict when some muppet on the pavement is going to step into the road without looking?

[agent006]

sook said:

I'm going to fit an airhorn!

I had one on my bike. A 9v battery powered thing that went BEEEEP at 110dB.

[jsr]

Surely a £4000 Cannondale downhill rig or a Litespeed titanium X-country racer cant be expected to have a bell fitted?

[ewenm]

They already must be sold with wheel and pedal reflectors - there is no rule saying you can't remove them after purchase though

>> Edited by ewenm on Friday 30th April 14:26

[DustyC]

ewenm said:

They already must be sold with wheel and pedal reflectors - there is no rule saying you can't remove them after purchase though >> Edited by ewenm on Friday 30th April 14:26

Good point.
The refelectors came straight of my mountain bike the day I got it.

[Munter]

agent006 said:

sook said: I'm going to fit an airhorn! I had one on my bike. A 9v battery powered thing that went BEEEEP at 110dB.

Ohhh...I had one of those as well!...Yellow box attached by a rubber strap to the handle bars?...mine made more of a "chirrrp" noise though.

[cortinaman]

Munter said:

agent006 said: sook said: I'm going to fit an airhorn! I had one on my bike. A 9v battery powered thing that went BEEEEP at 110dB. Ohhh...I had one of those as well!...Yellow box attached by a rubber strap to the handle bars?...mine made more of a "chirrrp" noise though.

i had one on my old grifter that had police,ambulance and fire engine sirens.....i also had a 9v radio too.

i'd go for a set of 'la cuccaracha' or 'river kwai' horns myself,as i have a set of dixie's on the cortina.

[Balmoral Green]

Whats wrong with just shouting? gotta be quicker and easier.

[cortinaman]

a loud can-type airhorn + a pedestrian in a world of their own = the highest jump youve ever seen! (and possibly the best impression of a can dispenser if they have shopping)

not that i did that when i was a kid.....oh no....not me :halooverheadsmiley:

[zax]

A good airhorn can be a lifesaver if used responsibly. I have one of these:

www.sjscycles.com/store/item4.htm

Even trucks pay attention when this thing sounds off