Laugh of the Day

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
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They are boat foghorns. I used an Airzound horn for a while, too loud for pedestrians but ok to alert drivers. Horn at handlebars with air pressure tank in bottle position pumped up at the handlebar unit. The bell was for pedestrians:


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Nealh

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Aug 7, 2014
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Generally the rider was being a complete Dick, the best bit was he a got a palm in the face at the end.

The Airzound is better 2 or 3 times louder then that wimpy thing he has, mine doesn't get used much but is there mainly for other vehicle use. For peds I use a ping bell well before with several rings only if I get no reaction do I give a quick blast but always slow my speed.
 
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Gubbins

Esteemed Pedelecer
Generally the rider was being a complete Dick, the best bit was he a got a palm in the face at the end.

The Airzound is better 2 or 3 times louder then that wimpy thing he has, mine doesn't get used much but is there mainly for other vehicle use. For peds I use a ping bell well before with several rings only if I get no reaction do I give a quick blast but always slow my speed.
Yes but you must admit it is highly amusing! I have never seen pedestrian phone zombies walking in a cycle lane. Must lead a sheltered life .
 

the_killjoy

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 26, 2008
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I find a simple bell works 90% of the time, just ding it earlier enough for them to get out of the way.
 

Nealh

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I find with modern ping bells 6 or 7 pings continuous is needed, back in the day as kids we had the tring tring bells which were very audible but large.
 

Zlatan

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Nov 26, 2016
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I want the sounding of screeching tyres as a warning. Amazing how many folk ignore bell but jump quick with sound of locked back wheel on gravel paths..
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,197
30,602
Funniest thing that happened to me with pedestrians was when I came up behind an elderly lady on a cycle path away from a road. I rang the bell but she didn't appear to hear so I said loudly "Good morning".

She leant her head back and stared up into the tree she was walking under. o_O
.
 

anotherkiwi

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Jan 26, 2015
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I am going the horn and bell route too. If I see headphones and phone it will be horn, bells are useless with zombies. The big problem is deaf old codgers who don't have their ears with them (wife on arm). On occasion both of them are deaf as posts.

My current argument stopper is "Yes, yes you paid for the cycle path but the law says you have to be on a bike if you want to use it too".
 
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Gubbins

Esteemed Pedelecer
I am going the horn and bell route too. If I see headphones and phone it will be horn, bells are useless with zombies. The big problem is deaf old codgers who don't have their ears with them (wife on arm). On occasion both of them are deaf as posts.

My current argument stopper is "Yes, yes you paid for the cycle path but the law says you have to be on a bike if you want to use it too".
I an actually just reading a cycling and the law article which I an finding quite informative. A few posters often refer to odd laws but they often put it in such a way that I find it difficult to understand.
Anyway.. want to know if you can get done for using your phone whilst riding? Or who has the right of way on a shared path? These questions and more are answered here..
http://www.bikehub.co.uk/featured-articles/cycling-and-the-law/
 

anotherkiwi

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Jan 26, 2015
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On a shared path pedestrians have right of way.

If they are on a cycle path and get knocked over if you have witnesses to prove that you did everything possible to avoid them they are stuffed. Just the same as if they cross the road dangerously and a car driver can't avoid them.

I see more and more cyclists texting while riding :eek: unless they are browsing porn... :D At least with mopeds it is always the girl on the back who is texting. Instead of holding on...
 

Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
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I was once approaching a chap ambling along quite a narrow path. I prefer to say "excuse me",so did so. He totally ignored me so I slowed to his pace and followed to approaching gate. As we went through he told me I should get a bell. I said I had one but prefer when close to say "excuse me" and informed him I had actually done so.. His reply
" Well that's no fecking good, I, m deaf"...
 

Gubbins

Esteemed Pedelecer
I was once approaching a chap ambling along quite a narrow path. I prefer to say "excuse me",so did so. He totally ignored me so I slowed to his pace and followed to approaching gate. As we went through he told me I should get a bell. I said I had one but prefer when close to say "excuse me" and informed him I had actually done so.. His reply
" Well that's no fecking good, I, m deaf"...
What you have to bear in mind is that regular shared path users have to contend with the idiots chasing Strava segments that nearly run them down. We have to stand the fallout!
 
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Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
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I always make sure I, m pleasant and courteous...
Would be easy to ban Ebikes in national parks.. Paths are for everybody....
 
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oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
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I always make sure I, m pleasant and courteous...
Would be easy to ban Ebikes in national parks.. Paths are for everybody....
I too try very hard to be considerate - though surely sometimes others will think otherwise?
 

Fat Rat

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 7, 2018
1,903
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UK
This is a double edged sword
On one hand I can see the guys frustrations at the idiot element (the pedestrian) but he has gone the wrong way about it making him and other cyclists a target for even more abuse than we get now
 

cyclebuddy

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 2, 2016
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A couple of weeks back, I was cycling in a country park around a reservoir on an 8-mile cycle/walk path. Ahead of me was a guy and what I assumed was his girlfriend cycling side-by-side, but at a much slower pace than I.

As I approached, and without dinging my bell, the girlfriend had heard my approach on the loose gravel path and dropped back, allowing me to pass.

But as I passed, the boyfriend who seemingly hadn't heard my approach at all, got all shirty and shouted "You should get one of these"... and dinged his bell furiously - I assume to avoid looking like a total twat in front of his girlfriend.

I pointed to my handlebar mirror, and retorted "If you got yourself one of these, I wouldn't need one of those!"... and dinged my bell anyway just to rub extra salt into his wound. The girlfriend thought that was hilarious, and laughed out loud.
 

Benjahmin

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 10, 2014
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Just returned from cycling the quiet lanes of south Devon. Many examples of folk strolling along all across the road relying on sound of car to alert them. I have a very loud Pashley ding dong bell but it seems not to alert people, I think it's too friendly sounding. Then there is the inevitable surprised/annoyed reaction as you slip past them. What are they all going to do as electric cars become more common? Perhaps natural selection will take hold:)
 
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