(This post is the personal opinion of the author, it does not necessary represent the policy of SCTF)
bicycle bell
By Chu Wa, Francis 2011-04-21
I removed the bell from my bicycle, because it doesn’t make my cycling safer. In fact having the bell tend to create irritation rather than helps.
One the road bicycle bell is useless. Drivers enjoying their car stereo can not hear you anyway. On the pavement, conventional wisdom says that you need a bell to warn others that you are approaching, to give them time to react and give way.
My question is; why should these people give way to the cyclist? After all the cyclist is cycling from behind and he is in a much better position to take action to avoid any collision – worst come to the worst, he can simply slow down, wait until there is room enough to pass without disturbing the others. Everyone will be safe. This is just common sense, not rocket science. In fact, as suggested by my friend Theodore who advocate gracious community, I usually say “Thanks you” or “Good morning” as I pass pedestrians. It cost nothing and it makes sharing of the space so much more pleasant for all.
Even when it is not on pavement, e.g. in car park or in the park, the same logic should apply- the faster person is in better control of the situation and therefore should be responsible to ensure the safety of others.
If you are still not convinced, let’s see from the other side of the coin:
Have you ever been rang by bicycle bell from behind while walking on the pavement? How did you feel about it? What did you do when that happen?
I don’t know about you, but I would feel irritated and depends on the day, I may be so agitated that I will confront the challenging cyclist, or to file a police report! I don’t care whether it is out of good intention or not, to me this is an violation to my walking right. Firstly pedestrian pavement is for pedestrian, cyclist should have no right to use it. Secondly, if cyclist need to use the pavement (e.g. avoid dangerous traffic) they must give full respect to the pedestrian, who are slower and more vulnerably and also have less control of the situation. A cyclist can go much faster than pedestrian, yet can slow down to the same speed as a pedestrian. The one who is in better control is the cyclist! If cyclists does not initiate any danger, there will be no danger on the pavement!
Removing the bell makes it impossible for the cyclist to “threaten” pedestrian, and he must slow down when there is someone walking slowly in front. This will make cycling in Singapore much more gracious and safe.
Following the same logic, I think roads will be safer for everyone, if horns are removed from all the cars. What do you think?
Hi, interesting piece, what I think?
I never use my bell, true. I purchased a really super-load air horn, which competes with any car horn in terms of loudness. I use it ever day, many times, whenever cars cut into my lane, and this is very effective! I need to pump this horn up quite often then.. However, I would usually not use it to honk at folks not in cars, since it is simply too load.
Regarding communications with pedestrians, I prefer to use my voice, either jockingly singing “ring-ring”, or “thank you” whereve pedestrians volunteer to give way.
Cheers H
Hi oh no, and I missed the actual question “I think roads will be safer for everyone, if horns are removed from all the cars”.. I respectfully disagree!
While I think there is too much honking for no good reason, I think sometimes the last resort to warn someone on the road is the most noisy option. And recently, I got used to cars honking at me when overtaking, well why not they just talk to me, warn me they overtake.
When you drive in Europe, depending where you are, you would be surprised how “chatty” people are in terms of using their horn! On curvy roads in France for instance, honking before a difficult-to-check turning is totally common, actually enhances safety. We don’t have these kind of roads in Singapore though, I am talking of SBV Rd x10 steep/curvy… H
Hi Hannes, thanks for not using bell or horn on pavement. I agree the horn has some warning (or education) function on the road towards the drivers. In a very few occasions I wish I have a loud horn to vent my anger on inconsiderate drivers. However, it rarely ADD to my safety.
Focus on controlling my speed, slow down when someone cutting in front of me or simply move onto pavement if the road is getting too stressful are the practical steps that has been working for me.
I understand around tight corners with blind spots sounding the horn helps to alert other around the corner.
But as the driver, what will you do if you don’t have a horn? will you still drive as fast when you are not sure if there is someone just around the corner?
Hi Chuwa, I don’t really get your question “But as the driver, what will you do if you don’t have a horn?”, you mean as a bicycle driver I suppose, as all cars have horns, or as a car driver indeed?
Well yes, for the latter case, if I had a faulty horn in my car, and would drive around say in the Alps, I would even drive more carefully to account for careless fast drivers coming towards me, cutting corners. If I horn, at least they know I am there..
On the bicycle, I mainly use it when someone ALMOST hits me, or if I am squeezed between the road curb and a car not caring about me… my experience is that the car driver get’s a short shock (or siok?) as he/she doesn’t expect this noise. Then, they look at me and slow down/stop, in any case it enhances my safety and gives them a memorable experience.
Cheers H
I think it helps in terms of safety if you use it to warn pedestrians abusing bicycle tracks or wobbling cyclists (not those learning to cycle; I’m referring to careless cyclists esp. those cycling with one hand holding mobile to ear).
Hi Hannes, thanks again.
Bicycle bells used on pavements is like car horns used on the road. As a cyclist we don’t like to be horned by cars from behind, similarly pedestrians don’t want to be rang from behind.
I believe if we can remove the horns from cars and bells from bicycles then everyone will drive and ride more carefully, as you have anticipated.
Hi Lee Pau San, thanks for commenting.
We don’t really have the ideal infrastructure, like in Holland, to segregate walking from cycling, yet. The habit in Singapore is mixed use of cycling and walking path. Not saying that this is right or wrong, but it is a fact that we have to face.
Trying to see from the other side, cyclists hope pedestrians to tolerate them on pavements (e.g. mother bringing children to school and the road is too dangerous with fast move traffic). In the same spirit, we should tolerate some people (e.g. elderly try to take a short cut) walking on bicycle paths.
My assumption is, when you feel you need to ring the bell, you are in the position to anticipate and act accordingly, at least better than the one who is to be warned by you. You are in better control to avoid any accident happen. Worst come to worst you can dismount and push the bike until it is safe to cycle again.
Hi chuwa,
When I mentioned pedestrians abusing bicycle track, I’m referring to pedestrians using bicycle track segregated from pedestrian walkway just beside it like the two are not segregated, thus to them the two combine to form a very wide pedestrian walkway. Many of them are jogger. For a good example, observe the stretch between Bishan Road and Braddell Road. It’s just like pedestrians traveling on walkway and on road alongside, taking the whole lane from time to time when traveling abreast.
You might say that I can just slow down to their speed and talk them out of the track and back onto their footpath, but to me there are just too many of them, so what I’ve been doing is to sound the bell when approaching. But of course, if they ignored the bell, I would stop to give a gentle verbal reminder. I’m glad that no abuser had ignored my reminding bell so far.
Hi Pau San, thanks for not playing aggressive with the people who walk on the cycling path. I wish you also only get good intended, ‘friendly horns’ from the drivers.
I never ring my bell at pedestrians on PCNs and paths, but instead slow down and work around them, even if they are on the cycling portion of a track. If I am in a hurry, I switch to the road. I never ride fast on shared paths as a principle.
But my bell is a critical part of my bicycle – especially to greet other cyclists with! A bell ring is a wordless signal to my kakis when we ride together about changing lights or that a bus is crawling behind us. For safety, I ring a cheery single note when approaching a blind spot.
Hi Siva, good to see you here! Good to hear that you don’t use the bell to disturb the pedestrians
For warning cycling kakis during a group ride, our usual way is shouting, e.g. “Car behind!”, “Keep left!” or “Bus coming!” . A friendly “tink” catches attention but it leave others wonder what they should do. I find it safer to shout out the specific threat so that appropriate action can be taken without delay.
>”I don’t know about you, but I would feel irritated and depends on the day, I may be so agitated that I will confront the challenging cyclist, or to file a police report!”
Well this pretty well sums up why riding a bicycle in Singapore is terrible. The arrogance is appalling. In Japan bicycles and pedestrians happily co-exist on footpaths. The bell is both a safety device and a way to let others know of your presence. Its not the same as a Singaporean car horn – “beep, beep – get out of my way or else I’ll run you over”. In many countries admonishing people to drive the same as they walk promotes safety, but here people do drive like they walk – arrogantly, as though they own the footpath and quick to anger if others are “in their way”. Unbelievable that you think a short temper and lack of empathy is reasonable. Its just a person on a bicycle – not a homicidal maniac in a car, flashing their lights, beeping their horn, running reds lights, cutting off others, which is a matter of life and death and which any right thinking person should get angry about.
I recently moved here and installed bells on our bikes. We ring them whenever we pass. Not RING RING get out of my way, but instead just barely a ding, so as not to surprise someone when we are beside them. I only use them when there is room to pass, but I find that as I cycle behind someone silently waiting for a spot to pass, they become surprised and nearly jump out of the way. While it was not my intention to surprise them nor make them move, it seems to irritate them more than if I had just rang the bell. As a pedestrian, the only time I find cyclists annoying are when they surprise me by passing closely and unannounced, while if they ring a bell I would move over a bit and it would do neither. Having said this, when I cycle at a fast pace I only use the road or a bike “lane” where I can see far ahead to slow before approaching anyone. To all that dislike bells, sorry in advance, I will still use mine to let you know I’m near. And if you care to move over a little I will wave and greet you as I pass.
Happy Trails
Even when you are walking (without bike), it’s amazing, there are certain people who are capable of seeing through you and attempt to walk through you.
This concept of ‘right of way’ is just appalling as people are constantly rushing for ‘time’.
Ever noticed pedestrians running after traffic lights, lifts, mrts or vehicles still crossing the line even after the ‘green man’ has lit up? Better still, ever notice pedestrians standing just behind the line at traffic junction as traffic whizz by mere centimetres in front of their brow?
People are constantly pushing their limits and it’s degenerative to their communal behaviour. ‘I’ and ‘Me’ becomes centre stage – horns/ bells have become a useful tool to assert this.
If you ring your bell and the pedestrian doesn’t give way, that person has become an ‘obstacle’ – just like a wall or fence; they will not yield. Pointless to continuing ringing your bell or get confrontational…get round the person, push your bike if you need to or patiently wait for an opportunity to do this. The shared path maybe too narrow to ‘overtake’ immediately, wait for when the path widens, get on the grass patch, carry the bike over our head, push your bike from the back in a single file.
Get over the obstacle and forget about it. The unyielding pedestrian’s problems aren’t yours. You share the path with this person, you don’t have to share or solve his problems.
Don’t let it get to you. It’s just not worth it.Keep riding and stay alive.
I disagree totally and wholeheartedly with the sentiment expressed in this article. This is yet another example of blaming the messenger because you don’t like the message. Yes, it’s true that when misused, the bicycle bell and the car horn can be very annoying. But that is the fault of the user, not the fault of the device itself. Used properly, the bell and the horn enhance the safety of both the user and the hearer by decreasing the risk of a collision. It is wrong-headed to be annoyed by the sound of a bell or a horn if the user is only trying make you both safer by avoiding a collision. The real problem does not lie with either the horn or the bell. The real problem lies with the mentality of the user and to a degree, the hearer as well. The answer lies in developing and promoting the concepts of civility and courtesy between cyclist and pedestrian and between motorist and cyclist. The answer does NOT lie in banning safety devices that admittedly may be misused. Cyclist need to understand that the bell is not a device for demanding right of way. (Used properly, it may be a device for REQUESTING right of way.) Pedestrians need to understand that most of Singapore’s pathways are DUAL-USE. This means that cyclists have the right of use as well. When on dual-use pathways, it costs pedestrians nothing to move to the sides of the path as opposed to taking their piece out of the middle. This simple action costs nothing and hugely improves EVERYONE’S safety. Motorists need to understand that, more than anyone else, cyclists on the road are hugely vulnerable and that simple actions may have huge and costly consequences. 1.5M matters!!! With a little bit of civility and courtesy shown by ALL parties, these conflicts largely disappear.
Some people are angered by the ringing of bicycle bell behind them or being honked at by cars behind them. How one reacts depends on one’s perception. A pedestrian in front may take the ringing of the bell as a warning of a danger from behind and so moves to the side. A cyclist who thinks he may be slowing the traffic may act to allow the traffic behind to move faster. A cyclist who thinks the honk is an act of a bully may challenge the driver to a fight.
Look at how cars, buses, scooters and cyclists navigate through the roads in vietnam. You can hear honks from these vehicles all the time on road in Saigon. The vietnamese are not annoyed when they are constantly honked at. The buses will honk at any cars and smaller vehicles in front of them. The smaller vehicles will automatically give way. The cars honk at motor- cyclists and cyclists in front of them and these vehicles will give way. The motor-cyclists will honk at cyclists in front them and the cyclists will give way.
As a pedestrian who shares the footpath with cyclists, I do appreciate it when cyclists give a light tinkle on their bell especially when they are approaching pedestrians from behind.