Bike bell causes panic.
By koopharper
@koopharper (7599)
Canada
November 29, 2012 6:32pm CST
This happened on the way home from work more than a week ago now. Just too busy to write it up in here. (I tried once but it wouldn't post). I was riding on the recreational trail in the dark. (Sun is down before I finish now). There were a couple of ladies walking along with flashlights and I was approaching from behind. I gave my usual warning tinkle with the kiddie bell I put on Wildfire and watched both of them dive off to either side like I was an approaching heat seeking missile. They recovered by the time I actually got to them and we all laughed our heads off over that.
2 people like this
4 responses
@besweet (9831)
• Ireland
30 Nov 12
It sounds funny! They were probably focused on a conversation or something and they were surprised! Haha!
Is your bell so loud? I don't have one at my bicycle so I just pass from the side or say " excuse me" but we don't really have cycling lines here so I usually ride on the side of the road and pedestrians use the sidewalk.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
30 Nov 12
It really isn't that loud. It's a regular bell for a child's bicycle. I just got it because pedestrians on recreation trails tend to wander unpredictably and I'd rather not collide with someone. Thought it sounded rather friendly and non-threatening.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
30 Nov 12
Can't be too far away though. I think I was still about a hundred feet away when I rang it this time around.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
30 Nov 12
I would have hollered, "Get out of the way,"and they would have just moved aside. The bell scared them.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
30 Nov 12
When I yell they look at me like a have some kind of antisocial problem. The bell is much friendlier.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
1 Dec 12
That would be better. I was also wondering what your bell sounded like. If it sounded like a fire alarm or a fog horn, of course, I could see people jumping off the road and running for cover. So if it was just a tingle, they must be oversensitive and not just move to one side.
@GardenGerty (169490)
• United States
30 Nov 12
You would not think a bicycle bell would cause such a panic, but maybe they thought you were some reckless kid out to cause mayhem. I am glad that you all could laugh about it in the end, though.
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
30 Nov 12
I never expected their reaction. I honestly worried more than people would look around for an ice cream vendor instead just being warned that I was coming though. It isn't like I was almost on top of them when I rang it.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
30 Nov 12
Maybe they were a bit scrared because it was dark. I would have been scared too as it is not the same safe world that I experienced growing up. It was great that you all could laught together though
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
30 Nov 12
They said they were startled but they really had to be unaware of their surrounding. There are riders that come through without bells or lights or reflectors that time of the evening all the time. It was funny enough. I really was taken aback by the reaction to the bell.
