"Adrian Tritschler" <ajft64+noos@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:kgrk5hdflxs.fsf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
LOTS OF STUFF>
> Have had this happen quite a few times, ride up behind pedestrians and
> call out (loudly) *BIKE!* or "KEEP LEFT PLEASE". Due to pervesity, bad
> cases of get stuffed, or general perveseness they ignore you, or leap
> left, or leap right, then scream abuse telling you to get a bell.
> Obvious that they have heard, equally obvious that they don't give a
> damn or just want to be angry. AFAICT the various road laws state "An
> audible warning device such as a bell". My voice can be louder, more
> expressive and more controllable than any tink-tink bell and I'll be
> willing to argue that with any magistrate.
<SNIPPED MORE>
> Adrian
A bell can be more effective than a voice. In a park, or other public
space
(where shared paths often go through), people's natural filters will often
filter out voices (there are many of them around). They will be more alert
to a bell, which is not a part of the continuous background noise of
voices.
I've had this discussion a number of times with people on shared paths;
I'm
in no hurry so I'll often stop for a chat. A tink-tink bell is a sound
people expect when a bike approaches, a voice is just a voice. Using a
bell
is part of a socialised signal sytem; bell=bike. The bell is not there for
your convenience, it's there to help protect others by giving them a
recognisable warning. I don't understand why some riders are so precious
about putting a bell on their bikes and using it but will protest loudly
about the lack of concern other road users show for them when they are on
another shared path (a road).
I've seen many walkers jump in fright after a rider has come from behind,
yelling. No doubt most of us have seen the same. People don't hear shouts
and make the association. By the time the rider is close enough for people
to latch on to the idea that the shout is directed at them, the bike is
too
close to stop safely and walkers react rather than respond.
Given human hearing sensitivity profiles, I think the bell's high
frequency
is more likely to penetrate to the iPod wearers too. A high pitched 'tink'
is an interference to the music. A voice isn't (dunno if that holds for
noise-cancelling earphones though).
My 2c worth...
Frank
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