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You can't win.
If I am riding along a cycle track that is divided for pedestrians and they are walking on the cycle track, if you suddenly appear behind them they do not like it, if I ting me bell, they moan about that very often.
Some people are just never happy.
Secretly I wish I could just sneak up to the grumpy ones and shout MOVE!
Then you get the friendly people that are grateful for the warning.
Sally
I got my compass bell and used it yesterday for the first time riding on a multi-use trail. I had to use it once on a pedestrian who was drifting onto the left side of the path, and probably should have used it a couple more times.
You're right, I am not sure which annoys peds more -- the "ding" of a bell, or having a cyclist whiz by without a word. I was kinda distracted since I was riding with a friend and we were chatting some, so I forgot to say "passing on your left", but I will make sure to do that next time too. A couple of times a rider going faster than us whizzed by us, and they rarely said anything. I wished they would have b/c it can be a little startling if they come up fast around a curve!
Anyway, I like the bell! Doesn't have the nice "dring-dring" of the cutie ones, just a "ding", but it's better than nothing. And the compass is a nice addition.
Emily
Love my classic "ching ching" bell, use it all the time! Works great to let joggers know a bike is coming behind them (unless they're wearing ipods).
I have a "ding!" bell and use it quite a lot, but people react very differently. Adults on their own, and children for some reason, tend to get it, they look up and move to one side. While some elderly people look like they're about to have a heart attack or jump into the bushes at the sound of a bell, so I'm a bit wary of using it behind them just a warning.
And mothers with loose toddlers will sometimes go berserk too at the sound of a bell. I have children myself so I try to make a point out of slowing down and giving the child a huge friendly smile... "see, I'm nice, I'm NOT an ogre about to run you into the asphalt just because your mother says so!"
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annie legroulx
montreal, canada
Bells are required by law here, so I have one of the ones with a compass in it. The compass goes crazy when crossing over the railway (as does my heart rate monitor), apart from that it works really well. Some pedestrians are so dopey though, I think a fog horn might be more effective.
Bron
There were two guys hanging out at a spot by this v coaster waiting for others and when I rode up one guy said Rider Up...:p