In the name of public safety, the Government is considering making a fully functioning bell compulsory on every bicycle so that cyclists can warn pedestrians of their approach. Those cycling without an ?audible warning instrument? could then be subject to on-the-spot penalties or even a four-figure fine.
www.tinyurl.com/pcepr {link deliberately made non clickable because of *historic* reasons that I can't be bothered explaining}
also, news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article1433446.ece {also non clickable just to be fair to the other link}
ps, please keep discussion away from a political debate and more of a constructive one regarding whether or not the compulsory fitting of bells to bikes will make the world a safer place.
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Why am I still up?
From today....
Police at midnight with threats of arrest re a garden gnome.
Woman seriously told off for describing an alleged criminal as "fat".
Woman fined for swearing at holigans who terrorise her and her neigbours.
Parking attendant arrested for ticketing a police persons private car.
Officer gets off driving recklessly at over 150mph.
Also, locally:-
Police shoot dead a naked man in his bedroom (obviously no concealed arms). Cheif Constable forced to resign and charges against officers for murder or man slaughter never stick.
Very nice Merc stolen from police station after police break into house to take it. Police not to blame.
It seems that the law is turning on the citizens.
Are we turning in to a police state?
I do not really think so and most, I am sure do a very good job, as usual, the stupid decisions are the ones that get all the press.
What does annoy, is that a normal citizen, going about thier business can face ruinous fines or TWO YEARS IN JAIL (from the mail) for silly transgressions of the law - including not having a bell on a bike!
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still no edit button!
And yes bells on bikes are a good idea. Try yelling "look out!" when totally puffed out after riding up some of the hills in my town. A bell works much better.
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I used to have a bell on my bike but came to the conclusion that ringing it behind people on the towpath,to get them to move,was abit impersonal.I now just say 'excuse me'if they havn't heard my approach.As a warning device in modern traffic it is useless,much better the horns available powered by a bottle pressurised with the bike pump.As for the law ;I was under the impression it already is a statutory requirement to have a bell fitted,along with the other things I don't have(pedal and rear reflectors)-no way of fitting them.I use two rear lights and a pack light instead.
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Zippy, we are a police state, but without enough police to run it, luckily!
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I thought a bell was compulsory already. It seemed to be when I did my cycling proficiency test back in 1965 or thereabouts.
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Ignore whether the law is sensible or not.
The question is: Is it enforceable?
Or is it - like using mobile phones when driving - unenforceable?
Answer is obvious to anyone except those who think by passing a law they solve a problem.
madf
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I agree, I was always told it was the law during cycling profficiency days, and when ROSPA used to come to my school to teach road safety instead of Plimsoll's Diversity Circus like they have nowadays.
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I don't have a bell on my tricycle. I'm deaf, and to use a warning device I can't tell if it working or not is daft. (I can just tell if my car horn is working).
If I need to I shout! If I'm that puffed out I can't yell, I would be vertually stopped anyway.
And if the law come in - I suppose I'll fit one, but as I'll never use it, will fit it out of harms way. Certainly not on the handle bars as there is not room, I'm not cutting the grips.
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So was I, and I had to buy one to do the cycling proficiency test. Though it seems from that Times article (though who knows how well researched that was, could just be botched together from the press releases on the journos desk) that the current flouted law is that bikes have to be sold with bells fitted....
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Anyway who's going to actually police this, there are so many bikes out there with no lights riding at night. Are any police actually going to put on the flashing lights and then perform a roadside check. "Can you show me where your bell is please, sir?"
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I have a bell on my pushbike.
I regularly cycle on mixed pedestrian /cycle tracks.
I usually get zero reaction from pedestrians who have their backs turned to me.
Yesterday I came to a halt behind a group of pedestrians having approached them slowly ringing the bell.
One eventually turned round and asked someone to move. She almost fell over when turning around to look at me.
Yesterday, later, came up behind four elderly gentlemen, who all jumped out of my way. Unfortunately they all moved in different directions so my path was still blocked.
Typical reactions.
My preference is just to slow down and squeeze by at walking pace.
Ding Dong!
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Anyway who's going to actually police this,
Bell cameras I imagine ;o)
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The regulations for bicycles is a bit strange. Cycles have to be fitted with front, rear, wheel and pedal reflectors at the point of sale, but there is nothing to say that you cannot remove the wheel reflectors, for example. The other twist is that shops can get around this by selling a bike without pedals as the bike is not complete. I bought mine like this as it was a custom machine - I have a rear reflector but nothing else!
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I thought a bell was compulsory already.
To quote from the link: "At present, bells must be fitted on all bikes when they are sold, but buyers are free to remove them and there is no requirement to use them. "
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I don't think having a working bell makes a jot of difference to anything. Why would you want to be this diligent about warning pedestrians unless you were cycling on the pavement anyway? Pinging a bell at hikers who seem to like walking 5 abreast across the path or dog walkers with the 5 metre invisible leads just results in an oath or two. Saying "excuse me" or "cyclist coming through" seems to work better. I've even tried the more explicit "cyclist coming through at your 4 o'clock" but that just bewilders some people and has resulted in "no, it's 5 past 2" or whatever. I wouldn't ping a bell at horse riders either; again the spoken word seems better manners. Far, far higher up the list of cyclist nuisances are 1. cycling on the pavement and 2. cycling without lights after dark.
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land
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Exactly. Every day I see plenty of cyclists going through red lights or the wrong way up one-way streets or riding without lights. Are these people going to care that they're breaking one extra law by not having a bell?
The law will come in, one person will be publically prosecuted in a show-trial, bike shops will suddenly sell out of bells and within 6 months it will have been completely forgotten about as the powers that be start thinking of other new, unenforcable laws. Jaywalking next maybe? Or perhaps a limit to decibel levels on noisy heels. Or maybe a law which states a car's glove box must contain one glove for each passenger.
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I always feel a bit reticent to use my bell ( although it's a discrete single "ping") as it often may be taken in the wrong way ( outta my way !) rather than an "excuse me cyclist coming through" .
Likewise a car horn - it tends to get peoples hackles up for no good reason.
What it ( and countless other issues ) boils down to is that no-one likes to be told what to do by somebody else.
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If people/horses are in the way on mixed use paths/bridleways, speaking to them seems to sort things, much more sensible as stated in earlier posts. Having a bell on the road is a complete waste of time. So none of my bikes have one.
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I always feel a bit reticent to use my bell ( although it's a discrete single "ping") as it often may be taken in the wrong way ( outta my way !) rather than an "excuse me cyclist coming through" .
I completely agree with the sentiment expressed by Johnny so, after ping-pinging on the pathetic bell, I always shout a cheery excuse me, please /good morning/thank you very much/lovely day etc to ensure that there's no hard feelings or footpath rage!
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Around 65 odd years ago I had a bike. I hated it because parents decreed a "sensible" bike - upright bars and rod brakes and things. To jazz it up just a little I saved up for a bulb horn. Would that comply?
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If a gang of desperate and angry 'sierra oscar one nine' loose control again and execute a cyclist, now they can always say well, he didnt have a bell on his bike.
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So... what is the punishment for riding a bicycle without a bell, without both eyes and impaired hearing in your left ear I wonder?
See the driving blind thread.
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Way, way back when I was twelve I entered a cycling proficiency test organised through local schools. I finised second. I would have finished first if I had had a working bell.
The lesson was not lost. A bell is useful, even if used as infrequently as a car horn.
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Talk to people when on a bike?
I've often had an earful of abuse about "Getting a bell" when trying that.
We can't win it seems.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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From what I've read recently, I don't think this is official govt policy but just some idea that's been floated by a civil servant or backbencher with too much time on their hands. Can't see it happening because it would be fiercely oppossed by influential organisations like the CTC.
As regards to the law requiring bells and reflectors to be fitted to all new cycles, bikes made for competition - which include virtually every road bike above £300 - are exempt.
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Robin Reliant, formerly known as Tom Shaw
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Tom
Like you i've tried to find the source for this piece of silly season "news". All the stories are remarkably similar, linking to a parlaimentary writeen answer from several months ago. There's nothing on the DfT website and no attribution anywhere.
Lazy journos and perhaps too much loose talk in a Victoria Street pub ?
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I believe that cycling at night without lights is illegal, but this law is not enforced.
I saw a cyclist riding the wrong way up Rushden High Street an hour or so ago. I don't think anyone without a bell has too much to worry about. Also, youngsters ride their bikes in circles in the main street where I live, daring motorists to keep going.
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"Jaywalking next maybe?"
Jest ye not. The Good Lord Ken has already floated the idea for London.
V
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I had an interesting first encounter with a US cop on jaywalking. I'd just crossed the road, when there wasa "Hey! What do you think you're doing!?!".
Unfortunately, I had no idea what I was doing, and a slightly heated and confused 5 min conversation ensued, until I eventually persuaded the cop that I wasn't taking the mickey out of him and actually had no idea why he was shouting at me. Jaywalking's illegal in the US don't you know!
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