BB FANS

Cyclists may be forced to ring their bells
By Jonathan Owen
Published: 10 September 2006

Taken from HERE

Cyclists in busy urban areas may have to sound a bell almost continually as they cycle along under government plans to force them not only to have bicycle bells fitted, but to use them to warn pedestrians of their approach.

Although existing legislation makes bells a mandatory part of any new bike sold, people can remove them or choose not to use them. Under the proposals, cyclists would have to ensure their bikes carried working bells and would have to ring them every time they saw a pedestrian. Refusal to obey would be subject to on-the-spot fines or, in a worst-case scenario, two years in jail or a £2,500 fine.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Slight problem I can see with mountain bikes is the lack of space on the handlebars. I don't have room for a 'bell'.
Now I can fit a nice siren / horn just below the handlebars and a switch will fit on the handlebars. And used in an emergency it would more than do it's job and would be heard a very long way off.

Reminds be of the picture of the early cars when someone had to walk in front warning everybody you were coming. When on a cycle-path it might be a good idea. The same for kids who use the safety of a path rather than the road to warn of they presence.

One article quotes 12 cycle related deaths with pedestrians in the last 5 years compared to 168 cyclists killed in the last 12 months on the roads.

to be honest, I think its well time that cyclists on the roads are faced with greater sanctions at the moment. There are many who feel themselves exempt from all road regulations and their lack of road awareness and respect for those around them make them a danger not only to themselves but also to others.

If it would be up to me, I'd create a licence for road using cyclists and make them pay the sort of tax that car users are forced to do. It could be used to pay for further cycle lanes. Registrations for bikes would be a decent idea too.

A method of proving cycling proficiency would be an interesting idea and a method of displaying the fact would also be needed.
But then you would have to have more officers to lookout for those not displaying the disc or what ever.

Yes the ,mainly ,youngsters who show no regard for other road users are a pain and a danger to themselves and others but ,certainly ,in this area there isn't the manpower to enforce more regulations.
They don't enforce current ones let along any new ones. Seat-belts and Mobile Phone offences would cover at least 20% of cars in town. Defective car lighting and illegal parking would real in even more. Then add the speeding youngsters in cars and on Motorbikes and the group the locals have been trying to get nicked who ride recklessly with stunts and sitting almost on car bumpers and speeding. Round here there is an every growing list of things that need sorting but nobody ever bothers.

This town for instance has a budget for 5 Police Officers but all we have is one who is not solely for the town and is available at all times for neighbouring towns. And is rarely seen.
I did spot a PCSO driving through town last week but that's a rare site.

As you may already know I cycle around 40 - 50 miles a week. I have good working lights fitted ,I wear a Hi-Viz jacket so other road users can see me. I was a motorcyclist for many years and am a car driver so I'm well aware from these perspectives how to conduct myself on the road to safely get from A to B. I don't have a bell fitted as there isn't room on the handlebars and the bike didn't come fitted with one. I only just managed to get the trip monitor on the handlebars and that is only and inch square and far smaller than any bell. As I said before I do have an electric sounder that could be fitted and used as a warning device (which is extremely loud !!). But as Mountain bikes have all the gear levers on the handlebars ,which are quite short anyway, and once you have a headlamp fitted there does leave much room for anything else. A racer bike has plenty of room as with most other types of bike.

As I read the various articles it has been passed yet. But a warning device is a good idea but not having to ride single handed ringing the damn thing all the time as this is more dangerous then most other things. You are not is full control of the bike with only one hand steering and changing gears plus if taken to the letter having to look all around you in case a pedestrian appears from somewhere.
On a cycle track giving advanced warning as you approach walkers is a good idea plus slowing down until past.

Never mind the youngsters, the worst cyclists are those beardy-weirdy types with two brown panniers on the back on Dawes Tourers (or equivalent). With a demonic hatred for anything with more than 2 wheels, these guys weave in and out of traffic at great relative speed.