'Why don't cyclists use their bells?' - oblivious pedestrian walking down cycle lane

Looking out for pedestrians on phones, oblivious to all going on around them is a common peril when cycling (or driving or running) in London.

Usually the danger is that they stride out into the road without looking (or drift across the pavement unexpectedly as you're running)

Thinking they're on a footpath when they're actually on a cycle lane on the road is new one on me though! Fortunately she finally realised before I had to stop.

I suppose it probably doesn't help that there are a number of lanes similar to this in central London, which look like cycle lanes but actually *are* pedestrian lanes ...

[markturner]

I’ve spent several years living in Germany. Almost all cyclists will use a bell and pedestrians react just fine. Pro tip: normally one ring is enough and certainly more polite than the example in the video. A “thanks” when you ride past is normally most welcomed as well. Let’s all just be a bit more tolerant.

[tmahe]

Pedestrians are taking the lane for their own safety as they don’t like using the footpaths that are full of slower people and uneven slabs etc 😆

[laughing_gnome]

Perdestrins are allowed to walk in bike lanes cyclist must give way to perdestrions

[sporo]

Cyclists don't use the bell that much because they need to keep their hands close to the brakes in such situations. The bell levers are not close enough to the brake levers to risk reaching for them when they might need to brake.
The bell is only useful when you are far enough from the pedestrian to return your fingers to the brakes if needed.
The forward leaning position of the road and hybrid bikes commonly used in the UK doesn't help either. The upright riding position of Dutch bikes are easier in that respect.

[TheRip]

Bike bells are a terrible idea. They are a copy from car horns, but these are necessary because they need to be heard from further & through glass.
If I hear a bell while out running, I need to look around then decide how to react. That all takes time in which the bike has got even closer. Most can't be rung until very close because they are not loud enough, so the cyclist usually has to brake anyway.

I am not suggesting a silent approach though: Your voice is a much better form of communication, so use it.
If somebody calls out to me 'please keep left', I do just that. It is much quicker & louder, so can be used from further away. There is no need to be impolite & I always thank cyclists who call out to me instead of using a bell because I find it much more useful.

[bernardmcmahon]

Cyclists are arrogant and deliberately ride into pedestrians and situations of jeopardy for some weird power thing, they’re dying for confrontation, when I’m driving I slow down or stop if a pedestrian is in the way, I even give cyclists plenty of space, but cyclists jib in and out just for their own weird importance

[stevestrange]

"the to live..." appropriate :)

[anuvabastidanakist]

Yes she is walking in the cycle lane but it is not illegal same as walking in the road and just like driving on the road you are not allowed to hit them because they are in your way

[bernardmcmahon]

Cyclists don’t use bells because they want confrontation, they deliberately ride into pedestrians and situations of jeopardy for some weird power thing

[polopowered]

The bike lane should be shared with pedestrians, just like Roads are shared with bicycles. Then cyclists would know what its like for motorists.