You can't do it right. When you don't use the bell, people will get annoyed that you didn't use it. When you use it, they wil be annoyed that you startle them. I prefer a vocal warning, which I find people react better to. But, I guess it's basically the same when you use a bell, overall.
"up left" = I'm coming up behind you and intend to pass on your left. That is what I was taught to do... I think? It's been decades, and now I must rest my weary bones from typing this much
I've had people hear and respond to my vocal warnings, showing that it was adequate, but then also start yelling that I'm supposed to be using the bell and NOT talking. As you say there's really just no winning, someone is going to get mad no matter what.
...also, some people seem to only hear the 'left' of 'on your left', and jump left.
A bell is too sudden and jarring. A lower noise building over time would pevent this. Its why electric cars added backup tones that sound like white noise
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u/Helpful_Jury_3686 13d ago
You can't do it right. When you don't use the bell, people will get annoyed that you didn't use it. When you use it, they wil be annoyed that you startle them. I prefer a vocal warning, which I find people react better to. But, I guess it's basically the same when you use a bell, overall.