Editor:
To ring, or not to ring, that is the question.
I am a keen pedestrian. I enjoy walking with a friend, using my white cane in between us as a guiding mechanism and a means of keeping our distance.
I am also a cyclist and an avid tandem rider. Within my own household and amongst friends, there are different views on whether or not a cyclist should ring a bell to let you know they are coming. Some say, the bell startles walkers causing them to jump into the air or move from side to side. Others say a simple ”hello” or "on your left" is fine.
I often see others give no notice as they whiz by, which also startles walkers. Personally, I go for the bell ringing, done well enough in advance so that we can jump, shout or dance about and find our place to let the rider sail on by.
There are a lot of us out there these days. Let’s keep those bells ringing and try to share our trails.
Sandy Lecour,
Canmore