Bike bells and audible warnings: when to ring, how to pass and why you still must yield
Choose a bell, ring at the right moment and pass people on paths safely
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation built this guide from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) bike safety tips, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sign manual, federal bicycle and vehicle sound rules, the UK Highway Code, the New York, Florida, Minnesota and Oregon bicycle laws and published research. Every source is listed at the end.
What a bell does, and what it cannot do
A bike bell has one job. It tells people ahead that you are there before you reach them. That makes it part of your visibility gear, even though it works through the ears.
An audible warning is any sound you make on purpose to alert others: a bell, a small electronic horn or your own voice. NHTSA’s bike safety tips suggest calling out “on your left” or using a bell before you pass people on a sidewalk [7]. Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation gives riders the same advice.
In 2024, 1,103 bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes in the United States [7]. Still, a bell is a weak tool against cars, because a driver with the windows up is unlikely to hear it. With drivers, you rely on lights, lane position and eye contact. Our guide to bicycle, e-bike and scooter safety covers collisions with motor vehicles.
A bell matters most on multiuse trails, park paths, busy bike lanes and sidewalks where riding is allowed. These places mix people moving at very different speeds. In a 2017 survey of nearly 1,300 people on eight Indiana trails, 52% were biking, 29% were walking and 19% were running [8].
Bells suit everyday riders, parents setting up a child’s bike, delivery riders who pass many people each shift, and shared bike and scooter fleets. They matter even more on e-bikes and e-scooters, which move faster and more quietly than a pedal bike.
Types of audible warnings
You have more choices than the classic “ding ding.” Each type has a place.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Types of audible warnings for bikes and scooters
| Type | Sound | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Striker bell (thumb lever) | Bright, repeating ring | Most bikes and kids’ bikes | Cheap ones can be faint or rattle |
| Single strike bell | One clear, long tone | Commuters, quiet paths | Easy to lose in traffic noise |
| Rotary or twist bell | Rolling ring | Riders who want more volume | Bulkier and needs a hand movement |
| Electronic horn | Loud beep or tone | Busy streets, fast e-bikes | Needs charging and can startle up close |
| Built in bell or button | Varies by device | Shared bikes and e-scooters | Test it first. It may be broken |
| Your voice | “Passing on your left” | Groups, children, horse riders | Does not carry far. Wind swallows it |
Using two works well. A bell gets attention from farther away. A few calm words then tell the person which side you will pass on.
Skip devices that sound like sirens or whistles. New York, for one, bans them on bicycles [4].
When to ring: timing beats volume
The most common mistake is ringing too late. A ring at someone’s elbow startles them, and a startled person may jump, turn or freeze in your path.
Ring early enough that the person has a few seconds to notice, look back and choose where to stand. Speed shrinks that window fast. At 10 mph you travel about 15 feet every second. At 20 mph you cover about 29 feet every second.
New York’s rule that a bike’s signal be heard from at least 100 feet gives a useful benchmark [4]. At 15 mph you close 100 feet in under five seconds. So even a ring at 100 feet does not replace slowing down.
Good times to ring
- Before you overtake someone from behind.
- Before blind corners, tunnels and tall hedges where people may step out.
- Near trail entrances, parking lots and driveways.
- When a group, a child or a dog on a long leash is ahead.
When a bell is the wrong tool
- To demand that people clear the way. Ringing over and over sounds rude and creates no space.
- Right beside someone. If you are already close, slow down and speak calmly.
- Near horses. Slow way down, speak in a normal voice and ask the rider how to pass. The UK Highway Code tells cyclists to pass horse riders slowly and with lots of room, above all when coming up from behind [9].
- In place of braking. A bell does not stop anyone, including you.
A passing routine for paths and sidewalks
Use the same routine every time so it becomes automatic, on a bike, e-bike or scooter.
- Look behind before you move out. Check for faster riders coming up on you before you swing left. A mirror helps here.
- Slow down early. Bring your speed down while you are still well back.
- Ring once or twice, a few seconds out. Then pause and give the person time to react.
- Say which side. “Passing on your left” tells them where to stay.
- Watch for a response. A glance back, a step aside or a wave means you were heard. No reaction means you were not.
- Pass wide and slow. Leave as much room as the path allows, and be ready to stop.
- Say thanks and move back over only once you are well clear.
The UK Highway Code gives similar advice for shared routes: take extra care around children, older people and disabled people, leave plenty of room, and be ready to stop [9].
Close passes are common. Researchers watched riders at six sites in downtown Brisbane, Australia, in 2019 [10]. Among those riding on footpaths, about 40% came within about 3 feet (1 meter) of at least one person walking [10]. Conflicts were rare, and no collisions were seen [10]. Still, a three foot gap leaves little room for a surprise step.
Teaching kids the routine
Children can learn to use a bell early. Practice in a quiet park: ring, call out, slow down and pass wide. They win when no one has to jump aside. Teach the other side too: when they hear a bell while walking, glance back and keep a steady line.
A signal does not give you the right of way
A bell is a polite request. It is not an order, and it does not put you first in line.
State laws make the same point. When you ride on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk in Florida, you must yield to every person walking and sound a warning before you pass [1]. Minnesota requires sidewalk riders to yield to pedestrians and to signal when needed before passing [2]. Oregon makes it an offense to pass a pedestrian on a sidewalk without an audible warning and without yielding to people walking there [3].
The warning and the duty to yield come as a pair. Ringing does not cancel the duty to yield. Trail signs carry the same message. The national manual for traffic signs includes a “Bicycles Yield to Peds” sign for places where riders share space with people on foot and must yield to them [11].
In practice, that means:
- If someone does not move after you ring, wait or go around slowly. Do not ring harder.
- If the path is too narrow to pass safely, stay behind until it widens.
- If a walker steps the wrong way, it is your job to stop in time.
Where you may ride at all is a separate question, covered in our guide to bicycle and e-bike laws by state.
Not everyone can hear you or will react as you expect
A bell only works if the sound reaches someone who can act on it. You will not always be able to tell who can.
The UK Highway Code reminds riders that some people on foot have hearing or sight loss you cannot see from behind [9]. A person who is deaf will not hear the bell at all. A person who is blind may hear it but not know which way to step.
Headphones change things too. In a lab study, people listening to audio through bone conduction headphones, which leave the ears open, were worse at telling where a sound came from [12]. Their guesses also drifted toward the direction of the headphone audio [12]. A walker with open ear headphones may hear your bell and still step toward you.
Young children may stop or turn toward a sound. A dog on a long leash can stretch across the path. Wind or a nearby highway can drown out a small bell.
The safe habit is simple. Treat the bell as a first step, and keep slowing until you see that the person knows you are there.
E-bikes, e-scooters and shared fleets: quiet and quick
Electric bikes and scooters are quiet and can reach higher speeds with little effort. That makes a warning more important, not less.
Researchers in the UK tested how well people could hear e-scooters against typical city sounds. Without any added sound, people missed the scooters 90% to 97% of the time [6]. The study included 88 people in four European countries, and 35 of them were blind or partially sighted [6]. Adding an alert sound made the scooters easier to detect in every version tested [6].
Federal rules require quiet electric and hybrid cars to make sound so people on foot can detect them [13]. That standard lists cars, trucks, buses and low speed vehicles, not bicycles or scooters [13]. On a bike or scooter, the warning is up to you.
Scooters and people on foot meet often. In a survey of 3,385 people in five countries, published in 2023, about 20% to 30% of e-scooter riders said they rode on sidewalks, whether it was allowed or not [14]. Half of the riders reported a near miss at some point [14]. People on foot in most of those countries found scooter riders annoying [14].
On a shared bike or scooter, find the bell or button and test it before you start. If it is broken, report it in the app and pick another vehicle. Delivery riders and fleet operators should choose sturdy bells and test them at the start of every shift.
What the law says about bells
Bell laws are a patchwork. Here is the picture as of October 2026. At the federal level, the safety rule for new bicycles covers brakes, steering, pedals, chains, tires, wheels, frames, seats and reflectors [5]. None of its sections calls for a bell [5]. So a new bike may come without one, and adding a bell is up to you.
States differ. Some require a bell, some simply allow one, and some focus on the warning riders give when passing people on sidewalks.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Bell and sidewalk passing rules in four states
| State | Bell or horn rule | Passing people on sidewalks |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Bell or device heard from at least 100 feet required. No sirens or whistles [4] | Not covered in the section reviewed |
| Minnesota | Bike may carry a horn or bell [2] | Yield to pedestrians and signal when needed [2] |
| Florida | Not covered in the section reviewed | Yield to pedestrians and signal before passing [1] |
| Oregon | Not covered in the section reviewed | Warn and yield, or face an offense [3] |
Outside the U.S., the UK Highway Code recommends fitting a bell to your bike [9].
Cities, park districts and trail managers may add speed limits, sidewalk bans or fleet equipment rules. Check trailhead signs and your city’s website.
Choosing and installing a bell
Bells are cheap and easy to add. Look at bike shops, outdoor and sporting goods stores, authorized e-bike and scooter dealers, the device maker’s parts service and online sellers. A bike shop can mount one so it clears your brake and shift levers.
For a child’s bike, pick a bell that small hands can work with a light push. For an e-scooter, choose one that fits the stem or bar without crowding the throttle or brake.
After you mount it, ride a quiet loop and ring while braking. If you cannot do both at once, move the bell.
Care, checks and common mistakes
A bell needs little upkeep. Ring it once before each ride. Check the clamp every few weeks, since vibration loosens screws. Wipe off grit, dry it after wet rides and charge an electronic horn when you charge your lights. Replace a bell that rusts, cracks or loses its ring.
Watch for these habits.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Common bell mistakes and better habits
| Common mistake | Better habit |
|---|---|
| Ringing right at someone’s back | Ring a few seconds out, then slow down |
| Ringing again and again | Ring once or twice, then speak |
| Treating the ring as “move now” | Wait, or go around slowly |
| Passing fast after ringing | Pass at close to the other person’s speed |
| Assuming you were heard | Look for a response first |
| Using a bell to warn drivers | Use lights, lane position and eye contact |
| Riding a shared vehicle with a broken bell | Report it and pick another |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a bell on my bike by law?
It depends on where you ride. New York requires a bell or similar device that can be heard at least 100 feet away [4]. Minnesota allows a horn or bell [2]. Federal rules for new bikes do not require one [5]. Some state sidewalk laws require an audible warning before you pass, even where a bell is not required [1, 3]. Check your state and local rules. A bell is worth having anywhere.
Is it rude to ring a bell at people walking?
Not when you do it well. A single early ring, followed by a friendly “passing on your left,” helps people know what is happening. What feels rude is a late, repeated ring that sounds like “get out of my way.” Slowing down shows you respect their space.
Should I use a bell or my voice?
Use both when you can. A bell carries farther and gets attention. Your voice adds details, such as which side you will pass on. Speaking works better near horses, small children and people who seem unsure. NHTSA’s tips mention both options for passing people on sidewalks [7].
How far ahead should I ring?
Ring while the person still has a few seconds to react. The faster you go, the farther back that point is. At 20 mph you cover about 29 feet each second, so on a fast e-bike you may need to ring more than 100 feet back, then slow as you close in.
What should I do if someone does not move?
Slow down and wait, or pass slowly with a wide gap if there is room. Do not ring harder. The person may not hear you or may not be able to move quickly. Sidewalk laws in states such as Florida and Oregon require riders to yield to people walking, even after a warning [1, 3].
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation encourages every rider to carry a working bell and to treat it as a courtesy, never as a claim to the right of way. A bell is one of the cheapest safety tools you can buy. Used well, it turns a surprise into a calm, shared moment on the path. Ring early, say which side, slow down and pass wide.
Then remember the most important rule. A signal asks for awareness. It never gives you the right of way. The person on foot still comes first, and stopping in time is your job.
Related articles
Sources and further reading
- 1The Florida Senate. The 2025 Florida Statutes, Section 316.2065: Bicycle regulations. 2025 edition; accessed October 2026. flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/316.2065
- 2Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. 2025 Minnesota Statutes, Section 169.222: Operation of bicycle. 2025 edition; accessed October 2026. revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/169.222
- 3Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 814 (2025 Edition), including ORS 814.410: Unsafe operation of bicycle on sidewalk. 2025 edition; accessed October 2026. oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors814.html
- 4New York State Senate. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, Section 1236: Lamps and other equipment on bicycles. No update date shown; accessed October 2026. nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/1236
- 5Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). 16 CFR Part 1512: Requirements for Bicycles. Up to date as of September 24, 2026. ecfr.gov/…/part-1512
- 6Walton T, Torija AJ, Hughes RJ, Elliott AS. Evaluation of auditory alerting systems for safe electric scooter operations. Scientific Reports 15(1):3424 (via PubMed; doi:10.1038/s41598-024-80975-1). Published January 2025. Data year: not stated in the abstract (virtual reality experiment and field trials with 88 participants in four European countries). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39870658
- 7National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Bicycle Safety: Bike Safety Tips for Kids and Adults. No update date shown; accessed October 2026. Data year: 2024. nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicycle-safety
- 8Smiley A, Ramos WD, Elliott LM, Wolter SA. Association between trail use and self-rated wellness and health. BMC Public Health 20(1):128 (via PubMed; doi:10.1186/s12889-020-8273-0). Published January 2020. Data year: April-October 2017 (surveys on eight Indiana trails). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32000732
- 9UK Department for Transport (GOV.UK). The Highway Code: Rules for cyclists (59 to 82). Last updated October 22, 2025. gov.uk/…/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82
- 10Haworth N, Schramm A, Twisk D. Comparing the risky behaviours of shared and private e-scooter and bicycle riders in downtown Brisbane, Australia. Accident Analysis and Prevention 152:105981 (via PubMed; doi:10.1016/j.aap.2021.105981). Published 2021. Data year: February 2019 (observations at six sites). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33549973
- 11Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition, Part 9: Traffic Control for Bicycle Facilities (Section 9B.12, Bicycles Yield to Peds sign, R9-6). December 2023. mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/11th_Edition/part9.pdf
- 12May KR, Walker BN. The effects of distractor sounds presented through bone conduction headphones on the localization of critical environmental sounds. Applied Ergonomics 61:144-158 (via PubMed; doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2017.01.009). Published 2017. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28237013
- 13Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). 49 CFR 571.141, Standard No. 141: Minimum sound requirements for hybrid and electric vehicles. Up to date as of October 2, 2026. ecfr.gov/…/section-571.141
- 14Šucha M, Drimlová E, Rečka K, Haworth N, Karlsen K, Fyhri A, Wallgren P, Silverans P, Slootmans F. E-scooter riders and pedestrians: Attitudes and interactions in five countries. Heliyon 9(4):e15449 (via PubMed; doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15449). Published April 2023. Data year: not stated in the abstract (online survey of 3,385 people in Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Norway and Sweden). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37123978
This article reflects the safety priorities of courteous, safe passing on shared paths and sidewalks by bike, e-bike and scooter riders. It is general education, not legal advice. State and local rules on bike equipment and sidewalk riding change, so verify them with official sources. For questions about the law where you ride, contact your state DMV or highway safety office. A local bike shop can help you choose and mount a bell. Reviewed October 2026.
Cite this article: Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation. “Bike bells and audible warnings: when to ring, how to pass and why you still must yield.” drivewithcare.org, https://drivewithcare.org/bike-bell-audible-warning-passing-etiquette/. Reviewed October 2026.
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