Giving way to the bell

Often walking paths are shared with cyclists. A simple courtesy that bike riders are expected to offer is a simple ring of a bell as they approach a walker.

Why is it that so few cyclists ring their bells when they approach walkers? their bikes are so quiet nowdays that you can never hear them coming. Even if there is enough room for a cyclist to pass, a bell ring is appreciated to help walkers who may be thinking of crossing the path or avoid being startled as a cyclist whisses past.

To further complicate matters, of those who do ring are usually children who ring the bell for no other reason than they have a bell and want to use it. Whilst this is much less of an issue it can be really annoying turning round to the sound of a bell only to find a kid playing.

To those few cyclists who follow bell etiquette, thank you. To those who don't, its not too late to change.