Bicycle bell giveaway aims to promote safety on Cleveland, Tenn., greenway

Zack Gaston, floor salesman and mechanic at Scott's Bicycle in Cleveland, installs a Sunlite handlebar bell on a bicycle Monday, just like the kind the store is donating Sunday to riders on the Cleveland Greenway.

Photo by Tim Barber.

CLEVELAND, Tenn.—A local bicycle shop and the Cleveland/Bradley Greenway are teaming up to help cyclists and pedestrians safely share the greenway.

On Sunday, Scott's Bicycle Shop will install up to 150 bicycle bells free to anyone who brings a bike to the greenway.

The key to the event is bringing the bicycles to the site where they will be installed, Scott's manager Josh Callahan said. It does no good, he said, to give the bells away when they end up in a drawer at home.

Although there have been few complaints, bikers approaching pedestrians from behind are a safety concern, said Cameron Fisher, chairman of the greenway board.

"Sometimes bikers are not aware of how quiet they are as they approach pedestrians," he said. "A bike going 10 miles an hour colliding with a pedestrian walking three miles an hour can have some dangerous consequences."

Fisher said a bell, a voice or any kind of warning to let walkers know about an approaching bicycle is helpful.

The bell giveaway will be from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Harlen Painter trailhead at the northern bend of Harris Circle.

But bicycle riders are encouraged to get on the greenway anywhere and ride to the location, Callahan said.

The bell giveaway coincides with the installment of new signs promoting proper greenway etiquette, including rules for bikes, pedestrians, skates and pets.

The bells are for any age rider and any bike and take only a couple of minutes to install, Callahan said.