I don't mean to dismiss your experiences by any means but as it is right now this thread makes it seems like it's a hellhole to bike in Toronto. I thought that a good experience like I feel I have pretty much everyday, would be good to post about, speaking as a daily cyclist commuter.
Well I think I cycle considerably more than you do if you just commute. And yes, cycling in Toronto is dangerous...or have you not been following the news of late? Some days, when I stay away from main roads and overcrowded bike paths, and cyclists acting dangerously, to me and others on the road, I obviously love it, but when I see cyclists clipping pedestrians, cutting off drivers and other cyclists, and going through red light after red light, not indicating turns and then lecturing about wearing a helmet, after doing all manner of incredibly stupid things, I react. Odd that.
There are some excellent, considerate and *aware* cyclists in Toronto. They're in a minority, and they pay the price for the others who couldn't give a fug, giving us all a bad name.
Also how do you know exactly what the people ringing the bell are doing it for? I wouldn't necessarily assume they're doing it "against" you. I feel also that bell ringing should be encouraged rather than discouraged as it provides additional information.
Because I've asked them. If incessant bell-ringing is your thing, then how would you react to motorists beeping their horns incessantly? You don't ring the bells all the time. It's worse then crying wolf. You ring them when you need to get someone's attention, as required by law and common sense.
Like the soccer zealots incessantly beeping their horns yesterday, it made it impossible to cycle safely, since any necessary signal of danger is lost in the cacophony. Perhaps you don't notice? Perhaps that's why you ring your bell incessantly? I see people ringing their bells when a vehicle has already taken the lane, legally in many cases. No-one hears it save for other cyclists and pedestrians, so why do it? It gives false signals.
And I get really pizzed at idiot cyclists who insist on ting-a-ling when you slow down for stop-lights, since they want to blast through, and want you out of the way.
Because these things never happen to you, evidently, it doesn't bother you. I seriously question your sense of awareness...
Btw: I don't have a car, haven't for decades, I cycle everywhere this time of year, and I've lived and cycled in many other cities and nations. London, UK is the only other city where I've witnessed such awful cycling. Do you wear pink shades by any chance?
