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Sadly because of all those impatient cyclists, when peds on towpaths hear bells now they assume you're some dick trying to force your way through, even if you're just trying to say 'I'm here, and I don't want to scare you, I will ease past when it's safe and polite to do so'.
I've yet to work out how to sound my bell in order to get that longwinded message across, so I tend to just ring way way in advance and look meek.
The canals seem to be rife with anti social biking in my limited experience, using bells the same way wanker drivers use horns ie "I'm behind you and am entitled to go faster so you should get out of my way" or worse still shouting "BIKE" and expecting anybody else using the path to defer to your greater need.