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I don't know if Alliston's defence made the case that shouting at pedestrians is often more effective and quicker than using a bell or horn. Also swerving on a bike can be an alternative to braking, if you are not going too fast. These points don't seem to have got through to the judge who referred to Alliston's shouting as proof of culpability.
IMO, trying to make others modify their behaviour (by shouting, ringing a bell or blasting a horn) is very rarely an effective way to avoid a collision. I base that on my own experiences on bicycles, motorbikes and in cars, on the road, on off road trails/pathways and on the velodrome.
If someone has put themself in your path either by not seeing you or by deciding they have more right to be there than you (and this has happened in all the vehicles and locations I listed above) I think it is much safer to leave them to their stupidity/arrogance and go about avoiding them.
I fully believe that if Alliston had kept his mouth shut on that day, Briggs would be alive and he'd still be skidding around London.
M_V-
Definitely, bells/horns etc should be used to notify other road users of your presence, not "get out of my way".
I noticed this when driving in Italy last week. At junctions, tight bends, pulling out of parking spaces, other passing cars would give a little toot to just let you know they were there. I always thought Italians were terrible drivers (a lot are) but it was actually very helpful and I wish we used it in the same way over here instead of "get out my fucking way"
PhilDAS
It seems that the judge has based Alliston's sentence on previous cases, particularly that of Darryl Gittoes http://road.cc/node/155056 . The judge didn't consider the actual circumstances of the cases, Gittoes hit a pensioner in a pedestrian only area while riding a bike with no brakes at all. She did consdier that Gittoes pleaded guilty, he got a 12 month sentence that would have been 18 without the guilty plea.
Would Charlie Alliston have been better advised to plead guilty to Wanton and Furious ... and not guilty to manslaughter? I don't know what the risks are of that strategy but it would have allowed him to express regret/remorse in court.
I don't know if Alliston's defence made the case that shouting at pedestrians is often more effective and quicker than using a bell or horn. Also swerving on a bike can be an alternative to braking, if you are not going too fast. These points don't seem to have got through to the judge who referred to Alliston's shouting as proof of culpability.