Under the proposal, wayward cyclists caught without a bell could be handed a four-figure on-the-spot fine. They would also be under a legal obligation to use the bell to warn cyclists of their presence.
Currently, cycle manufacturers have to fit bells, but there is no obligation for cyclists to keep them fitted.
Stephen Ladyman, the transport minister, said the government would begin consulting on changing the law when new EU bicycle standards are introduced in November. Officials believe the measure would help protect pedestrians.
In a parliamentary written answer, Ladyman called the introduction of the new standards “a sensible moment to review our current policies on cycle construction, including the question of bells”.
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Phil Willis, the Liberal Democrat MP who asked the question, said an elderly constituent had raised concerns with him after being scared by speeding cyclists.
He denied the proposal was nannyish. “I don’t think anybody would say a motorcycle or car should not have a horn, and it should be the same for a bicycle,” he said.
Craig MacLean, a World Championship cycling gold medallist, disagreed. “The people who ride like idiots are going to ride like idiots regardless,” he said.