Commuter cyclists, what is the correct bell etiquette?

Twice now I’ve had other cyclists turn around at a light and snap at me for ringing my bell too much. How much is too much?

I generally ring it on and off when I’m in a bike lane next to a crowded sidewalk and I can I see some of the pedestrians are stepping off the sidewalk and into the lane.

I ring twice and call out to let someone know I am passing them. This doesn’t happen often because I mostly bike downtown and I don’t like to move fast when I’m around other people.

The only time I can think of it being an excessive amount of ringing is when I am in an unprotected lane next to parked cars and I see the brake lights of one of those cars light up. If I can’t safely get out of door strike range, I am laying on the bell and not stopping until I either pass the car or make eye contact with the person in there so that they don’t door me.

I have done similar things to get the attention of drivers trying to edge into the bike lane or who otherwise seem like they haven’t noticed that I am in killing range of their massive trucks.

I’m not using the bell as a “get the fuck out of my way” button but a “hello, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there is a person here!” button, and I try to make that clear by giving other cyclists their space and smiling when people make eye contact.

Is this rude? Should I be yelling instead? Or should I just say fuck it and set up a portable speaker to play the loudest music possible wherever I go? I am trying to be polite here, but I am trying harder to be safe.