When I'm in the role of pedestrian on our MUP, I prefer cyclists give me a verbal warning. A bell just tells me someone is coming, but not which side they intend to pass on. I hear a bell and all I can do is hope the rider knows the rules of the trail. "On your left" at least lets me know where to expect them, or if they shout "on your right," it tells me they're nuts and I need to seek cover immediately.

I'd also be interested in knowing what the "correct" response to a bell or other warning is. This is going to sound curmudgeonly in the extreme, but I've had cyclists angrily repeat their shout of "on your left" to me, too, because I don't move out of their way when they shout it. If they shout it more than once, I'll gesture to let them know I've heard them, but I figure they've told me where they're going to pass, and we all should understand the rules of the road. If I'm already on my side of the center line, it's not my responsibility to yield to them. As a pedestrian, I have the right of way - they go around me. And if there's oncoming traffic, the overtaking cyclist is supposed to slow and wait to pass, not try to do a high-speed squeeze between me and the oncoming person. I'd say about 20% do that, the other 80% will buzz by within a couple of inches.