IF ONLY all adults knew what that five year old does.. I frequently announce my presence to pedestrians on the local bicycle path with a repeated "on your left." Those who hear me (most don't because they've got i-pods in their ears) often don't understand what I want at all. They usually wait until the second announcement and then turn their heads to see who's interrupting their conversation. Then they move in random directions, creating additional hazard.

I'm seriously thinking of getting a bicycle bell to see if it has any better recognition factor. A canned "air horn" may be appropriate for the hard-core-ignorers.

The absolute worst offenders are those with kids and/or pets (often untethered). I've almost collided with some woman's child who (after I'd alerted the mom to my presence) wandered directly into the middle of the bike path. The second worst offenders are groups of three or more who spread out in a line accross the bike path and are so intent on their conversations that they don't hear your request for space. Almost as bad are pedestrians so involved with their cell phone or i-pod that they wouldn't notice anything short of a nuclear blast.

The cell phone drivers on the streets are a menace too.

God must look out for bicyclists!