Originally Posted by
aruban
The problem with "On Your Left" is the by the time they hear you, they just hear "....Left" so they instinctively jump to their left, right on my path. The best is for them to stay on their own course, I will go around them. The bell just makes them aware that I'm coming and won't startle them.
I've seen this in action as part of a clutch of pedestrians. My kid goes to a bike-friendly college which is visited several times a year by parents who act as if they've never seen a bike. What usually happens is the cyclist rings a bell and/or shouts "On your left" and the walkers freeze in place while they try to recall which side is left. At least they are stationary and the rider can then go around them.