Originally Posted by
Papa Tom
I slow down as much as possible and get as close to the pedestrians as possible, then gently say (in a calm, conversational voice) "passing on your left." Like the bike bell described above, this seems to startle and/or offend people a lot less than the usual holler.
The one thing I don't see mentioned very often in threads such as this (there's a lot of them and it's always popping up) is slowing down.
I don't call out. I don't have a bell (I want to pick one up.) I slow down as I come up behind them to close to their pace. Then as I approach, I too gently say "coming by" or something like that, or give a greeting. Where I ride, it is mostly older folks walking or biking very slow side by side. I wait for them to react as they may move single file on the right, they may split on each side and slow down, or they really panic and pull completely off and stop.
Never do I just buzz right on by calling out and not slow down to their pace.