Originally Posted by
Prowler
I mostly ride deserted MUPs and have standardized on a bell for each bike. 98% effective after a light, ice cream truck “ding ding”. Most often I get a wave of acknowledgement or even appreciation. However on rare occasions I encounter someone who has no clue what the M in MUP means. Then it’s an escalation of dings, louder and more frequent until I blow by. On very rare occasions, when they persist in blocking the way, I’m forced to use some of the editorial vernacular I learned in the steel mill. I ain’t proud of it but they earned it. No regrets!
I think 99 times out of 100, the blocking conversation happens because people just kind of forget they're on a MUP and act like it's a sidewalk. A gentle reminder works really well. Around these parts, though, I think people are more likely to be confused by a bell than an actual "excuse me".