Originally Posted by madpogue

This is why I have a bell on every bike (except my go-fast), and a horn that I switch from bike to bike. The bell gets the attention of people using the oncoming lane to cruise (which is exactly what we're talking about here) about 90% of the time. Usually, we exchange "thank-yous"; the pedestrian/rollerblader/slowpoke is thankful that I'm giving some notice. The other 10% of the time, if they don't respond to the bell the first time, I blast the horn.