On my way to work this morning, I was on the trail and heard someone from behind me yell "Passing !". Somebody passing me on the trail isn't terribly notable, but this was a little different. Normally people just pass without saying anything, but either way, they usually move by fairly quickly.

I moved to the right a little to give them some room and at first I didn't see anything. Then I notice a front wheel out of the corner of my eye and eventually the rider. I thought maybe they had slowed down because it was somebody I knew but it wasn't. For awhile he wasn't really going by me at all, or at least just barely.

He must have noticed the confused expression on my face because he then adds: "Slowly !" to further describe his passing method.

Gave me a chuckle.

well, you have to give him one for honesty.

heart warming. was he at least passing you on your left?

His warning worked, he got your attention that he was about to pass you. I have started using a cow bell on my MUP cruiser just like I have on my Mtb. So far, everyone hears me coming and I don't have to say a word. People politely either move over, or stand there and watch me pass. A little extreme maybe, but very effective and safe.

A handlebar bell works for maybe half of the people I pass. (One pair of ladies started looking around as I whanged on the bell repeatedly before one of them thought to look around.) But what do you do with the people that are plugged in, earphone turned way up so they can't even hear you when you yell loudly?!

run 'em over?

You would be very busy at the MUP's around here. Seems everyone is plugged into something and tuned out of reality.

Had a young fella on a nice looking road bike do that to me once. I was on my old steel road bike that I had fitted with a 2 speed hub on the back (had to - I'm getting old). I had seen him behind for a few miles slowly catching me up. He called "passing" just as we hit a long gradual uphill and I swear he took forever to get by. I looked at him figuring he wanted to chat about my 35 year old bike, but he just stared straight ahead. I gave him the benefit of the doubt by deciding that he must have done a double century before he encountered me. After passing, he slowed, but I didn't have the heart to return the favor. It was just weird.

Oooh, this type really burns me, just like the kids who feel obligated to pull ahead of me (and into the pedestrian crossing) at the stop lights, and who then proceed to move at a relative snail's pace after the signal turns green.

In either case, if their pace isn't too too slow, I'll draft close behind for a while with my ease and their discomfort in mind, then pass (closely) when it is convenient.

In my neck of the woods the common courtesy statement for passing someone is "on your left", as in passing on your left. Well not too long ago (a few weeks) I decide to take the MUP home from work and encountered a woman and her teen daughter who instead of moving off to the right, moved to the left and nearly caused me to crash into them. If it wasn't for me swerving right at nearly the last moment there would have been a pile of bikes and limbs on the trail... in hind sight it's kind of funny, but at the time it wasn't.

Yup. Cowbells are for sissies. Cowcatchers are for serious riders.

That is a typical reaction from far too many people walking on the MUP's and it makes you think that saying nothing is safer, that way they don't move suddenly. But that spooks them and so far, I have had good results with the cow bell on my bikes. It's simple, works and I don't have to say a word.

It is a Mtb standard because many times, you can see another rider coming around a turn with trees and branches in the way.

If a pedestrian's erroneous reaction seems to create a dangerous situation that requires evasive maneuvers, it means you contributed to the danger. Slow down when you get near people. Sometimes you have to slow way down. Don't let anything surprise you.

Yesterday I was riding on Greenway our version of a MUP. I rang my bell twice because one ring sounds exactly like an iPhone text alert. I also say "coming up behind you!" Sometimes if they don't turn/ wave/ respond.


These two ladies were walking. I rang my bell and said coming up behind you and the switched sides.. they were walking more to the edge of the path though and I was laughing as I rode between them. I said you all switched sides and they said yes and kept laughing. it was funny.

When I'm riding on the MUP, I have now taken to slowing and saying "I'm going to pass on your left." My voice is coming to them from the left. Then, after passing, I speed back up. I started this after having too many people react like squirrels, dodging left then right. Some people even say "thanks." I always do.

The thing that gets my goat are the groups of three, four, or more that take up the entire path, deep in conversation, budging for no one, in either direction - I refer to them as the "oblivious brigades."

Oh, the I-pod zombies? Just go by them.

And if you get ***** it's your own fault for dressing provocatively.

In a bike-pedestrian collision, most people will look for fault more in the cyclist than in the pedestrian. We have to cover our behinds.

For many people, hearing a bell or "On your left" causes them to look over their right shoulder, and move slightly to the left.

Tom (@Noglider) is right - drive defensively, even on a bike. Maybe especially on a bike. I always assume a car's going to stop in the crosswalk, not before it, or look left but not right if making a right turn. If I'm wrong, I slowed for nothing, but I'm right often enough to have avoided accidents.

This happens to me 50% of the time I say your left. The worst one was when they gave me a dirty look like I didn't warn them.

Now I pass pedestrians and dog walkers very very slowly on multiuse paths.

I don't which is more fun during my morning commute: twitchy, oblivious brigades of teenagers, or the self-satisfied peloton of spandex-clad road warriors.

I'm fortunate, except for family fun rides on Sundays pulling my toddler in a baby trailer, I do all my riding on roads. But when we ride on our mup/river walk, I slow way down and pop the brake levers to get their attention. I go slow enough when passing that when I say on your left and they go left I have reasonable enough time to pass on the right. Also fortunately our mup is never really crowded. Although it's recently picked up with pokey mon seekers. Well at least they're outside walking and not inside playing a video game.

I like the cowbell idea even though the junk collectors use them here. A typical bell is too common, almost always ignored. I used an air horn for awhile, however even that had less than a 50% success rate, and now sits in the box of trial and error bike parts.

I have learned that it is easier and safer to slow down and wait if its not possible to pass without disruption.

At least the guy didn't say "gas" after "passing."