JoeyBike

Every man would benefit from a punch in the mouth when they were a child. Just so they know it's a possibility throughout life. Thankfully, my "lesson" came from a friend who stopped hitting me when I asked him to. I was a freshman in high school I think. Maybe 8th grade.

italktocats

i can take the quick route through the park (inc all the ******** who walk on the road with unleashed dogs) or the long way with no dogs running into me

i take the long way home

JoeyBike

Exactly. Only thing dumber is TWO dogs ON leash spread out across the entire MUP. One to the right, and one to the left. What brand of applesauce is inside that dog owner's head?

bikecrate

I'm not found of "on your left" in the first place. Too vague. Also have gotten strange reactions from people. I personally don't like to give a verbal warning unless I have to. I'd rather pass when it's safe and at a low enough speed I can stop if necessary. If I do say something it is more on the lines of "excuse me" to get their attention and "thank you" as I'm passing.

In the can't please everyone category brought up by the OP...this past Sunday I was on an open two lane road and was passing another cyclist. I was about as far over on the left as you could go with plenty of room to pass. The cyclist yells out to me "on your left". I assume he wanted a verbal warning. Also in roughly the same area I had a woman on a MUP do the same thing last month. Once again I was a far over as possible. Maybe this area has many rude cyclist who buzz people.

JoeyBike

Same here. Plus I only pass at a spot where I could bail into the grass if I had to (on MUPs).

Rule Nazis more like it. Also, demanding you call out is an admission of guilt that THEY are likely to screw up and cause a crash. If they were aware and safe there would not be any reason for you to request an invitation from them to pass them.

livedarklions

I have no problem when I use "passing on your left", it's really not ambiguous. Actually, I have been thanked for it more than once.
I give bike riders a warning regardless of how far over I'm on the path.

I don't use "on your left" because it is confusing. I also have seen people get confused by bells.

Very rarely, I'll decide that a pedestrian is so far over to the right that a warning is more likely to startle them than an unannounced pass many feet to their left.

JoeyBike

Ha. Coyote bait.

I would have just taken to the grass. You were riding ATBs after all. Why risk the encounter?