Quote Originally Posted by witeowl View Post
I came up to a couple a while ago, slowed down, and yelled out, first, "Hi there," to see what they would do. They stopped and moved farther apart, so I continued, "Um, passing, um, in between, I guess."

They probably still don't know what I said or what they should have been doing, but that's the price you pay for a nice multi-use path. I'm just glad it doesn't have a speed limit!
Yep, I've done the same thing...talking and riding slowly between them, just like I do with any kids on bikes on a trail or roadside...heck, I can't assume that they'll know what "passing on your left" is, right?? So, I talk to them, saying, "I'm coming along over here on this side, please stay over there, good job, thanks a lot, that's a nice bike you have!" and the like...it even worked when I was in the final approach to the finish line of a 1-day double century; it was on a bridge with a separate bike trail/walkway and I was ready to be done with this ride! It was about 6:30-7PM on a Saturday and I noticed that the few riders ahead of me were slowing and getting backed-up...I initially thought that there was an accident and a cyclist was down, but as I got closer I saw that it was a family pretty much blocking the whole path. Parents had baby and toddler and were stopped and looking over the rail to the view and river below...2-3 other kids were on tricycle and bike w/training wheels wandering all over and blocking our progress across...As I approached, I called out to the kiddo on the trike as I tapped him to be unpredictable and a threat to my safety and the 2 adults who were present had their backs to all of us and weren't paying any attention. I yelled out: "could you please stop? good! yeah, right there, stop! I'm going to ride next to you now, please don't move, ok? Great job...thanks alot"...voila! - home free and safely off my bike and to the beer garden in Portland!