Quote Originally Posted by sarahspins View Post
Case 2: Hike and bike trail at the park. Path is about 6' wide, paved. Couple is walking hand in hand taking up most of the path.. I slowed down a bit, said "on your left" as I approached, and the man stopped in his tracks, and stayed where he was (left side of the path) the lady also stopped, but turned around, put both arms out (???) essentially blocking the whole path and I ended up off the path and off my bike (not a fall exactly, but no traction in gravel I pretty much skid to a sideways stop and hopped off). She apologized profusely, but it still left me thinking that people just don't have a clue what proper passing entails... it's not like I expected them to hightail it out of my way (just moving over a bit to the right would have given me more than enough room to pass safely), but to STOP and effectively block my way completely? Uh, no....
I've learned whether it's hikers, kids, cyclists who seem new or newer and especially kids to say a cheery "good morning" or "I'm passing on your left" or "Hello! "

You never know what kids will do, and hikers often go to the left that is to say right smack into you.

Of course you should call out, but it does not have to literally be "on your left".

I rarely get to pass people, I hear the call out more than I say it