Ding, Ding! Bell or No?

[PamNY]

Though some folks on bikes know what it means, most pedestrians have no clue what "On your left" means. Why should they? I too never heard it until I started being a cyclist.
Mostly what they hear is "mumble mumble LEFT!" anyway, and they obediently jump to their left.

Much better to call out "Bicycle!", "Nice day!" or "Passing you!". I think calling out just about anything is better than "On your left".

I agree. I never heard "on your left" till I started cycling.

Especially when I'm in a very jumbled situation and I know there are tourists -- like the esplanade/World Financial Center area or the Brooklyn Bridge -- I tend to say "Hello!" That's an English word most people know, and I hope it sounds friendly. I might use the bell as well.

Typically both the peds and I are moving slowly and they turn around to see what's up and it all works out.

I sometimes chuckle at these discussions -- with such a diverse group, we cycle in very different situations, after all. There can't possibly be a hard and fast rule that works for everyone.