Quote Originally Posted by Kalidurga View Post
Whether you're using your voice or a bell, you need to warn people far enough in advance to give them time to be startled and then figure out what to do. I usually whistle or yell "Bicycle behind you!!" when I'm a few hundred feet from pedestrians or slower cyclists and the response is pretty much always the same: They'll generally turn around and see me, swivel their head around while they assess the situation, make a decision, then move to one side or the other. I will then steer towards the side that they've left clear for me and say hello or thank you as I go by.
This is what I try to do - is give plenty of warning - but of course, this is difficult if there are lots of people on the trail. The other day I gave lots of warning to two ladies on a down hill section who were walking next to each other going the same way I was going - I was overtaking them; They were walking along, I said bike coming - on your left - and they both proceeded to bump into each other and almost knock each other down, then look behind and finally realize after some more jostling which way to go. It was fairly fun to watch.

spoke