"On your left" - What does this mean to you?

[Trek420]

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

[TrekTheKaty]

While at a bike shop in Defiance, MO--we found a kid's toy that made a fog horn noise! We laughed about that all day! When we went back the next weekend, it was gone Everytime I come up behind clueless people, I want that fog horn--it's also bilingual. We have quite a few older, oriental people on our bike path. They clearly don't understand "on your left" but have learned "hello" means we are coming up behind and they step over, smile and wave. They understand "hello" and think we are just being friendly

Dogs on retractable leashes--I just cringe and wait for impact as I go over my handlebars.

Kids. I had one child who saw me, froze and smiled as I said "hello" and waved. Mom, however, freaked and bolted in front of me. SO, yes, don't split Mom and baby--even if BABY understands your intentions.

[kenyonchris]

Dogs on retractable leashes--I just cringe and wait for impact as I go over my handlebars.

DONT'T even get me started on those retractable leashes!!! I have had so many near crashes on patrol while riding on the path (which I never do on my personal bikes for all these reasons)...and seen many non-doggie people very unhappy when accosted by a dog on a retractable leash.
My dog heals when in public on a leash. Makes life better for him, the people around me, and me.
Those things are nuisances and dangerous.

[bmccasland]

To me "ON YOUR LEFT" is I'm going to pass on your left, or if I hear it, someone faster is coming up from behind on my left.

This past week I was riding the levee path with a new rider, and well, we were lolly gagging, and gabbing side-by-side But when we heard "on your left" one of us mashed down, pulled out in front of the other, so that we were single file, letting the other rider pass us safely.

We would call out to pedistrians "on your left", and some would hand wave that they heard us, while others did not.

Our levee path is shared by pedistrians, cyclists, and equistrians. Most of the time the equistrians ride the toe or sides of the levee and not the top. Yielding to a horse is all kinds of fun. I do NOT want to spook a horse. There's the whole mass thing, it's bigger than me.

I try to avoid the levee path in the early evening, around twilight, as that's when the strollers are out - where the levee path becomes an extension of the neighborhood. And as there's usually a breeze on top, it's slightly cooler (slightly). Too many people to make long haul riding a challenge.

The path is there for everyone, so I just remove myself from the mix.