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

[Ana]

"On your left" IMO, means "please hold your line and speed so I may make a safe pass, thank you"

Agreed!

I have to say that momentarily (especially if they sneak up suddenly and then you hear a voice behind you) I am startled and cannot get my thoughts together. For some reason, my reaction to being startled is to change my direction of travel but I've since learned to maintain my speed and direction of travel; and let them do maneuver around me. I think it's mostly due to brief panic of something-unexpected-is-happening. It's especially difficult for me not to be startled if the person is traveling at a much higher speed than than I am--not only because it is more difficult to understand them as they approach--because everything happens more quickly!