Quote Originally Posted by zoom-zoom View Post
This story is sad, but from the few times I have biked on the public path (it's the only way to get across a river without being on the 4-lane business route) I've come up behind people and called out "on your left/right" many times and had them move into my path (or they yakking on the cell phone or have their iPod cranked and can't hear me at all). I don't know why it is, but people seem to become a little mentally slow when given warning and lose all common sense. I would not be the least bit surprised if this cyclist did call out a warning and instead of moving safely away from the cyclist's path she moved the opposite/wrong direction.
This is precisely my experience in Manhattan. Saying "on your left" is the correct thing to do, but it's largely pointless. When you factor in language differences, the use of headphones, the consumption of alcohol and traffic noise, you have to assume no one hears you. I do use my bell in connection with "on your left", but I doubt it matters much.

Sometimes I wish stories like this would mention whether headphones were in use -- not because I want to malign the deceased or even assign blame, but because increased awareness of the problem might do some good.

Regardless, it's very sad.