Maybe I'm old school. But it used to be when you were passing someone on the Greenway, or any trail, you said "On your Left" or ding a bell, or do something to announce you were passing.
I ride the Greenway from Nicollet to 5th st. almost daily on my way home from work.
I often don't ride fast, cause it's my ride home from work and I'm usually just relaxing, enjoying the ride.
In the past month I've been passed many, many times. Never once an "On your left" or a ding of the bell. Just folks passing me without warning, often very close. Today I had two roadies split up and pass me very closely on my right and my left, all in silence.
So my question is, am I old fashioned to say "On your Left" when passing, or ding my bell?
Is this old school? Is the new etiquette to just pass by close and in silence?
Thanks, Bill.

To answer all your questions, absolutely not. I'm an avid bell ringer/"Passing on your left"-er and when I'm passed in silence I usually give a "How about some warning when you pass" and add a "Jerk!" or "Jackass!" to that if they buzz by really close or really fast.

I think people either don't know they should be announcing their approach or they think it's silly or too much effort. I can kinda relate to the silliness/effort point as I used to feel that way about using hand signals but the more people hear it the more they will become accustomed to it.

And one should NEVER pass on the right. Also, I'm always amazed when someone can't wait until it's safe to pass and will try to go around when there are oncoming cyclists. I suppose it's the same reason people will shoal you at every stoplight even though you pass them immediately each time the light turns green or will roll by you and through a stop sign as you're slowing down for it. They are either unaware of their discourtesy or they don't care about anyone else on the road/trail but themselves.

If things now are different than before I imagine it's due to more riders with less riding experience out there. Keep setting a good example!

Did you read Thursday's editorials. There was a small rant about passing cyclists spoiling his ride by anouncing "on your left".

On my commute I pass through Hyland Park in Bloomington. The trail users there are not accustomed to "Trail Etiquette". Too many times I annouced "on your left" and all they really hear is LEFT and take it as a command annd move left. I've switched to "good morning", "hello", "nice day".

I am sometimes annoyed by the unannonced pass but have decided to spin it as positive (at least in my own head). As they approach, they can see from my form, cadance, line, and placement that I'm an experienced confident road warrior and no annoucement is needed (one can dream, right)

Scot

Here's how I approach it: If I'm on a wide trail like the Midtown GW and can cross the center line to pass on the left, I don't give any warning. I figure it's like being in a car - I don't honk every time I pass someone. People should be expecting to be passed on a busy route like that, and I expect people to glance over their shoulder if they're going to cross the center line.

But if it's a narrow on street bike path or just the shoulder of a regular road or whatever, I give my friendliest "on you left".

Also, if there are kids in the mix, I slow WAAAAY down and say "on you left" as gently as possible and wait for them to wobble out of my way. Kids are comically horrible at biking - they just steer wherever they're looking, which is often right at my front wheel when I'm passing.

Bob Dole agrees

I ring a bell. I think less that 10% of the people who pass me give an "on your left" or ring a bell. I suppose the effort is so great they can't speak. Or they're assholes.

Hahaha, hey guys. I glanced at this thread and read, "Partying etiquette on the Greenway - Is there any?" and I was all, "NOW, we're getting somewhere."

Anyhoo, summer, y'all. HI!

Yep, most people are assholes. If you think the Greenway is bad, hop in a car and try driving 494 at 8am on a Monday morning...

John Mccain agrees.

This is what omgmrj does.

Yep, except I don't call "on your left" any more as it seems to confuse many. All my bikes have bells and I ring it some ways back. That seems to work better.

+1

I used to rock the "on your left" when it was close but people would sometimes move left and it would also take awhile for them to comprehend what was going on. I feel with a ding on the bell, instead of trying to figure out what I said and react, people just instinctively move away from the sound.

For most of human history, I'd imagine it was a good habit to move away from sounds coming up from behind you...

I also prefer a bell ding. In the least, people tend to glance back and hold a straight line which I guess is good enough.

I prefer to use "passing on your left" when I get the feeling the person or persons won't understand what I'm saying.

Same. I'll use my bell if there's enough room to pass but it's still rather busy.

I haven't gotten one "OYL" or ding this season, but I've given a lot (and get passed rather often). I'd like to figure that, like Scot_Gore put it, that other faster cyclists don't think they need to warn, even though I'd prefer it. 90% of the time I'm getting passed by roadies who blow through stop signs and make car traffic stop for them (true stories) as well, so an OYL would probably be pretty rare.

When saying OYL I often get a "Thanks" in return. That's cool.

Ride down yellow line from SLP to River Rd. Derby anyone who gets in your way.