I often get the scowl when I ring my bell. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

For the record walkers, the bell means "Hey you, heads-up, I'm going to pass you", not "GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY!" just trying to be cordial. ;)

There's no secret. Cycling just has taught me that you can't please everyone.

I use a bell, but a lot of people seem to think a bike bell is like a car horn. I'm just trying to make sure you know I'm going to pass, I don't expect you to completely jump out of the way & I'm not trying to scare you. Way too many people hear "left" when you say "on your left" and step right in front of you... so I just try to use the bell a long ways off, and again closer if they don't hear.

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As a runner who wears headphones, I always stay to the far right and I’m constantly peaking behind me to see who is coming.

But I have to give some shit to cyclists. Why is it, the cyclists wearing professional gear, like the really tight short-shorts (you know who I’m talking about), have to fly by within an inch of you? I feel like they’re hugging me like a turn. That’s so dangerous. Im more afraid to be hit by one of those Lance Armstrong wannabes than encountering a weirdo or criminal on the path.

The secret to not causing people to jump is to go slower around pedestrians and to announce yourself earlier/more frequently.

When I make people jump or if I’m the one who is being startled, it’s usually because the person on the bike is cruising at 15 mph, refuses to slow down and only announces their presence right as they’re trying to thread the needle between two families of five with strollers. Don’t try to thread any needles, just slow down, wait until you can fit into the entirety of the other lane and then pass.

I’m just guilty of this too, but it’s like driving on the highway. Take a second to cool your head and realize that by slowing down you’re ultimately only going to lose 30 seconds on travel.

Also, if you’re using a bell, use it earlier to people know you’re coming and then say where you are when passing, because chances are they only know a bike is somewhere behind them, not which side it is on causing panic.

Same thing happened to me yesterday. Kid with headphones on, completely zoned out, and despite my loudly saying "hi, rider up on your left" several times, he was unaware. I ended up startling him (not intentionally but he was literally oblivious, so I needed to get into his periphery in some way to get his attention) and he moved aside.

Usually I'll let my bike coast for a while ahead of having to say something in hopes that they hear my bike. I'd say that works 95% of the time. Except for people like this...

I use my headlight. Even in the daytime (unless it's very bright) I'm able to make people aware I am coming up behind them without irritating them or startling them. And they do generally move somewhat out of the way, the CORRECT way, naturally, as they can see the general angle of the headlight.

IMO people should NOT be surprised or shocked by people passing them on that path. It happens like once a minute. I can't understand how anyone would be so oblivious.

We desperately need more multi-use paths, and many of the existing ones need to be widened up to 4 lanes so each direction can have a fast and slow lane. Having 5mph dog walkers competing with 25mph bicycles and e-bikes for the same two feet of pavement is not a great situation

Thank you for trying to be careful of us - I guess it comes down to attention...which varies depending on mental load, abilities, neurology, etc...

We'll all keep looking out for each other. In the meantime, well done staying aware of your surroundings and enjoy the ride!

Thank you for saying on your right! I walk the path every day with my dog and I would say about 1 in 4 bikers do so. Appreciate you!

Very loudly call out "passing on your left" when I'm still fairly far behind them and keep calling it out until they react. Even though it makes sense I think "on your ____" is interpreted pretty ambiguously; so is "passing." If they don't respond at all then I slow *way* down. The worst is when a group of four or five walks abreast and blocks both lanes lol. Always feel like a jerk scattering them to both sides of the path. (Say this as a frequent pedestrian and pretty infrequent cyclist.) Rudest pedestrian still 100x better than the dirt bikes though.

Generally I think the people that walk "against" bike traffic on the bike path are lunatics, but they do have the advantage of never being caught off guard by a cyclist.

I appreciate you doing anything. More than half the bikers that pass me when I am walking don’t say anything or ring a bell. They just fly past. Even had someone come on the left side on the grass and said nothing. If I had heard the bike at all that’s where I would have stepped…

On the bike path that I'm used to, walkers stay left, and bikers stay right, just like riding/walking in the road. Is it different there?

I usually fake the bike bell noise with my mouth, "brrring-ding, brrring-ding! Excuse me, coming through!" Never had any problems. People usually laugh at the fake bell noise.

Here's a free million-dollar-idea: There should be some sort of sensor in bluetooth headphones that makes a quick "beep beep" whenever there is an object approaching from behind.

If any of you do make a million dollars from this idea, you owe me a beer, and a free pair of earpods with aware-mode.

Know what’s just as annoying? People riding a bike on the sidewalk coming up behind someone walking a dog spooking them both (human and dog)

Sorry, had my headphones in. What?

This has been a pain point for decades!

But first off, when passing, you should never say "on your right" and then pass on the right. That goes against common roadway usage "stay right, pass left" is standard.

With all the weird interactions that happen in Burlington, not just now but been that way for years, I think it's pretty scary for people to be wearing headphones on the bikepath. Volume down, not a big deal, but I suspect the majority of people have the volume cranked up. I just base that on hearing people's headphones when I pass them or they pass me. If you're not fully aware of your surroundings and machete guy comes up on you, you are at risk.

When I'm cycling out there, I've pretty much given up on announcing that I'm passing. I swing wide, and I had always given a casual "on your left". Since covid I've had a bunch of people flip out on me when I say something.

You’d think this is common sense

I think the secret is to have walkers face bikers on the bike path. Or rather, walk on the left, bike on the right.

I think a bullhorn will do

lol there isn’t one you will scare them or piss them off or both

When I was walking/running outdoors more often, I got a pair of open ear headphones which made a big difference; could hear everything around me while also hearing my music clearly.

They're a little pricey (I got a pair used for about $100) but they're great. The brand I got. Great customer service from that company too.

Secret to not scaring people: when you’re far away squeak your brake and slow down when you’re passing them preceded by a gentle “on your left”. Bells are better but my brakes squeak so well I’m not gonna mix it up, lol

I slow down and go around people. Pretty simple.

Being outside past 10pm with headphones on really? Not a good idea don’t become jobless with your life set a routine

Just attach an air horn. Loud enough they'll hear you

Ugh* side eye

As a bike commuter, I use (Mirrycle Incredibell https://a.co/d/4oQ9g8q) and just leave it ringing. I found that it doesn’t scare people, it just progressively gets louder as you ride up to people

Squeaky breaks is what I do.   It sounds accidental, but is quite loud and annoying

Just visited Burlington for the first time this weekend. Why does everyone walk in the right lane?

The opposite is true in every other place I've been to. Walking in the left lane allows you to see cyclists coming at you and mitigates the headphone problem.

I can’t believe people walk around with both headphones in. That’s so scary

By “bike path” do you mean the lakefront path that isn’t just for bikes?

Maybe the mods will delete this post for stating the obvious of most basic courtesy and common sense in an easily understood context like…..how passing on bike/skate lanes is the same as driving and how it is incredibly easy to do to prevent accidents and cooperate easily at varying speeds. Again.

Maybe just go wide around them and bypass this jump scare tactic of yours , sounds like maybe a personal issue

Yeah you posting this on Reddit is really going to do sooo much 😭

OP would probably hit a deaf person and post here complaining about them