Meet, Smug, My Alter Ego

On the way home today I passed a novice cyclist on the road. I could tell the cyclist was new to the world of biking because he wasn't calling out when he passed people from behind (on the walking/cycling trails in Columbia MO it is common courtesy to let a person know you are about to pass them).

So I thought I would show the novice cyclist how it was done. When I passed him I said "On your right." Then when I passed the next walker, I called out "On your RIGHT." I said the last word loud enough for both the walker and the novice cyclist to hear. Each time I passed someone, I called out at a successively louder volume: "On your RIGHT!"

After doing that half a dozen times, I figured I had successfully taught my mentee the appropriate cycling etiquette.

Then I realized, I had passed everyone on their left. . .

The funniest part is that I halfway tried to apologize: "Um . . I mean . . . sorry . . . on your right." Which, of course, no one could hear.