AIBU to challenge cyclists riding on rural footpaths?

Yes, of course, everyone should share the space

And one of my good friends was chucking down a marked cycle lane when a pair of off the leash dogs ran into his path from the undergowth, even at 10mph he couldn't stop and went over the handlebars as he hit one of the dogs. Smashed helmet, serious brain injury and a year to get back to work. The dog owner claimed they had done nothing wrong and tried to leave.
There's a responsibility on us all to be responsible - and dogs off lead are anything but responsible.

We can all chuck anecdotes around and lump everyone into a generalisation.

My biggest issue is school mums speeding and parking in cycle lanes. Let's pick that one up shall we...

A permissive footpath will still be a footpath, ditto a bridleway. A landowner does not call the shots on upgrading it for mates. Usually landowners agree to permissive paths and expect users to abide by the defined and waymarked use. It’s important they are not abused as many landowners would withdraw them. So there’s no extra rights conferred to mates because that’s not the agreement the landowner will have with the council and the path will be way marked for its legal use.

I must check our local high street. I don’t mind so much if it’s in side roads but on a main road where it could force me to step into traffic, it could be positively dangerous at times.

Most of the pavements round here have a little blue sign with a bike on which means that both cyclists and pedestrians allowed to use it, although not sure everyone knows what it means so may assume the law being broken, often see cyclist on the road holding up cars when the permissible pavement is empty

Has anyone been reminded of the tragic case of the cyclist and the woman who supposedly pushed her into traffic? Not saying it’s the same scenario. But seems to be a bit of confusion over the rules so it seems here. My pet hate as a pedestrian is cyclists (adults) cycling on pavements when they know they’re not allowed to do so.

Do dogs drive?
Do they cycle?

No, they walk on own 4 feet. That makes them pedestrians.

If that’s not good enough for you, then what are the people who walk the dogs?

Pedestrians.

A landowner can permit horses/cyclists/walkers if they choose, it's called a permitted way. It's none of your business who and what I allow on my land. It's my land not yours.

Ffs the clue is a pedestrian - a dog is not a pedestrian. It isn't difficult to differentiate..

Sorry but that does seem like a crazy suggestion to me. I hasten to add I do not own land or a footpath or anything.

However, it seems a bit unfair that if there is a recognised footpath across land (a "footpath", clue is in the name) that the landowner should be expected to create a right of way at their own expense that could accommodate travellers who are not on foot. I mean, why should it be incumbent on them?

Also, as a walker, I would rather negotiate the occasional pile of horse shit than nuisance cyclists

Are people who are out walking or who are walking their dogs not looking after their heath then?

at least cyclists and runners are looking after their health which is a good thing given the nations life expectancy is in decline

I will always keep my dog on a leash on shared paths or bridal ways. On off road public footpaths I have my dog under control but off lead so she can potter sniff etc. Our local woods also has free roaming young children playing, building dens etc. The problem with cyclists here is when they come very quickly down hill they give virtually no warning so no time to stop small children or dogs running onto the path. In this case I do believe the onus is on the cyclist to take care with their speed (as I’m guessing they shouldn’t really be on a footpath in any case). This is as much for their own safety as for mine, my dogs, small children.

I did have a frustrating incident on a wooded narrow footpath where a cyclist came so quickly down hill that he actually nearly wiped me out. It was muddy, slippery and I fell over trying to make sure I moved out of the way quickly. Needless to say he had already sped off oblivious to the fact I was lying in the mud. So there is a duty of care that cyclists should have on regular off road public footpaths.

Tell me about this 'additional damage'?
What research evidence have you got that bikes do more damage than feet?
(I am off to go dig out my dissertation on this subject, albeit from 1999, so you have some time to consider)

How do you know they are arrogant?

"the right to responsible access". Now that encompasses human powered access - so foot, bikes, ski, canoe, paddleboard etc. And the 'responsible' bit is now proven in law. But what it means in practice for cyclists is there is no restriction on where - we do not have footpaths and bridleways, we have 'ways'. We do have some RUPPS and BOATS where vehicles and horses are welcome, and horses can with landowner permission even use 'paths'. It all works pretty smoothly.
The thing is you did not say the cyclists were unfriendly or speeding closely to other people. You just did not like cyclists being there.
As I said, it is a huge advantage to live in Scotland as a walker, runner, cyclist and canoeist.

So let’s run them over, why don’t we?

My dogs are better behaved than 78% of the cyclists we encounter.

The longer term problem is that footpaths are not maintained for bikes. And the landowners have to fix the additional damage done or be hatangued and fined for not maintaining a public right of way

Yes, I know, you are only 1 person...

Cyclists are a plague where I live.

I’ve heard threats to ‘squash’ my dogs on a path where there is pedestrian priority.

Exactly! Your dog, your problem! They’re not people, they’re animals!

I agree with OP. I live at the end of a track which becomes a public footpath along the edge of farmland and

There’s a group of middle-aged men around here who love to ride mountain bikes on the public footpath through the woods when it’s especially muddy, making deep ruts in the path. There’s a byway at the end which has been surfaced since the farm was sold, that used to be deep mud and we used to encounter youngsters on dirt bikes, or green-laners with 4x4s deliberately getting one of the vehicles stuck, for the fun of getting it out!

As horse riders we were informed by a resident that we were leaving hoofprints on the (rough-mown) village green . Walking ponies actually did less damage than the weekly football matches. The green is legally common land and villagers have the right to graze horses, goats and geese on the green, though nobody has done so for years, and that resident has lived here long enough to remember!

I ring my bell sometimes but more
just to let people know that I’m there so they don’t suddenly step to the side out in front of me, a bit like car engine noises are quite useful to pedestrians as warn them there
is a car nearby

Quite.
I'm just back from a ride and in 20 miles I had 2 dog incidents. The first one ran out of a garden through an open gate practically under my wheels. Fortunately I was going uphill fairly slowly so I was able to stop without hitting it but the house is on a national speed limit road. Had I been in my car I expect the dog would be dead. Do we expect car drivers to slow down to walking pace every time they pass a house, or maybe people should shut their gates and control their animals?
The other one was a bloke exercising his dog off the lead on a back road. It's a quiet road, but a road all the same and not a park. He definitely saw me coming some distance away. I wear bright stuff and he looked and stared straight at me, then continued throwing the ball for his dog. I had to slow right down and unclip and he didn't call his dog til I was a few metres away. And then glared and swore at me as I passed.
But yeah, I'm the irresponsible one.

OP does understand this. Bridleways don't have kissing gates or V bridges. These are footpaths, that are not to be used by horseriders or cyclists.

Maybe there just needs to be more signage, we have footpaths around our village and never crossed my mind that cyclists couldn’t use them