AIBU to challenge cyclists riding on rural footpaths?

You seem confused. OP said the cyclists are using footpaths, which they are not supposed to do.

...how do I explain to our local OAP’s using the footpath that they need to duck for over to the side of a narrow footpath of an arrogant cyclist?

How often have you had this conversation with OAPs, where you find they need advice on how to share the footpath with non-pedestrians?

No one is “getting shit for exercising”. They are being castigated for using bikes on footpaths, which is not allowed.

Cyclists, runners, walkers all seem to get flak on Mumsnet. But then so do fat people. How do you expect people to stay fit and healthy when they’re constantly getting shit for exercising?

She’s complaining about other people riding on a footpath on her land and is clear that horses use bridleways. Once again, the clue is in the name. If you walk on a bridleway, you expect to find evidence of horses.

But your horse cutting up the path and making it impossible for walkers to use, due to the holes in the ground your horse makes, is all ok?

We've paths around me that are dangerous to walk on due to the divots that have set hard over the recent dry weather.

Seems anyone doing any form of exercise is in the wrong according to MN.

Mountain bikes are much more damaging than boots and cyclists are far less discerning and considerate of the state of the path than walkers - especially as they shouldn’t be on the footpath anyway. The clue is in the name footpath.

@Longtimelurkerfinallyposts I belong to a local walking group and we always appreciate a cyclist using their bell to warn us of their approach. However, as you mentioned, some walkers are deaf. A couple of our older members are - they are very fit walkers but hard of hearing despite hearing aids.

I often ride on rural paths. But in Scotland, where the rules are different. And usually as a form of transport, to get somewhere.

Which means, unlike those pesky mountain bikers that have been mentioned throughout the thread, I would always choose to use the smoothest/ flattest route available. And if there's one that's been tarmaced I'll use that one, even if it's slightly less direct. I hate riding in places where the ground's been rutted, or churned into mud, whether that's by horses or cattle or quad-bikes....

I'd love to know what pedestrians' preferences are when it comes to bike bells? There used to be a campaign aimed at cyclists who rode on canal tow-paths, suggesting 'two tings' of the bell. I think that's less obnoxious than shouting "get out of my way" or ringing my bell for a long time, & always hope that it doesn't annoy people too much.

I'm really just trying to alert them to my presence so they're not taken by surprise, not telling them to move off the path or else...

I'm always conscious that they might well be deaf/ just not hear me. I would always slow down to cycle past them, especially if there were any young children, smile and say thank you (or wish them a good day) but is there anything else you'd like cyclists to do/ be aware of?

Please occasionally set out on your horse, in a cloak, and possibly a mask or helmet, brandishing a switch, on a special mission to bring cyclists to repentance.

Not joking.

This. A footpath is for people on foot. The clue is in the name.

It has nothing at all to do with give and take! As a cyclist you are not permitted on a public footpath. They are rights of way for pedestrians only. The end.

I agree with you OP and I'm a cyclist. There are a lot of idiots around. Sometimes poor signage is to blame though. For example, there's a shared path near me that is part of a national cycle route and it can be accessed via a footpath and the signage is very ambiguous. I do have some sympathy for cyclists who get it wrong there. But if you have to lift your bike over a stile, kissing gate or barriers to prevent access to anyone other than walkers you have to be pretty stupid if you don't realise you're not supposed to cycle there. I agree that it's unacceptable behaviour.
It cuts both ways of course. More or less every week I have to ask people who are running or walking their dogs to leave the cycling specific facility that the club where I coach hires for our sessions and they are often quite aggressive. It's fenced and there are unmissable "No Dogs" signs at all the access points but they are largely ignored and I can't remember the last time that we didn't have to remove dog poo before we can start. A couple of weeks ago I had a runner get very shirty with me when I explained that no, we weren't going to let him "do a few laps" during our junior session.
Likewise there is a shared path in our area that has "share the path responsibly" signs every few hundred metres which include instructions like "keep left, pass on the right" and "dogs must be on a short lead at all times". I see every single one of the rules broken every time I go there, whether I am walking or cycling. There are just a lot of inconsiderate people around I'm afraid and no one group has a monopoly on selfishness.

A woman who lives near me was walking her dog on a narrow public footpath through our local woods, when some fuckwit on a mountain bike came tearing down the hill and ran into the dog.

The poor dog sustained a complex fracture of its femur, just below its pelvis. Three operations and a vet bill that ran into thousands later, the dog could walk ok but not jump, and was very nervous. Thankfully, the owner had insurance. She doesn't go in the woods anymore, and sticks to the fields where she can see who's around.

The cyclist didn't even stop to see if the dog was ok.

I've been forced to jump out of the way on some of the narrow footpaths on the downs when cyclists have come down at speed. On our soft chalk, the paths are often in a sort of gully, and it's not always easy to get out of the way.

They're really well waymarked, too, so there's no excuse for it.

There is no need to be unpleasant.

Cyclists should not be on footpaths, it doesn't matter whether the path is rural or urban. I've had the misfortune to be on a narrow rural footpath through a wood and had a mountain biker bearing down on me at high speed yelling "GET OUT OF THE WAY". He was really aggressive and I got the impression he would have run me down if I hadn't leapt to one side.

OP - you are completely right.

Might be a crazy suggestion but it seems to me that if a landowner has to provide public access via a footpath, it should be incumbent on them to build/maintain the path in such a way that a cyclist wouldn't tear it up or render it impassable for walkers. I think we should encourage cycling, much as I've been annoyed like PPs at arrogant cyclists (red lights also apply to you, MAMILs! 🤣) NB I'd rather deal with cyclists than horse riders letting their horses shit all over the paths and roads where I live and not bothering to clear it up!

I admire you OP. I'd be too scared of them being aggressive.

All of them do it.
it doesn’t matter - at the end of the day, only walkers have the right to cross private land on a footpath! It’s someone else’s property and if you’re on a bike, horse, motorbike or vehicle on a footpath you’re out of order. And have no right to be there. End of discussion!

Same here. With signs everywhere, telling them not to, the horse riders ride on the muddy footpaths and churn them up, making them impassable in winter. Everyone is just too entitled these days. PS, I love horses.

That’s probably because you don’t own a field or respect the countryside. And you’re probably an entitled person, with no thought for anyone else. Stay in the town! It is a big deal to those of us that own the land and work hard to maintain the footpaths.

That’s motorbikes and horses that do that. Mountain bikes will cut into the soil when it it is wet but so do boots.

I live in a coastal area and cyclists on steep, narrow cliff hugging footpaths full of bends and hedged with bramble and sloe are damned dangerous. Most of the cyclists have got more sense thankfully, but occasionally you have to throw yourself into the bushes to avoid them.

You say that but 50% of the moaners when I cycle past are complaining I didn’t ring my bell and the other half are complaining because I did! It’s a lose lose situation for cyclists and bells!

Try negotiating a footpath made impassable by cyclists, because it’s been churned into deep liquid mud. You might be a little less blasé about it.