To think that a cycle track is just that...

[MrsWinnibago]

In our town there's part of a network of cycle tracks...it's miles long and the section that I use is sort of rural...it leaves the suburbs where I live and enters the countryside....my DC go to school in a village 2 miles down the track so we cycle there about 6 months a year rather than use car or bus.

Anyway...I ride a bike with a tagalong with my 5 year old on it and my 9 year old has her own bike. We all have hi vis vests and helmets and bells.

There are other cyclists...quite a few serious types who whizz along and some elderly folk who go pretty slowly, enjoying the trees etc.

This year I've noticed tonnes of dog walkers are also using it....which in a way is fair enough as it's so nice down there and it IS broad enough for bikes and walkers.

However....many of them don't keep their wits about them and though I ring my bell, many don't control their dogs and they scamper almost under wheels which could be a disaster if my DD panicked...she's 9 but that's smallish to manage to avoid a big dog when on a bike.

Other walk amiably along directly towards me and the DC on the WRONG side.....so they're pretty much heading for me and the DC and expecting us to swerve out of their way...but there's an accepted direction thing going on like on a road....and I just don't know what to do....it's wrecking the ride completely!

I am so tense about dogs and people who don't seem to realise they're walking on the wrong side that I can't relax at all.

There are cycle paths near where I live but they're also heavily used by pedestrians, dog walkers, people with prams etc - I think you just have to respect all other users; some people don't respond to the ringing of a bell etc but hey ho, just slow down.
Cyclists don't like it when car drivers begrudge them using the roads. It always strikes me as shame when cyclists then go and get all territorial about cycle paths. All it takes is some common sense and good manners and everyone can enjoy them.

Cyclists have every right to ride on the road - it's what it's there for. Cycling paths with big signs indicating are also for cycling along, not wandering around with your dog, for instance.

Pan, as PP has said, there are very few bicycle-only paths in the UK.

Your path is likely to be a shared-use one, with cars and motorcyles excluded but dogwalkers, joggers and random amblers all welcome.

not sure we are talking about exactly the same things here tbh. Cycle paths along roads marked exclude other road users. Paths marked [person][sheep] etc are indeed for 'shared use' (and best avoided by bikes in practice) and usually away from roads.
I think being 'territorial' about where it is safe to ride is fine, so that runners/prams don't veer into your path. It isn't a sort of trade off re experiences one has on the road, as implied.

eg I live on the TransPennine Trail which is 'shared' but...don't use it for as it is usually populated by dog owners/pram pushers/families with small children who don't see it as 'shared', so don't exercise any responsibility over the little people/dogs in their charge.