AIBU to point out these things to people who used a shared cycle path?

[MrsFlannel]

It's a SHARED path. That means it is for cyclists AND runners, walkers with or without dogs.

If you want to stand in the middle of the path with three large dogs talking to your friend, do not be surprised when I don't say "good morning" back to you as I squeeze my three children past you on our bikes because you've left us a FOOT of path.

If you walk all smiley and happy on the RIGHT side of the path do not be surprised when I am annoyed to have to swerve into oncoming "traffic" with my DC and risk a collision.

If you have dogs which are nervous of wheeled things, please hold them or get them to sit down so they don't suddenly dart beneath my wheels and risk getting injured. I love dogs by the way.

I DO have a bell and I DO call out "Just coming up behind you!" in a cheery voice when walkers are ahead of me....they then turn like this and look as though I've just told them to get out of the bastard way or thrown shit at them.

If I don't call out they do the same.

So...if you use a path as a walker and it is also meant for cyclists, please walk on the LEFT.

Please. It's my only way to get to school and I hate the risks.

Part of our walk to school is along a shared cycle path. The regulations for the path state clearly that pedestrians and cyclists have equal priority. I always walk on the right hand side on the basis that I can see the cyclists coming towards us and can move out of the way, in the same way I would do if I was walking on a country road. If you walk on the left cyclists frequently come up so quietly behind you and then overtake at speed so close that it takes me by surprise and makes me jump. So YANBU about large groups standing around chatting, they are a hazard but YABU to want pedestrians to walk on the left as so many don't use their bells so we can't hear them coming. Also when my dc's are riding I insist they ride on the left and use their bells and 90% of the time when they ring their bells the pedestrians completely ignore them, or glare at them and tut when they try to overtake.

People seem to be confusing the suggestion they should keep to the left on shared-use paths with the fact some paths have a line dividing the cycling and walking sides. In the latter case a cyclist should obviously keep to the cycling side, not to the left side of the line! It would still be best to pass to the left of oncoming bikes.

A few paths have a dotted line down the middle, to separate traffic travelling in different directions, but this is uncommon in my experience.

For what it's worth I would expect cyclists, as vehicles, to follow the usual rules of the road and keep to the left (of the whole path or the part allocated to bikes). I wouldn't expect pedestrians to stay on a certain side, but they should walk on one side or the other to leave enough space for bikes to pass.

You can't win really. If you ring the bell to warn people you're behind them, some act like they've pooed their pants and it's your fault. If you don't ring the bell, some lecture you in a shouted rant as you pass.

Of course I accommodate cyclists but our path is Pedestrian Priority, which some buggers cyclists tend to ignore.

I've never heard of this stay on the left rule for pedestrians on shared paths.

Most of the shared paths I know of are the type where there's a line down the middle with bikes painted on one side and people painted on the other side. Anyone always keeping left on those would be wrong half the time.

Pedestrians may have priority but cyclist don't have to be grateful that they move out the way to let them pass - a pleasant good morning would be more appropriate.

I generally say a loud good morning just coming past as to not startle pedestrians. I used to say I'm on your right to let them know which side I was coming through. Unfortunately this seemed to confuse the pedestrian and they would move to the right...so I stopped

Not may have priority.

They do.

There is a big cycle path /footpath near me that goes through the countryside , it is very popular with locals , whether they are walking, on wheels , or on horseback .
I used to regularly walk my dog along it as it was a nice safe off lead area to do so . If I saw a cyclist approaching , I would call the dog back and hold on to him and get the children to stand to the side , this would take seconds . At least 99% of the cyclists would say thank you . The few that didn't were usually lycra clad middle aged men and that one woman who was puce and clearly couldn't speak and breathe at the same time , but even she sort of did a pleasant nod

frumpet your dog should be on a lead rule 56 of the highway code www.nidirect.gov.uk/47-58-rules-about-animals and it should be a short lead.

ivy, I would think those rules only apply to footpaths and cycle paths which are part of the 'highway'. Lots of cycle paths - like the one near me - are not highway by any stretch of the imagination. I cycle it myself as well as walking my dog there so I'm not taking sides over dogs and bikes, but I wouldn't expect dog walkers to keep their dogs on short leads on it. I'd expect cyclists to look out for dogs and dogs walkers to look out for bikes and for them to accommodate each other.

Clearly, the sort of bike/pedestrian paths that run along next to or near roads, or which are part of the road network are another matter.

Nobody has mentioned horses on cycle paths yet!!!

Big can of worms just got opened

Common law has established that a highway is a defined route over which "the public at large" can pass and repass as frequently as they wish, without hindrance and without charge.

Can someone explain how this 'keep left' rule works with shared usage? unless the path is one way only, surely if cyclists have to keep left in one direction, this means that their right hand side of the path would then be full of cyclists keeping to their left in the opposite direction? So where are the pedestrians supposed to go?

Our local path is 'shared' but in reality the cyclists who think they own it expect every fucker they ding their bell at should leap out of their way so they can carry on pretending they're in the Tour de France. Not very sharing.

Kahlo if I don't ding my bell you'll be complaining you didn't know I was behind you!

When you're walking, a bike can seem to be going really fast...usually it's not though.

"ivy, I would think those rules only apply to footpaths and cycle paths which are part of the 'highway'. Lots of cycle paths - like the one near me - are not highway by any stretch of the imagination."

Actually most cycle paths are 'bridleways'.

'Bridleways are a highway over which the public has a right of way on foot, on horseback or leading a horse. '

So the highway code definitely applies there.

Places your dog should be on a lead:

• on the pavement
• on the road
• on any bridleway
• on any path shared with cyclists and/or horses

Places your dog can be off the lead:

• your own land
• a footpath that is not a bridleway or permissive horse path

That's exactly what I was thinking MissPenelope! I think there has to be a bit of weaving going on whatever happens.

Also wrt ringing your bell when coming behind pedestrians - this is something I do for safety as well. But it's not worth getting stroppy about it if people jump a bit when you do it - the whole reason you need the bell is that you're coming up relatively fast behind them - it's not surprising people get a bit of a shock.

I live near a city where part of several roads in the centre are pedestrianised during the day, so no vehicles between 9am and 5pm.

Doesn't stop cyclists tearing up behind you ringing their Bell for all they're worth, expecting you to move out of the way.

I think it just needs a bit of common sense. I cycle and I walk my dog. Where I live in MK there are loads of cycle paths. I ride a road bike because I cycle to work on Tarmac and it's the most efficient, far better than mountain bike tyres. I also clip into my pedals and wear cycling attire because work wear doesn't have a padded arse, which is vital if you use the MK cycle paths half the time and doesn't get caught in the gears/pedals. This does not make me a Lycra-clad racer though.

It is far far easier all things considered for pedestrians to stop and let cyclists through because it is more of a pain to unclip, stop, lose all momentum etc.

By the same token, when I'm walking my dog, I stop and let cyclists through, getting off the path onto the grass and getting my dog to sit etc etc as required. I may have "right of way" as a pedestrian, but as a considerate pedestrian I can also work out its far easier to stop and take one step to the side on foot than it is on a bike. I'm always thanked by cyclists and with the dog I tend to just keep an eye out all around so I don't get suprised by them.

It's the 4 abreast holding hands crowd that piss me off as a dog walker and a cyclist. They are always oblivious and in the way.