To have my dog and child 'unrestrained' on this walk?

[PatterPitter]

For about five years now, I've walked my dog and small children down a path to get to the local park from our house and never before have had a problem. However, a man has taken offence and I'd like to ask if I'm being unreasonable - I'm prepared to be told if I am.

The path is for shared usage between pedestrians and cyclists, though the majority of the time it's just pedestrians. I usually have my child(ren) in a pushchair but sometimes they walk. The path is straight so I can see cyclists coming and get my child to move before they are close. My dog is often off her lead and has excellent recall.

Last week, my dog was on her lead but my 2 year old was walking and a cyclist screeched to a halt behind us and started having a go at me, telling me I was breaking the highway code by walking on a cycle path and that my child should be restrained in a pushchair so she doesn't endanger cyclists who may swerve to avoid her!

I said that if he'd said excuse me, or had a bell, we'd have moved in plenty of time and that the path is for shared usage so both parties have to respect one another. He was getting more and more irate so I walked away. Tonight I was walking there again and my DD was in her pushchair but my dog was off her lead. The same man screeched up behind me and began having a go at me again, telling me I'm breaking the law by having my dog off her lead and that she's endangering cyclists.

Again, I say that the path is for shared usage and that cyclists don't have priority and so he should have and use a bell, or manners, and that I would then call my dog to heel to make way for him. He starts shouting at me that I'm breaking the law and to put her lead on immediately, making both my 2 year old and 3 month old cry. My dog is sat by my side without me having had to ask her.

I tell him that I'm not prepared to stand there and be shouted at and tell my dog to walk on. He tries to take her lead from my hand and my dog begins to bark at him and he starts ranting 'see! It's not only out of control, but aggressive too!' and saying he'll be reporting me to the authorities.

[londonrach]

Report him op as he sounds agressive and next time might take it further

[Council]

His behaviour is outrageous but dogs and zigzagging tots are dangerous on a shared path imo.

[OnTheRise]

You should be able to find out what sort of path this is and then look up what the rules are for that sort of path--bridleways have different rules than footpaths, for example.

Then you can print it out and take the print-out with you, to give to the ranty nasty man if you encounter him again.

But meanwhile, tell the police what's happened so that if it does happen again you know where you stand. What an unpleasant man he is.

[Coloursthatweremyjoy]

I live near a "cycle track"...it's an old railway line converted into a path. We have a whole network here. We call it the cycle track but actually it's what you describe, shared space. My understanding is that pedestrians have priority.

It's really well used, dogs everywhere. You just need to be careful. (Cyclist).

I'd be more concerned about how aggressive he's being OP. This isn't really about your dog is It? She was on her lead the first time it happened. I wouldn't want to give in either but I'd feel vulnerable in your situation. Take a phone, if you see him or he starts up just start to call someone, it tends to put people off hassling you if they know you are in contact with someone else.

Or say "I'll be walking with my husband later, will you shout at him or is it just lone women you like to intimidate?" Might give him a wake up call as to how this might be construed should someone else come along or you make a complaint.

[AtiaoftheJulii]

This isn't really about your dog is It? She was on her lead the first time it happened.
Yeah, I was about to point that out too - hopefully no one is going to defend his demand that any small child must be in a pushchair so he doesn't have to slow down at all! He sounds like a git, I really hope things don't escalate further. My dog would go ballistic if anyone was shouting at me in the street or trying to grab things from me (not good behaviour on his part I know!).

[IsaSchmisa]

I feel like that's giving in to his bullying behaviour though, messiah.

To put the dog on a lead? That's really not the attitude to take. He is a horrible bullying piece of shit, who should have a bell, but it would be sensible and considerate for your dog to be on a lead there too. You might think/know your dog has excellent recall, but nobody else knows that, and it's a view shared by lots of dog owners who are clearly mistaken. Him being a bellend doesn't change any of this. You could never see him again and it would still be true.

Child, depends really. Some 2 year olds are very sensible when it comes to walking in a straight line and others are basically glorified puppies themselves. I've had both! You know yourself which yours is, I'd expect.

[Ameliablue]

As a dog walker, I've trained my dog to come to heel when she sees a bike and as a cyclist I always slow for dogs and young children.

I think in your situation I would keep your dog on the lead for the moment, whilst it may seem like giving in, he could make life very difficult for you and your dog if he has video footage of your dog showing any signs of aggression, even if your dog is only showing aggression in the face of his aggression.

[grimeofthecentury]

Push him off his precious bike the nasty twat

[MrMeSeeks]

Report him. Hopefully there are other reports about him

[Valerrie]

I'd have reported him already. Him grabbing at your dog is clearly an attempt to provoke them. Next time you see him, either scream as loud as you can then shout help, help, help or take out your phone and start filming him.

[HorridHoris]

No you shouldn’t have to keep your dog on a lead or restrain your children.
Calling the dog to heal and letting the cyclist pass is good enough and he should make himself known, either by bell or calling out, but should slow down enough to safely pass.

It doesn’t matter if he’s had to slow down 29 times in the last hour, it’s part of using a shared path!

We have a similar set up here and sometimes you can be frequently recalling you dog, making him sit until the cyclist/horses pass and interrupting your walk. But it’s part of sharing the path, no users have priority.
Consideration and manners come into it for parties to enjoy the use of the path.

[Heckneck]

He needs reporting for asb.

[UrsulaPandress]

What does he mean by a cycle path? I very much doubt it is and he does not have right of way, you do. We get some tossers who cycle fast along the canal towpath and splash you from the puddles.

[Mxyzptlk]

My dog would go ballistic if anyone was shouting at me in the street or trying to grab things from me (not good behaviour on his part I know!).

If a dog's owner appears to be being threatened, it's natural for the dog to act protectively by growling, barking or even biting.

I'd ask the police for advice and also ask them to put these incidents on record.
This time the foolish man tried to grab the lead. That could have caused the dog to go for him and could have resulted in any one of you getting hurt.

[SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed]

I'd report him to the police, he sounds unhinged. Complaining about a dog is one thing, but to be so angry about a child walking along a path is utterly bonkers.

[frenchknitting]

He sounds like a dick and YANBU. However, shared paths are a danger to everyone. I wouldn't let's kids or dogs loose on a cycle path any more than I would on a road. I've had abuse on a shared path for daring to be moving faster than walking pace, and stopped using one for that reason. I added miles to my commute to avoid it, and instead got abuse from cars for using the road when there was a "perfectly good" cycle path.

[LakieLady]

YANBU, but I would put the dog on the lead in future just in case you meet him again.

This cyclist sounds like a total fruitloop and I wouldn't put it past him to antagonise the dog until it bites him, then try and prosecute and get it destroyed. My dog would have a go at anyone who shouted at me, and probably snap at if not bite, anyone who shouted AND got close enough to grab something that was in my hand.

I also agree with a pre-emptive report to the police. He behaved in a very threatening way imo.

We've had such a lot of problems with out of control mountain bikers where we live that one of my neighbours (a very respectable retired police superintendent) now takes a hiking pole out with him when he walks his dog. He reckons that the next time a cyclist comes dangerously fast down the public footpath that they prefer to the nearby bridleway, his pole will accidentally become entangled in the bike's wheels and hopefully tip the bastard off.

A walking stick might be a good idea. And a pocket-sized perfume spray is something you can perfectly legitimately carry about your person, but quite unpleasant if sprayed in the face of someone threatening you.

[lljkk]

It makes no sense. What would the guy say if there was a crowd of 5-9 dozy wandering teenagers walking down the path? I guess he'd have a screech at them, too.

I guess I'd want to make sure it really is a shared use path, why does he think it's cyclists only?

[LakieLady]

shared paths are a danger to everyone

So agree with this. I hate them.

I especially hate "shared space" in town centres. It looks like a pedestrianised precinct, but has cars and cyclists in it. Bloody terrifying if you find yourself in one of those without realising.

[lljkk]

(as a cyclist) I got tutted at the other day on a shared path, for using my bell.

Normally I call out to say I'm coming from behind, which feels much more polite. But it was 6:42am in echoy-residential area and the bell is quieter than me shouting (bell is still quite audible). The walker tutted about a bell being inadequate warning.

I quite dislike that section of shared path, hope it gets rerouted soon.

[RedSkyAtNight]

As a cyclist I've had several near misses with small children going the other way along a pedestrian/cycle way who suddenly run towards me and/or jump out in front of me. I deliberately cycle really slowly if I see them as well.

I'm sorry but I doubt that OP can fully control a dog and a small child and a pushchair all at the same time. I don't believe you can rely on a small child and a dog to always be perfectly behaved.

The man shouldn't have shouted at you, but maybe he's met some of the same idiot parents that I have.

[lovemylover]

As far as i know it is apart from parks and beaches and woods,
I am sure it is on footpaths etc

[TitaniasCloset]

If he had screamed at me like that or tried to take my dogs lead my dog would have gone nuts and probably bit him, which then no doubt would have been my fault. He is an aggressive nasty bully and would not do this to a man or someone with a big scary dog like mine.

I think you should report him to the police and record him if you see him against, he behaved in a threatening manner and trying to force your dogs lead out of your hand is assault so far as I'm concerned.

What an absolute prick of a bastard. I wish I could come on your next walk with you just so I could tell him what I think of him and chase him off with my dog.

Can anyone come on your next walk with you?

[TitaniasCloset]

Come back and tell us what the police say.