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.

[yowerohotesies]

I think it's common sense to have any dog on a lead except in parkland where they are running about in open areas and on wide paths with plenty of margins (bushes, trees or grass) either side - eg bridle paths and disused-railtrack type paths. If it's just pavement between houses then I think your dog ought to be on a short lead and your child should be holding your hand (not forced into a pushchair if old enough to walk though). That is basic consideration for other users of the path.

However despite that the cyclist had no right to yell at you or grab the lead. He was being an aggressive arse.

[naturalnursery]

The OP has said the path is sectioned and I'm trying to understand what she means by this.

In our area, some shared paths are divided with sides for each, some are everyone bundled in together.

[Greyhorses]

We have one of these shared cycle paths and some cyclists think they own it

They tend to fly past the horses or dogs with mms to spare and no warning, it's a miracle the horse hasn't booted one of them by now. I wouldn't dare gallop my horse past pedestrians or run dogs into the ground so I dont know why some of them can't seem to slow for a minute while they pass.

I also walk with two dogs and a pushchair, as long as everyone's under control I don't see the issue. I mean what is the OP meant to do never walk the dog again because some entitled arse thinks she shouldn't?

[newdaylight]

Cyclist is being a knob and should treat the path with respect. Also, if your dog is unrestrained how did he grab the lead?

[KERALA1]

To counterbalance that miouw my dh (who is a cyclist but not a knob ) commutes on a bike path that links two cities. One couple were exercising their dog, off lead, peak commuter time, in the dark. In order to avoid ihitting the bloody dog dh came off bike seriously cut his face and still in pain from his hip. And he got a mouthful of abuse from the dog owner!

[JonSnowsWife]

Witnessed one recently (I was in a traffic queue going past) where a grown man decided to stop and absolutely scream in the faces of two teenage girls who couldn't have been older than year 8 or 9 school year because they dared to be walking along a pavement (not one designated as shared use for cyclists and pedestrians) and didn't jump out of the way of this twat coming down the road full pelt.

I had that once Miaow. Silly man didnt expect little 5ft me to answer back! I mean if he'd stopped for a minute, he'd have realised he was going the wrong way on the road and furthermore, he'd have had time to notice the sign that said he wasn't meant to be on that road anyway.

[PramWanker]

Personally I'd say both the cycling fraternity and the off lead dog walking fraternity contain a decent number of selfish entitled types.

[lljkk]

Just like the rest of the population then.

[LemonRedwood]

I was under the impression that pedestrians trump any kind of vehicle for right of way. So he should always be prepared to slow or stop for someone on foot, surely?

[lljkk]

It sounds like OP is describing a "shared" but "sectioned" path like this. Cyclists hate them b/c of hazard of meandering pedestrians, but of course motorists shout at us cyclists if we don't use them, or they may be very convenient shortcuts to useful places.

I tend to only use this type of path if it's uphill so (as a cyclist) I can only go slow on it anyway.

[Allthetuppences]

As a cyclist on a shared use path I was grabbed and shoved into the road and the path of a slow moving car (who stopped and gave me contact details) by a very sweary man telling me he was sick of my entitled attitude, i had sounded my bell and said "i'm on your right" as I approached slowly.
I contacted the police who pretty much laughed in my face.
Shared use just doesn't work.

[Allthetuppences]

(By the way it was the first and last timr time i used that route and had grazes to my hand, arm, hip, waist and face).