To expect pedestrians to move out of way on a shared cycle/pedestrian path

[Watsername]

I have recently moved house and now cycle to and from work every day. I cycle almost exclusively on cycle paths which are shared spaces for cyclists and pedestrians.

Because of where I work I travel at the same time as children are going to and from a local secondary school. So I am on the shared space cycle path at the same time as a lot of teenagers.

AIBU to expect the teens to move out of the way when they see a bike coming? I am getting fed up of having to stop on the path as they walk 5-6 abreast and don't move. When I stop I wobble off and have nearly fallen into a busy A-Road several times.

Surely they don't want to get run over?!

If I ring my bell or say 'excuse me' politely I get dirty looks, sworn at, or roared at (yes, really!)

I think you'll have to just suck it up then. Unless you phone the school to complain.

I'm only joking btw. 😁

You will have to adjust your expectations and behaviour rather than expect people to jump out of your way.

They don't jump - they can see me coming from many many metres away - I am going against the flow of pedestrians.

@Bibijayne to be fair I am quite fast.

Cyclists are a pain in the arse wherever they are

Watsername AIBU to expect cyclists to get out of the way of my car on winding national speed limit roads when they hear me coming? If I honk my horn at them they flip a bird and gesticulate rudely, can't imagine why, I'm faster and need to get to work...

Is there room for a bike and pedestrian to pass each other comfortably on the path OP? If yes then YANBU but teens are too busy chatting and looking at phones to notice what's going on around them. If there's only room for a pedestrian OR a cyclist to go down the path then YABU. If a cyclist rang a bell at me and expected me to hop out their way then they'd get short shrift, especially if there's no precedence stated on the path.

@Howlovely I DO get out of the way for cars, actually. And I don't mind waiting for pedestrians when I am going in the same direction as them (sometimes they can't hear my bell for one reason or another) - my issue is with people BLOCKING the path 5-6 abreast and not even attempting to move over when they can very clearly see me coming.

no stated priority for either pedestrians or cyclists....

That bit seems fairly crucial. You seem to be reinterpreting it to expect pedestrians to acknowledge that cyclists have priority.

YANB entirely U and I have a similar issue in part of my route to work but we have to accept the reality, which is that we can’t safely get a good speed going on a shared path. There should be more cycle lanes but until then at least we’re not always in the road with the buses and taxis and motor vehicles driven by arseholes who don’t look where they’re going.

@TheRobinsIsBobblingAlong
Yes, there is room for 6 people standing next to each other. Plus there are very few on phones - and able to see me very clearly coming straight at them!

I suppose I could use the road said with no irony whatsoever. Yes, you really could - as a cyclist - use the road.

@FiddlesticksAkimbo
What if I was on foot? I would expect them to move around me and not expect me to step down into the busy A-road....It's just polite!

www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/rules-for-cyclists.html

“Take care when passing pedestrians, especially children, older or disabled people, and allow them plenty of room. Always be prepared to slow down and stop if necessary. “

HTH

And I don't mind waiting for pedestrians when I am going in the same direction as them (sometimes they can't hear my bell for one reason or another)

But again, you are expecting pedestrians to move out of your way because you have sounded your bell. That is not seen as acceptable for a car driver to do that to a cyclist on the road as the space is shared and each have equal priority.
From what you say it really comes across as you believing you have priority over pedestrians when you are on your bike.
How on earth do you manage to get anywhere if you get out of the way of every car that wants to pass?! That must take you forever to get anywhere! Or are they quiet roads with not much traffic?

@Imonlymoominafterall
Why can't I use the space specifically marked out for me on the cycle path?

This is why people hate on cyclists.

@Lilytheblue
This is the problem. I am NEVER every treated badly by other people normally. I have NEVER been verbally abused by a stranger in my job, or walking about. The instant I sit on a cycle, stationary or otherwise I suddenly become fair game. It seems to be true on here too.

a) They're teenagers. They don't move out of the way for cars, trucks, buses or anything.

b) It's a shared path. The Highway Code says If you are sharing a path, take extra care and give plenty of room to children, the elderly and disabled people. You should always be riding at a speed that would allow you to slow down and stop if necessary. To me that means 'don't behave towards pedestrians in the same way that motor vehicle drivers behave towards cyclists and have made joining the pedestrians on what were footpaths so appealing' - ie, expecting them to get out of the way because you can go faster than them and have bits of metal that can hurt them.

Why can't I use the space specifically marked out for me on the cycle path?
Because as you said yourself
No line, and no stated priority for either pedestrians or cyclists....

@justmuddlingalong
So it's just a cycle path for pedestrians then?

What if I was on foot? I would expect them to move around me and not expect me to step down into the busy A-road....It's just polite!

Cycle on the inner side of the path perhaps? Then you can't be expected to go down onto the A road and they will have to move over for you.

Ring your bell and keep going, they will move😂

There is a nice school near me with generally lovely pupils, however, barely any seem to know any pavement etiquette. Load bell and shout 'coming through' in your firm voice. Hopefully, you will soon be known as 'mad bike woman. Also, email the school and ask them to remind the pupils.

@Watsername because cyclists are a real pain especially down lanes and on narrow roads.
They’re a pain on paths and roads because drivers and pedestrians all have to work around them

No it's not a cycle path just for pedestrians. It's a path that pedestrians walk on, and also that cyclists can use. But there's no line giving each there own side.