AIBU to challenge cyclists riding on rural footpaths?

[Policeanyone101]

If you’re on a bike stay off footpaths!

I live very rurally and in the last few years we’ve had an increase in cyclists on the footpath through part of our fields, occasionally I do challenge these cyclists as I can see them from our house and they always have very arrogant entitled retorts as why they should be there (to get to our path they need to cross either kissing gates or a bridge with v sides to prevent bikes).

I have a horse and ride and by reason of the entitled cyclists I should use footpaths too but I don’t because I have common courtesy and use only permitted places to ride. My DH thinks I’m mad for challenging people but my argument is if we all ignore the rules there will be anarchy? I only ask because DH thinks I traumatised a poor lone cyclist this evening.

If it’s a bridleway they can use it. You should ride on them too. Use your public rights of way or lose them.

Cyclists aren’t allowed on them?

Nowt wrong with a little bit of anarchy to brighten a dull day.

If it’s a bridleway they are if it’s a footpath they aren’t. I’m not sure OP understands this.

What harm are they doing? I would have no idea of the rules. I’d assume cyclists are allowed.

They’re on private land, which has a right of way across it for people ON FOOT. It doesn’t matter whether they are doing any harm or not, they’ve no right to be there on a bike. It’s someone’s property, not a free park. It wouldn’t do any harm if I cut across your garden with my dog every day, but you probably wouldn’t like it…

We have a footpath running through our farm and despite lots of signage to say footpath only no cycling, the cyclists lift their bicycles over the gates and ride on the footpath. We challenge it every time we see it and ask them to push their bike the rest of the way or go back the way they came. It’s rude and entitled.

Some of the replies on here makes me realise why the cyclists are so fucking entitled!! It’s a footpath for walkers who don’t want to encounter speeding bikes, the countryside isn’t a fucking free for all! @Gingercar thank you, you understand simply courtesy doesn’t exist anymore! @Pugglywuggly your the perfect example of everything that’s wrong with society!

@Policeanyone101 "everything that's wrong with society" 😂 😂 😂

It's nice that your life is so sheltered that you can consider footpath etiquette the worst possible thing happening to humanity right now 😂

Thanks @Pugglywuggly I know perfectly well what’s happening with humanity right now and basic courtesy might go a long way from a basic level but I don’t think you’d ever understand from your crass replies❤️

And yet you're the one swearing

Oh sorry thought that was allowed on here! I’ve negated all my arguments through swearing I’ll shuffle off now😭🫣

So it’s definitely not a bridleway? If not then feel free to tear them limb from limb.

There are 1000's of miles of footpaths and much more limited bridleways for cyclists where trying to make an off road round route often has to mean including riding on a busy road. The footpaths where I ride are usually empty and if I see anyone I will politely get off and let them pass. I have been challenged once or twice before (most people are fine with it if you give way to them) and usually stop and have a polite discussion about my friend who was killed in a head on accident by a car driver, on the road which usually reduces the tension. A little bit of give and take on both sides is my view.

Bikes wreck footpaths for walkers. They churn up the mud and make them impassable.

Is OP the GM from the thread about dictator daughters ?!

I agree there are many more bridle ways and as a horse rider and I would love to just use the footpath instead especially as I live in a county where more horses are killed on the road than anywhere in the country, but I don’t out of courtesy for footpath users

Ha! Everyone I stop churns out “give and take” line. Yet they’re all take, no thought whatsoever for the people who own the land! Then you get dog walkers who expect their dogs to be off lead through fields of animals.

Nope have not idea what your talking about!

ps which thread? Dictator daughters? I get on great with my mum? Or kids I only have sons?

As a walker, I totally agree.

Duplicate post.

Where I am, there are lots of footpaths which have bridleways running parallel to them, or very close by. It is crazy the number of cyclists, who despite this extra provision, choose to use the footpaths. It's mountain bikers, who I presume enjoy the challenge of the generally more craggy/uneven footpaths.

It's ridiculously entitled and very dangerous for the pedestrians, as they go careering around the bends and up and down the hills, with no thought for who might be ahead of them. I know of at least two nasty accidents and countless near misses just on one path. When my dc were small I did occasionally, and very politely say that the bridleway was the other side and I was either ignored or told to fuck off.

There are plenty of signs up too, saying no cycles, please use bridleway, but these are generally defaced, or have the paint crossed out of scratched off. Some people literally can't bear to be told not to do something.

It’s the horses round here. We have miles of lovely open field borders that the landowner has opened up but no, they have to ride up the only actual footpath as well, churning it up and leaving it full of ruts and holes. And no, it isn’t instead of going in the road, the footpath comes off the lane at the same point as the field borders. It would just be nice to have one path that doesn’t risk a broken ankle.