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.

I agree with you OP and I'm a cyclist. There are a lot of idiots around. Sometimes poor signage is to blame though. For example, there's a shared path near me that is part of a national cycle route and it can be accessed via a footpath and the signage is very ambiguous. I do have some sympathy for cyclists who get it wrong there. But if you have to lift your bike over a stile, kissing gate or barriers to prevent access to anyone other than walkers you have to be pretty stupid if you don't realise you're not supposed to cycle there. I agree that it's unacceptable behaviour.
It cuts both ways of course. More or less every week I have to ask people who are running or walking their dogs to leave the cycling specific facility that the club where I coach hires for our sessions and they are often quite aggressive. It's fenced and there are unmissable "No Dogs" signs at all the access points but they are largely ignored and I can't remember the last time that we didn't have to remove dog poo before we can start. A couple of weeks ago I had a runner get very shirty with me when I explained that no, we weren't going to let him "do a few laps" during our junior session.
Likewise there is a shared path in our area that has "share the path responsibly" signs every few hundred metres which include instructions like "keep left, pass on the right" and "dogs must be on a short lead at all times". I see every single one of the rules broken every time I go there, whether I am walking or cycling. There are just a lot of inconsiderate people around I'm afraid and no one group has a monopoly on selfishness.

It has nothing at all to do with give and take! As a cyclist you are not permitted on a public footpath. They are rights of way for pedestrians only. The end.

This. A footpath is for people on foot. The clue is in the name.

Please occasionally set out on your horse, in a cloak, and possibly a mask or helmet, brandishing a switch, on a special mission to bring cyclists to repentance.

Not joking.

I often ride on rural paths. But in Scotland, where the rules are different. And usually as a form of transport, to get somewhere.

Which means, unlike those pesky mountain bikers that have been mentioned throughout the thread, I would always choose to use the smoothest/ flattest route available. And if there's one that's been tarmaced I'll use that one, even if it's slightly less direct. I hate riding in places where the ground's been rutted, or churned into mud, whether that's by horses or cattle or quad-bikes....

I'd love to know what pedestrians' preferences are when it comes to bike bells? There used to be a campaign aimed at cyclists who rode on canal tow-paths, suggesting 'two tings' of the bell. I think that's less obnoxious than shouting "get out of my way" or ringing my bell for a long time, & always hope that it doesn't annoy people too much.

I'm really just trying to alert them to my presence so they're not taken by surprise, not telling them to move off the path or else...

I'm always conscious that they might well be deaf/ just not hear me. I would always slow down to cycle past them, especially if there were any young children, smile and say thank you (or wish them a good day) but is there anything else you'd like cyclists to do/ be aware of?

@Longtimelurkerfinallyposts I belong to a local walking group and we always appreciate a cyclist using their bell to warn us of their approach. However, as you mentioned, some walkers are deaf. A couple of our older members are - they are very fit walkers but hard of hearing despite hearing aids.

Mountain bikes are much more damaging than boots and cyclists are far less discerning and considerate of the state of the path than walkers - especially as they shouldn’t be on the footpath anyway. The clue is in the name footpath.

But your horse cutting up the path and making it impossible for walkers to use, due to the holes in the ground your horse makes, is all ok?

We've paths around me that are dangerous to walk on due to the divots that have set hard over the recent dry weather.

Seems anyone doing any form of exercise is in the wrong according to MN.

She’s complaining about other people riding on a footpath on her land and is clear that horses use bridleways. Once again, the clue is in the name. If you walk on a bridleway, you expect to find evidence of horses.

Cyclists, runners, walkers all seem to get flak on Mumsnet. But then so do fat people. How do you expect people to stay fit and healthy when they’re constantly getting shit for exercising?

No one is “getting shit for exercising”. They are being castigated for using bikes on footpaths, which is not allowed.

...how do I explain to our local OAP’s using the footpath that they need to duck for over to the side of a narrow footpath of an arrogant cyclist?

How often have you had this conversation with OAPs, where you find they need advice on how to share the footpath with non-pedestrians?

You seem confused. OP said the cyclists are using footpaths, which they are not supposed to do.

I agree with you on the no one group having a monopoly on selfishness! We live near a part of a national cycle route where there's a split shared path and it's very common to see runners in the bike half, or families taking the entire path up by spreading right across it leaving no room for anybody to pass.

The other thing I'd say is that sometimes the apps cyclists use to plan routes (things like Map My Ride, Komoot, Strava, etc) are often community based, so people record routes that others can then follow. If the person who recorded the route went on a footpath, it may not always be evident to the next person that follows it. Sometimes the apps pick it up and warn you, sometimes they don't. I know DS2 and his friends have made this mistake before and once or twice have got lost or chosen the wrong path. I wouldn't mind someone pointing it out to them, but in general there's no need to be yelling at people, especially if they've made an honest mistake and nobody has been harmed. That isn't going to encourage people to do the right thing.

Where we used to live people rode on footpaths every day and that was in a suburb. Every day I challenged them. I don’t know how I wasn’t hurt, but it didn’t stop me! It’s a hill I will die on!

You’re totally in the right. Good for you for challenging entitled idiots. They are spoiling things for other people.

Sadly, it seems that more and more people are inconsiderate these days.

Im happy to share the space.

If a cyclist is wrongly on a pavement, I will not move to the side for them. I will stay in the middle of the pavement and make them go round me.

Same with footpaths (only when there is very clear signage). Stay in the middle of the footpath to make it difficult for them to pass.

Saying something is risky. Not everybody takes kindly to being told off.

Absolutely. It's so common where I live.
They also have the unpleasant habit of ringing their bells to make people jump out of their way.
Rude and entitled.

Of course you’re right OP. It’s a footpath, on your land.

Some people really don’t know, others are pushing their luck. Knowing they might get pulled up on it could make a difference to their choices.

The level of whataboutery and special pleading on the thread will be reflected in real life though. There’s always a very special reason why rules don’t apply to them and you will always be the big meany for pointing out that rules not only exist but do apply to special little them too.

Scotland has been mentioned. I think because we have grown up with the privilege of right to roam there is more consideration, more understanding of balancing the needs of the various groups and of the rural work that is going on around us. I'm not saying there aren't ever problems like carelessness leading to wildfires, dogs being let loose on hills where sheep roam etc but generally everyone does their part in making right to roam work.

Good points.

Is it is easy to report mistakes and get routes removed on those apps? Do the people you know do that? Sounds important, to their cycling community, otherwise bad information is going to keep building up.

Really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.

I don't want them on the path at all, I'm afraid.