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 move because I'm scared of being run into. I was knocked over once.

But it does annoy me when having moved out of self preservation they have the nerve to shout thanks...

A cyclist has ran into me on a pavement before - that time it was an innocent accident because both of us weren't looking where we were going - I did shout at her though to get off the pavement.

When it is obvious that the cyclist has seen me on the pavement/footpath, I refuse to move. I am not accommodating them at all. There have been a few that have moaned at me or said something. This is when I let rip and say something back about right of way!

Bikes are entitled to be on bridle ways alongside you and your horse - assuming you are in England and Wales.

in Scotland bikes are entitled to be on nearly all pathways.

Bikes on footpaths are a danger. Footpaths are a minimum width and Bridleways are much wider for safety reasons.
Fast mountain bikes coming round blind bends where there are walkers and loose dogs are an accident waiting to happen. It also tends to lead to the path then being used by motorbikes and quad bikes and walkers placed at risk.
I've also had a mountain biker crash into my horse when on my own land.

Nobody wants to stop cyclists or riders, but rules need to be respected for very good reasons.
Also basic etiquette dictates that cyclists should give way to walkers, yet how often does that happen?

They are breaking the law. Why is that okay?
Do you take the same approach to cyclists on the pavement in London or gangs of them in the middle of the road in the Lake District?
Unless you’ve come up against them you have no idea of their rudeness, arrogance or the actual damage that they cause.
It’s bad enough having them on bridleways (the clue’s in the name) but sadly that’s legal but they are a menace on footpaths and I challenge them as well, every single time. They get what they deserve.
Rant over (for now)

Oh my god. The gangs in the middle of the road, slowing down the traffic. Don't get me started.

For cyclists on shared routes, shout ‘morning’ and ting the bell in plenty of time. Don’t, please, ride up behind me then ting frenziedly as though you’re about to miss a PB.

And where there are off lead dogs, be aware they are effectively like toddlers. Trained but unpredictable as they don’t see the world the way you do.

There’s a real shift in society from rule following for better social cohesion, to do what you like if you can get away with it.
People tend not to bother understanding the reason for the various rules, then say ‘I didn’t realise’, when they’ve caused chaos for some farmer or walker.

It’s a swift and slippery slope to a really unpleasant, dog eat dog world.

Of course cyclists shouldn’t be on footpaths, they often damage them, and the paths just aren’t designed/evolved or maintained for them. They need to stick to roads, cycle paths, bridle paths and any other designated ‘shared use’ paths there might be.
We’ve sometimes challenged cyclists on the wrong path.

Pretty much any path which is suitable for bikes is already a bridle way.

On bike bells vs saying "excuse me".

I have rung my bell and been told "you could have just said excuse me!"

And I have called "good morning, excuse me please" and been told that I should get a bell and use it.

So, my suggestion, is please accept either method of alert in a friendly way. Unless you literally write your preferred method of hailing on the back of you clothes, all we can do is make our best guess of what you prefer, and we are not mind readers.

@LongtimelurkerfinallypostsI think ringing the bell - tow paths were designed for horses so I guess cyclists are ok on them but cyclists need to be aware of people on foot who cannot easily get out of the way, so you need to be prepared to stop.

In my bit of the countryside, most cyclists in this very leafy beechwood area do mostly stay on the bridleways. Many of which are actually much narrower than they should be. When I see them on footpaths, they are often going faster then they should and they are the arrogant Lycra clad riders who just do what they want. They throw their bikes over the kissing gates and do not take any care when they see walkers. They don’t seem to possess bells! It’s impossible to stop them and it’s just how certain elements of the cycling public have become. It’s like an ill considerate cult. We have lots of after dark riding here (I think cycling clubs) and they are some of the worst for using footpaths - I see them exit from a footpath opposite my house. We have a good network of bridleways and there’s no excuse.

Since the GB team started winning medals in cycling it’s become an obsession with some (mostly men) to do what they want and go where they want. Bad bike behaviour has multiplied. They know they are untouchable and nothing will happen to them. Like a sub section of any cult, they are not behaving in an acceptable way. Nothing anyone can do to stop it though. My County Council doesn’t even mention on their web site that cyclists should not be on footpaths. They only mention it’s illegal for cars to be on bridleways. They just bow to the men in Lycra so they become more arrogant.

You could dismount, walk round people then get on again, and go on your way?

Also, I am a cyclist who regularly rides on a particular footpath to and from work. It crosses a golf course. I only cycle when it is dry. I have never been challenged by a pedestrian, but I have played out the below exchange in my head for if I ever am:

Pedestrian: "you aren't supposed to cycle here!"
Me: "I know, it's stupid isn't it?"
P: "eh?"
M: "well just look at it, a lovely wide and well surfaced path, on a convenient route into town, with good visibility and plenty of space for more people to use it"
P: "but it's a footpath, you shouldn't be here"
M: "well I guess my only other option is the a-road over there, do you think that is a good place for cyclists?"
P: "hell no, you would slow down all the proper traffic"
M: "and I would be lucky to make it to work without being killed. So what should I do? Would the world be a better place if I didn't cycle and just added yet another car to rush hour traffic?"
P: "...."
M: "have a nice day!"

So in the right circumstances, I think it is totally find to cycle on a footpath, and I would encourage everyone to ask themselves what harm is really being done (and also what good is being done, "one less car" and all that) before challenging all cyclists.

I agree that sometimes it is totally inappropriate and cyclists can be dicks just like anyone else.

It does matter to walkers who find their pastime ruined by the damage caused by entitled, thoughtless cyclists.

Driving to the gym and back in a massive SUV is the mumsnet-approved way of getting fit.

This ⬆️. Plus, some of us can't jump out of the way as quickly as they like, no matter how often they ring their bells

This is in the situation where I am coming up behind them (so going faster than them) and they are taking up much of the bridleway that I cannot get past.

I tend to agree.

Right. I can't jump out of the way quickly though, I know this makes some cyclists frustrated and angry. I am not (and I quote)."a dozy cow".
I've got arthritis.
I'm sure you're far more accommodating.

The apps usually pick up from GPS data or user reports and put a warning on a route that parts of it are on footpaths and you need to walk your bike. And if cyclists do walk their bikes along short connecting sections of footpaths on the English side, it's not an issue, so the apps won't remove or ban them.

We're in the Scottish Borders, so although right to roam applies here, a lot of the cycling routes do cross the border into England so those routes you do often have to look out for that.

It does actually. Off road cyclists are a complete pain, very entitled and do a huge amount of damage to the paths.

I completely agree with you and this is so so sad. What they don’t seem to appreciate is that ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law.

Like I said, entitled. If it's a footpath, get off your bike and walk.

In that case why don't you apply to have it officially changed into a bridleway? If the golf course doesn't want horses going across it is possible to apply for one that allows bikes but not horses. Write to your councillor and your local footpaths officer. Also if you can prove it has been used by cyclists for many years you will have a very good case.

My whole point is that I don't see why getting off and walking makes any difference. I might as well cycle, since it does no harm to anyone.

If it's a footpath, that's what you do. I can see that if it's a wide, clear, safe path with no one coming it's tempting to cycle. Still wrong.