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.

Mine doesn’t say that. I looked too.

Where a permissive oath is created for walkers, riders and cyclists, they can of course use it. If a landowner has created a path for walkers only, that’s what it is. The reason they should not allow mates on horses or bikes to use it is insurance and signage. It should be clear that it’s a permissive path for walkers and those using it can expect to see only walkers. To change the use on a whim, contrary to the formal agreement, for mates on bikes and horses, is probably invalidating their insurance and what the public anticipates when using the path. If the path is created for various users, it can be signed and insured for that. The landowner chooses the users but then it’s defined in the formal agreement and way marked accordingly. . Basically walkers can expect not to see other users if the agreement is for a “footpath” for walkers only - and many are. It’s foolish of any landowner to allow others to use the path if that use is not in the agreement because the insurance is probably invalid and a claim could be costly. Any council stating all permissive paths are open to all users is simply wrong. They are open to those stated in the formal agreement only, but the landowner chose who they were.

Well several council websites are statng this, and horse owners have strict liability as I understand it. I have ridden over footpaths with landowners permission for many years, and indeed the footpath on my father's land too.