On Mon, 8 Jul 2019 19:50:48 +0100, "NY" wrote:

"T i m" wrote in message
.. .
If cyclists are approaching from behind we like (expect?) some form of
early warning (and if we get one we do as above) or if not, expect
the cyclist to slow down to whatever speed would be considered safe to
pass us and the dogs without issue.

I was once cycling on a disused railway which has been converted into a
footpath and cycle track. I could see a group walking across the whole width
of the track, with a dog on a lead. I slowed down as I approached them and
saw one of them look round, presumably at the ticking of the freewheel. They
then carried on without moving aside. So I dismounted, aiming to walk past
them and carry on. They got very shirty with me, and for a while wouldn't
move aside to let me *wheel* the bike past them. When they eventually moved
over, very reluctantly and with a "some people!" comment, I got past and
remounted, only to have the dog (which had been on a lead) nearly run into
the spokes of my front wheel: I can only assume they let it off deliberately
as a parting gesture.

How bizarre!

I had a friend who took offence at cyclists using a cycle track, and berated
me for moving aside to let one coming in the opposite direction get past us,
even though he'd slowed right down. "You should have made it as difficult as
possible for him - pedestrians have right of way".

And again!

Those two incidents suggest that even when cyclists bend over backwards to
be pedestrian friendly, a small minority of pedestrians try to be
bloody-minded and awkward.

Agreed. The only real time we have encountered that was when cycling
along the towpath on the Tandem (with trailer). 3 girls were walking
towards us along a fairly narrow bit with no options either side
(river / brambles), side-by-side and the 'norm' would be for them to
go into single file as we slowed or even stopped as we passed each
other.

They showed no sign of moving and eventually we stopped in front of
them and they basically walked into / past us? FWIW I think there were
'foreign so maybe the rules were different where they came from?

Of course a lot of cyclists *don't* slow down, so maybe they spoil it for
the minority who are well-behaved.

Yup, I'm sure that's the case, although round here it's probably the
minority who don't behave.

Another annoying thing is kids cycling though a pedestrianised
shopping area on a bike that has obviously got one wheel too many for
them (the front one)? ;-(

I probably really couldn't stop myself laughing if I saw one faceplant
(as long as he did it on his own etc). ;-)

Cheers, T i m