[Closed] How to make cyclists behave better...

Shout immigrants a few times, they'll shuffle back in to their net curtain reinforced lairs until the dangers passed

Or

Give them all roles in a cycling safety liaison committee and hold monthly meetings (that you don't go to)

Fit rear view mirrors to walkers.

Safety padding for all old people.

Poor cycling, especially on footpaths and pavements does cause alarm. Especially to elderly people whose balance is poor and aren't so aware of what is happening around them. They feel vulnerable and bicycles which to them suddenly appear out of nowhere genuinely cause them distress.
Bells do actually help, but can't change a dick by giving him a free bell, they are what they are on bikes, in a car or walking the dog 🙁

All new bikes come fitted with a bell if you buy them complete, I thought ttha was the rules? There's no excuse for not having one.

They are uncool though. And to be fair, most people don't or pretend not to hear them.

I chastised my mate for not using one, he preferes to shout a warning rather than a polite tinkle, it seems to be more effective on balance.

All new bikes come fitted with a bell if you buy them complete, I thought that was the rules? There's no excuse for not having one.

You buy your bicycles pre-assembled by someone else? How quaint...

TBH it's perception, I ride on the local NCR and bridleways with and without my kids (with bells fitted to all our bikes), people seem to be a lot more pleasant when you have children cycling with you... Strange really as we're probably more of an inconvenience / wobbly danger to passing ped's with the kids than without.

Of course on my own I'm a "[i]cyclist[/i]" whereas with the kids I'm a more relatable and socialy accepted "[i]Dad[/i]"...

People see and respond to the stereotypes/labels that they are used to, and lazy thinkers, looking for something to object to, are seldom placated by the 'ding' of a bell...

Its OK though, eventually all these baby-boomers will die off and the next generation of old people are bound to be more progressive, inclusive and non-judgemental... Right?

Bells or not, I've had a bell and used the "excuse me" method and people have complained about both, and been startled by both. It doesn't seem to make much difference, some people just want to be annoyed by everything that isn't them.

Strange really as we're probably more of an inconvenience / wobbly danger to passing ped's with the kids than without.

Good point, I've seen that first hand. Toddler knocks an elderly lady flying and it's all smiles. Polish guy safely coasts past at 10mph on his way to work and he's the enemy.

Mind you, I'm not sure what I want to acheive here is improving cyclists.

I'm looking to reassure people that positive steps are being taken without annoying/patronising the cyclists.

I was wondering if other areas have tried anything that was well received by cyclists...

They feel vulnerable and bicycles which to them suddenly appear out of nowhere genuinely cause them distress.

Spot on IMHO. It's taken me a long time to work this out but it finally clicked a couple of years back.

I was anti bell for ages, it felt like a rude "get out of my way" signal.

I was wrong. Older people really appreciate it as a "there's a bike around" signal and sincerely like a few seconds to process that fact.

I'm convinced it's sincere. (Although I'm sure a few people use absence of bell as an excuse to complain.)

Very hard to explain to a 20yo that they won't always be able to hear a bike on a trail at 30m distance and process what to to in 0.005 seconds.

Very hard to explain to a 20yo that they won't always be able to hear a bike on a trail at 30m distance and process what to to in 0.005 seconds

In some of this you need to discount the always going to complain mod, the others need to be considered I do prefer a hello, or excuse me as a bell sounds more rude to me, speaking causes less heart attack jumps

Get the local complainants to fill out a lengthy questionnaire so they feel their concerns are being listened to.

Dish out a flyer with the bell highlighting the results of the questionnaire.

Run a workshop with complainants where you help them realise that they don't need to get out of the way of bikes. If they carry on in a predictable manner, the bike will find its way around. Same with motorcycles and cars.

Of course, I don't know exactly what your issues are, how significant or how actual/perceived so my comments may/may not be of any use at all.

Around here a bell makes sod all differerance.

I even have a loud ding dong style bell and they just ignore. Some of them still shout get a bell.......yes they may be deaf but thats not grounds to complain about cyclists "sneaking" up on them on shared use paths,

The dogs not on leada or on extendomatic leads ignore bells.

Da youth with their headphones in hear nothing.......

I've always wanted one of these fitted to my car for comedy value, a bike version would be pretty handy for these situations. Not sure where you would mount the tank and air compressor though 😆

Largely depends on the walkers own individual attitude to cyclists as well. I have a bell on my XC bike as I often end up on canal tow paths etc. If I ding the bell quite often I get "a simple excuse me please would have been nice" and if I say excuse me please then I seem to get an angry "you should have a bell on that"

"Too fast" and "without a bell" are not really linked. The issue is probably the speed, i.e if the cyclist slowed down to 4 mph and then passed at walking speed the issue would go away. Ringing a bell and then riding past at 20+mph doesn't make people feel much better does it.

I just freewheel and let my Hope hub act as a sound for them to hear which works most of the time. Ultimately on a shared path it is as much their job to be aware of what is around them as it is yours to have bells and whistles.

Limit cycling speed to 4mph around people. 😉

I slow to nearly walking pace and do a ex uzse me but few LEDs on my route. I think he's can be useful used from a distance and excuse me. Lose up. However the drops on my computer are narrow and a bell on that bike gets in the way.

The Brick has it, slow right down be courteous and considerate and you wont have a problem.

Theres probably no one single approach that fits all circumstances but being considerate always works.

I got shouted at by a golfer as I rode down through a golf course on a bridleway last weekend, I appeared as he had swung the club and I could see the golf ball going up and over directly inline with me, but I was doing about 18-20mph so carried on, (it's wide and open apart from the foliage/woodland that had obscured my view as I went round a long wide bend in the 2-3 metre wide path

This golfer starts shouting and swearing at me, that I should have stopped.. But I wasn't braking hard to stop for the chance of a gold ball to then hit me..

I politely called him a "bell end" and was on my way..
It annoyed me as I didn't feel I had done anything wrong, maybe it's an unwritten rule I stop and not give a distraction

I've got a bell on my gnarmac bike and it gets a fair amount of use and generally a positive response. But, and this is the key, it's also accompanied by me slowing down to not much more than walking pace. If you race past their going to be annoyed.

One thing ive noticed that even at busy time my non cyclist pub bike (a 1980s cruiser three speed which can still go a fair clip) never seems to get any comments or issue....perhaps its because im not a lycra lout when im on that , im a person in casual clothes on a bike.

Targeting a minority group springs to mind.

Just to add a boringly serious note.... the fourth reply from taxi25 above hits the nail on the head. Having just survived a 6 month stint of caring for an elderly and sick relative I can understand why old folk are nervous of cyclists. In fact an elderly friend on my relative got knocked flying by a woman running for a bus and broke her hip, which will probably finish off her independence because for anybody over 65 a week in hospital ages them by 10 years.

Unfortunately old folk often can't hear a high-pitched bell. Cyclists and runners need to take care around peds and call out a polite warning if approaching from behind.

À problem which reflects society as a whole I'm afraid. A bigger issue than a bell . Ding ding!

I often talk with my neighbour about this - She's 80 , and a very keen & active redsock. She complains of not hearing the bell or warning so I've stopped riding past her on the pavement at speed. 😉

It's easy to walk to one side of a path when there are cyclists about. I've no idea why most pedestrians don't do it though.

Taser or Pepper Spray for pedestrians to use against cyclists, it's the only solution..

Globalti - an acquaintance got knocked over by a ped and that makes oldies nervous...of cyclists?

Makes sense ... 🙄

I'm a bell user, my experience is that they are better received than shouting. However, bear in mind that old people loose their high frequency hearing a lot sooner than mid tones, so they still may not hear your little bell. Small ones are high pitched.

Be considerate to others?

Simple rule "give way" to the most vulnerable user....

I just slow down and say hello and excuse me. On the couple of occasions when people have said I should have a bell I've explained that I've slowed down and politely said hello and they can't argue with it. Ringing a bell whilst refusing to slow down isn't much better than shouting get out my way in my book.

Limit cycling speed to 4mph around people.

In the same way we would like cars to drive around us, slowly and considerately.

Bells may help, but it's about educating cyclists how to ride near more vulnerable users.

And some will always moan, and some will always ride like dicks.

Ridicule - if any biker is riding on a trail where 'old people' are walking, they simply are not Gnarrr enough and deserve to have their bike taken off them.

Give them empathy pills?

I got shouted at by a golfer as I rode down through a golf course on a bridleway last weekend, I appeared as he had swung the club and I could see the golf ball going up and over directly inline with me, but I was doing about 18-20mph so carried on, (it's wide and open apart from the foliage/woodland that had obscured my view as I went round a long wide bend in the 2-3 metre wide path

This golfer starts shouting and swearing at me, that I should have stopped.. But I wasn't braking hard to stop for the chance of a gold ball to then hit me..

I politely called him a "bell end" and was on my way..
It annoyed me as I didn't feel I had done anything wrong, maybe it's an unwritten rule I stop and not give a distraction

Got to say i'm with the golfer on this one. The difference in a swing which sends a golf ball soaring gracefully above your head and one which shanks it unpredictably towards your face, is tiny.
You were lucky that your sudden appearance didn't throw his swing off enough for him to send a daisy cutter in your direction at 130 mph.

Trust me, having done both, i'd rather take a tumble off a bike any day than take a direct hit fom a golf ball. It stings a bit.

You were on a golf course so there was a reasonable expectation that you would encounter a golfer. The responsibility is on you to be careful, for your own safety.

The analogy would be you unexpectedly encountering a rambler on a black trail at a trail center. Who's the "bell end" in that scenario?

You were on a golf course so there was a reasonable expectation that you would encounter a golfer. The responsibility is on you to be careful, for your own safety.

No he was on a bridleway that someone built a golf course around.

The analogy would be you unexpectedly encountering a rambler on a black trail at a trail center. Who's the "bell end" in that scenario?

That's a poor analogy and the rambler shouldn't be on a dedicated trail so it is not reasonable to expect there to be one whereas it is entirely reasonable to expect there to be cyclist, as well as walkers and horse riders on a bridleway.

Silly me! I do apologise.

I forgot that bridleways have invisible force field around them to protect dumbasses from being struck by fast moving objects. I do hope that there aren't any bridleways which cross train tracks anywhere near you.
If there are, best of luck arguing the point about right of way when you've blindly charged over the tracks and been turned into a red mist by two hundred tons of metal travelling at a hundred miles an hour.

I used to ride with a bell but it dinged every time I went over a bump and got annoying, and my friends started complaining about it. Also, with a brake lever and dropper post button it had to be mounted so far inboard it'd be difficult to use on anything properly rough.

Has anyone found a decent slim bell that doesn't constantly make noise?

Although I did find the effectiveness of a bell to be limited; people aren't used to hearing them anymore so think they've heard something else so don't move, or it just confuses them. Or they're in a big enough group (which seems to be over 3 people) that they're oblivious to their surroundings. I don't think it's hard- when I run on the canal towpath I keep to one side so even if I am in my own world people on bikes can get by, but I generally try and stay aware or my surroundings, as I would walking along a country lane or similar.

Instead of a bell i sort of flick the brake levers to make a clicking noise, its a bit more gentle than a bell and causes less surprise. Also it comes across like you are just changeing gear and not saying get out the way like a bell does. As well as that ive learnt that just slowing right down is best, still get angry looks from grumpy old men even then.

You're all rong..

Just shout..

Str.....

I just say excuse me please as i don't want a bell that dings every time I go over a kerb sized bump.

after they ignore my second attempt and just barge through at the next gap I see.

I think the correct solution is to round up all of the old timers and send them to the Isle of wight,then build a big wall around so prevent them escaping, at least it will stop them driving too.

Percy, if you are playing over an highway then the person with the high speed projectile takes the most care. Bit like shooting on or near one really.

Can we send anyone wearing 'beats audio' headphones too,

Hello
On your left
Excuse me
Oi
[b]EXCUSE ME[/b]

Percy, if you are playing over an highway then the person with the high speed projectile takes the most care. Bit like shooting on or near one really.

Maybe, but you'd give way to cars before stepping off the kerb wouldn't you?

Same with any other landowner (except cars, car's don't own the road), you wouldn't get in a farmers way just because it's a bridleway. It's a right of way, not a right to be a tool, usually someone still owns the land and it still has a use beyond your right to pass through it.

I think golf is as much a waste of a nice walk as anyone, but tearing down the fairway without checking it's clear is just being a weapons grade tool.

Percy, if you are playing over an highway then the person with the high speed projectile takes the most care. Bit like shooting on or near one really.

Couldn't agree more... but that's not what was described.

Golfer checks way is clear. Golfer pulls trigger on swing. Biker emerges from behind trees at full tilt and blindly charges along bridleway, without looking, directly across path of golf ball. Biker calls golfer a bell end.

Both parties in this scenario should have been mindful of the potential presence of the other.
It would seem that, in the instance described, the golfer has taken care to ensure that there is no one in his path, Biker has not taken care to ensure that there are no reasonably forseeable missiles headed his way before breaking cover at 20mph.

Had it been me in that scenario, I would have apologised to the golfer for not looking rather than branding him a helmet.

The analogy is rules of the road for me. As the slower moving vehicle on the road, it's up to the car driver to pass when it's appropriate and safe to do so.

On a path, you are effectively the car. Slow down and pass safely - but take into account your perception of what this is. In reality this is probably different to that of the average pedestrian. The "inconvenienced by all of 30 seconds" argument applies to a cyclist in this situation as much as a car passing a cyclist on the road.

Whilst you "could" pass by at a rate of knots whilst perfectly in control, doing so is intimidating. We're not happy with a car whipping past too close at high speed - this is the equivalent for walkers.

My son's school is on a dead end with an alleyway footpath running between his school and another, it's tight with a blind bend in it. Commuting cyclists use it as a rat run. None get off.

I've challenged a few. Being 220lb and 6ft2 they don't swear at me because funnily a few mums at the school say they have to them when challenged.

I'm not a cyclist. I'm a human and a bloody nice one who doesn't like anti social behaviour like this. I even pointed out the two 'cyclists dismount' signs (couldn't see them mate).

Some cyclists are like children who never grew up.

Both parties in this scenario should have been mindful of the potential presence of the other.
It would seem that, in the instance described, the golfer has taken care to ensure that there is no one in his path, Biker has not taken care to ensure that there are no reasonably forseeable missiles headed his way before breaking cover at 20mph.

Perhaps the golf course should have been designed so that is less likely to happen, viz, there are clear sight lines from the tee rather than the potential for cyclists to 'appear from nowhere' or rather from tree cover. It sounds like bad course design as much as anything.

Perhaps the golf course should have been designed so that is less likely to happen, viz, there are clear sight lines from the tee rather than the potential for cyclists to 'appear from nowhere' or rather from tree cover. It sounds like bad course design as much as anything.

'Well the course shouldn't have been laid out that way, the tree's were in the way and I rode out in front of him and called him a bell end. I could have slowed down to check for golfers, but I was on Strava and doing 20mph'

That's only slightly more valid than:

'Well the road shouldn't have been laid out east/west, the sun got in my eyes and I ran him over. I could have slowed down to check for cyclists, but I was in a hurry'

I think the problem still lies with the golfer- he's whacking something that would hurt, a lot, over a public right of way. It's up to him to be 100% certain it's clear. The cyclist meanwhile can't do any harm to the golfer.

The cyclist is at least as entitled to be there as the golfer is. Neither have priority and as a non-golfer the cyclist certainly does not have to observe the niceties of the game.
Had the golfer already hit the ball before the rider appeared, a nice loud "FORE!" would have been the most suitable thing to say.

Had a long off road ride at the weekend along the SDW which is a shared trail, mostly bridleway status. Must have passed dozens of walkers of all types. Often, as is natural they'll spread out across the trail, walking two or three abreast. No bell on my bike (oops!) so I slow down and give a cheery 'on your left' or 'on your right'. Didn't get any grumbles, but frequently they'd be startled, as if a bike was the last thing they expected to see. Gonna fit a bell.

My local trails are well used by the red sock brigade and by local dog walkers alike.

I find the best method is a very friendly "Hello there! I'm just passing you on your left/right" with a good thirty yards warning to give other trail users plenty of time to react and/or get their dog in harness. If you're too close you'll startle folk or worry their animals.

While a bell is a good idea, they're invariably not loud enough, nor tell anyone else using your trails what your intentions are. I prefer a friendlier, more personal touch and it gets good results.

Only twice have I ever had a grumpy "didn't hear your bell", the stock response is always a robust "Ding-A-F***ing-Ling!".

I think the problem still lies with the [s]golfer[/s] driver - he's [s]whacking[/s] driving something that would hurt, a lot, over a public right of way. It's up to him to be 100% certain it's clear. The cyclist meanwhile can't do any harm to the [s]golfer[/s] driver.

Still like this logic if ,as in the circumstances described, the "driver" did check it was clear before the cyclist blindly pulled out in front of him from a concealed position at 20mph without looking?

I agree about slowing down & being courteous, but I still think there is an attitude problem. If you are on a shared use path you should at least be aware that there may be bikes on it. That doesn't mean you have to look over your shoulder the whole time, but it does mean that the presence of a bike on a cycle path shouldn't come as a shock. Too often you come across pedestrians who act as if the last thing they ever expected to see was a bloke on a bike. Granted if you ride like an a-hole it isn't going to help, but the fact remains the very presence of bikes on paths they have ever right to be on seems to generate rage in some people.

"Too fast" and "without a bell" are not really linked. The issue is probably the speed, i.e if the cyclist slowed down to 4 mph and then passed at walking speed the issue would go away. Ringing a bell and then riding past at 20+mph doesn't make people feel much better does it.

This is how I see it too

Everyone likes a comedy horn

defeats the purpose of shared use paths then.

might as well walk if im doing 4mph.

they manage it in holland - by having white lines and rules in busy areas about walking to one side or the other.....

over here its a freeforall lets walk 5 abreast with the dug on an extendomatic with our headphones in looking at our iphones.

and wonder why there is conflict.

and before you say use the roads if you want to go faster than 4mph.... i tried that - i got pulled over twice by the rozzers for being on the a92 dualer when there was a perfectly good "cycle path" (shared use - with lots of the above on)

the bell was a waste of time , the mega horn worked but isnt really socially acceptable although muppets with headphones in and dogs completely blocking the path deserve it imo.

ive gone down a pro 2 and freewheel up to them method - as generally im slowing down anyway to pass them as is curteous but im not slowing down to 4mph for everythign on the shared use path i exercise judgement on the appropriate speed - 1 person on their own .... ill slow down a bit a family with freerange children and dogs - walking pace is cool.

I just shout "morning!" as soon as in ear shot. If they acknowledge they've heard me - I slow down a little. If they don't acknowledge I slow down a lot - normally its cos they've got headphones on.

No-one is likely to hear you from 30 yards away unless you are shouting mega loud though. best to shout at more like 10 yards.

What I would like is a nice airhorn on the bars for the situation where you are approaching them head on and they're on the side of the white line that is reserved for bikes - can clearly see you coming and don't shift across.....PAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRPPPPPPP! 🙂

Still like this logic if ,as in the circumstances described, the "driver" did check it was clear before the cyclist blindly pulled out in front of him from a concealed position at 20mph without looking?

But by that logic, the scenario that has actually occurred is a driver pulling out on a cyclist using the main road. Not the other way round. The driver/golfer should have taken more care to ensure the way was clear.

Riding along I tend to just shout "mind your back". No need (legal or otherwise) for a bell (audible warning of approach is all that's required legally - as those who know me will attest I have a loud voice).

I did notice that the schoolkids I encountered on the canal towpath this morning were far more accommodating than old people/dog walkers.

I suspect the solution would be to re-educate the old people about shared use paths.

Did a 2 hours XC early this morning. Was timing myself but still able to slow down for walkers with dogs and got off to walk past a nervous horse/rider. What's the problem?

The only tricky one was lady jogger who didn't react to my first two verbal warnings - good old earphones!!!

I suspect the solution would be to re-educate the old people about shared use paths.

True but we're trying to placate the old people with some positive action without discouraging cycling which we want to encourage.

Only twice have I ever had a grumpy "didn't hear your bell", the stock response is always a robust "Ding-A-F***ing-Ling!".

I go for "ding dong" in the style of Leslie Phillips.

thanks for the input guys, its a tricky one, i wasnt going overly fast, its nice and open (strava lot go twice the speed),

just found this

clip which at 2mins 4-6 seconds

i would have appeared as the golfer had swung, he was aproximately 10-15m from the bridleway edge 30-35 metres ahead of me on the left.

his argument was i should have stopped. but the abuse he was hurling my direction was overkill, he had hit it before i became visible to him, i could see the ball up high overhead. so i felt no need to stop and as it was inline with the golfer i peddled on to avoid the line of flight.

bad timing, my fault, a golfer ****, to be honest the regular tee off is much further down, the majority of golders if they looked to be ready to swing i'll stop, or they'll wave me through, just one bad attitude,

i'm not having an old man stamping up and down shouting abuse, but same time he looked that angry i wasnt stopping for a chat

ollybus - fitting a bell still won't help with the walkers on the SDW 🙂
you're damned if you do, damned if you don't and they still startle at anything.

Fortunately IME the sheep on the SDW are a lot smarter & less likely to startle than the walkers.

I'm not saying having a bell (I have a couple) and or slowing down (I do) are bad things but neither will solve the issue of [i]some[/i] other people being grumpy ****s when they see cyclists.
I've been abused for ringing my bell and also been moaned at for saying "excuse me" while veeeery slowly riding behind walkers (having not heard my approach or earlier calls of morning, hello, etc)

I appreciate walkers don't understand how bikes handle nowadays and a cyclist stood on pedals can seem quite imposing and yes in the past I have on occasion acted like a bit of a nobber myself, I like to think I'm more of a well behaved, model cyclist nowadays.
(except for the whole fp thing obviously)

and before you say use the roads if you want to go faster than 4mph.... i tried that - i got pulled over twice by the rozzers for being on the a92 dualer when there was a perfectly good "cycle path" (shared use - with lots of the above on)

You need to report them as they are stopping you for no valid reason. Just because there is a cycle path doesn't mean you have to use it (and they would know that so bordering on harassment) Guessing they couldn't find any black motorists to annoy...

One thing I don't recommend is to do what the canal and river trust have done around here, putting big signs up saying "pedestrian priority". Since the signs went up I barely go a day without some (usually elderly) idiot pointing at said sign as justification for him and Doris taking up the whole path and refusing to move.
I think it is impossible to do much more to educate people who use bikes about shared use paths. I think there's a lot of education needed amongst pedestrians on shared use infrastructure.
I don't think people who complain about having to share should be indulged, it only seems to make them complain louder.
Try my response.
"If you don't like sharing space, there's a whole nationwide network of dedicated footpaths where you have every right to be surprised to see a cyclist. Piss off and use them."

I used to have a bell but to be honest, about 80% of the time people either ignored it or didn't hear it.

Hope hubs + shouting a cheery hello/"ding" seems to work quite well but you do get the "you should have a bell!" occasionally.

as a volunteer for SUSTRANS the cycling charity who build most of the off road cycle routes, we held an event in Blacon Chester, giving out free bells to cyclists, most gratefully recieved.Blacon now also has 3 sets of double speed humps on the cycle track

3 sets of double speed humps on the cycle track

have you done a knack knack while gapping the doubles they have built you 😀

as a volunteer for SUSTRANS the cycling charity who build most of the off road cycle routes, we held an event in Blacon Chester, giving out free bells to cyclists, most gratefully recieved.Blacon now also has 3 sets of double speed humps on the cycle track

Thanks, 3 pages in this is the first that actually offers something practical that's worked elsewhere.

they manage it in holland - by having white lines and rules in busy areas about walking to one side or the other.....

Most cyclists in Holland are commuting in civvies on sit up and beg bikes, not arse up head down shouting "Stravaaaaaaa...."

I believe that's where the issue lies. Cyclists in the UK are not looked upon in the same way (or behave in the same way) as Dutch cyclists.

Is this question to make cyclists behave better or improve the non cycling public's perception of cyclists behavior?

slowoldman - Member
they manage it in holland - by having white lines and rules in busy areas about walking to one side or the other.....
Most cyclists in Holland are commuting in civvies on sit up and beg bikes, not arse up head down shouting "Stravaaaaaaa...."

I believe that's where the issue lies. Cyclists in the UK are not looked upon in the same way (or behave in the same way) as Dutch cyclists

This and the comments regarding having kids along for the ride are issues. I've found myself doing it - you see someone in lycra on a shared use path and (regardless of their speed) regard them as a bit of a nobber. Problem is now I cycle further to work, lycra really is the best option even if some of it is on shared paths.

I've had some truly inexplicable encounters with a miserable minority of walkers. As I alluded to in my previous post, I really think educating other users is now a priority as whilst I do see a bit of nobbish riding, there is a general attitude particularly from miserable old git type walkers that cyclists are second class and less important, even if, for instance, cyclists are using the path to get to work vs walkers having a wander with their dogs (not that I don't think they have every right to be there, just being respectful of other users is a necessity for all users, not just cyclists).

I have even been told that I wasn't allowed to cycle somewhere in Scotland as it was "a footpath". I'm happy to share. I even have lost out on getting some Strava segments slowing down to be courteous to other users FFS! But some people have a genuine attitude problem, and no matter how courteous I am, they'll think I'm a bell end.

Regarding having bells, I had some, they all got damaged and fell off, so now I've got my voice/Hope hubs on some bikes.

Most important thing is to stop councils and Sustrans from building shared use paths..they are shit and everybody hates them. They make getting around an average UK town a confusing bit of a mess. Proper protected cycle tracks separate from road and pavement are the way to go. If there is a road scheme out for Consultation near you involving shared pavements email/write in and tell them don't do it. A cycnic might suggest they are actually being built in some areas to deliberately build up an anti cycling head of steam amongst certain groups

Re "Cyclists Dismount" sign comment on last page - it's perfectly legal to cycle somewhere if there is a "cyclists dismount" sign. It doesn't mean cyclists have to dismount, although many people think it does and get shirty with cyclists when they don't.

Walkers shoild wear helmets to protect them incase they are hit by bikes. Also if they wear hi vis we would see them more easily.

Do they have insurance my mate dave's mum's brother's sun crashed when a walker stepped and in front of him. He could have hit a child in the face!

There's nothing more joyous than a group with their expando dog lead taking up the entire width of a shared path. I like it even more so when they grumble and moan at you having the audacity for wanting them to move over. It's sad but some folk are just tossers.

I rounded a corner on a country lane that's seldom used by vehicles at the weekend whilst I had "Ahem" STRAVA running, these two elderly ladies seemed to be enjoying the chitter chat so living in a small rural community I did what I would have wanted someone to do if it was my mother meandering about the lane without a care in the world,

As folk have said above my Hope Hub alerted them without causing fear or putting them in danger, I'd slowed to a snails pace anyway and the two turned round without concern so I had the opportunity to tell them that I didn't want to rush up on them, at this point the oldest one made it quite clear that I could acost her at anytime with legs like that and tight fitting shorts, and the slightly younger looking one still in her 60's replied with a rather disgruntled "MOTHER"

That said I've previously had all sorts of issues in the past mostly with dog walkers on Hampstead Heath...........
I'm not sure what goes on with the dog walking types across there but they are ALL proper nasty and very very ignorant,
I did have a KOM on there a few years back, that wasn't easy to achieve I'll tell ya so whoever took that I hope you got as much grief as I did dodging the dog shit and Hunter wellies.

Anyway just to conclude, I've found that slowing right down for walkers, families, kids on bikes and even stopping for horse riders provides the best results. Sometimes this leads on to what could constitute a conversation,
Riding with a bell just gives dullards who complain anyway time to become offensive.
Slowing down and killing them with kindness makes for a much more enjoyable ride.

It always takes me half an hour to calm down and settle back into a rhythm when I'm enjoying a ride, most of the time it ruins it completely so to avoid disappointment I just behave accordingly.

Thanks, 3 pages in this is the first that actually offers something practical that's worked elsewhere.

You suggested that yourself in your original post. Maybe if you're going to do a bell giveaway, you could combine it with a simple, non-patronising flyer with a simple 'shared path code' - when I said 'empathy pills' earlier in the thread, I did sort of mean it.

If cyclists can understand why some walkers find bikes unnerving, they're more likely to ride in a sympathetic way. Ditto car drivers vis a vis cyclists. As for bloody golfers though, stuff 'em, I've just been out on my cross bike and had some wrinkly old tosser tee off towards me despite the fact that I was clearly visible. Some of you golf sympathisers need to get a grip...