Went out for a spin on the road bike this morning, mainly on cycleways, and on the whole most walkers see you before you get to them so no need to use the bell. I used it on one couple twice whilst approaching and still got no reaction, I assumed ipod useage, slowed down to a 10mph ready to hit the brakes and passed withought hitting anyone, bloke suddenly got all abusive, told me to ring my bell, I shouted that I did (twice) to which he called me a bast**d.
I just find it quite depressing how aggresssive people are, even when they at fault. There was loads of cyclists about, so it's not exactly beyond the realms of possibility to be passed by another.
The only other thing I could have done would have been tap them on the shoulder when I was near them, and that would have still made them jump. Not exactly a rant (would be poor scoring if it was!) just had to vent a bit.....
😆Went out for a spin on the [u]road[/u] bike this morning, mainly on [u]cycleways[/u]
I still don't get why anyone would think using a bell is ever a good idea. Nobody ever pays attention to bells. Ever. No exceptions.
Learn to shout at people or just ride around them. People won't jump about stupidly if they don't know you're coming up behind them, but if they do, quite often they will.
There's a busy high street that I have to ride down a few times a week at the moment, and despite buses constantly going up and down it, people for some unknown reason (maybe because its paved rather then tarmacked) don't treat it as a road, and just step out into it with reckless abandon and walk around as they like on it. So I ride fast right past them and shout as I go past. Scares the hell out of them, so I'd assume they won't do it again. Idiots.
The best one i ever saw was one day we were on a canal boat going along and a guy on a bike on the towpath rang the bell at a dog he must of thought the dog knew what the bell meant did make me laugh,the dog didnt. :roll:Problem with cyclepaths people are in a dream on them very dodgy places.Your damed if you use the bell and your damed if you dont.
you are on a shared paths with pedestrian you have to except that you may have to slow down to pedestrian speed and give way. Sail over steam so to speak it's pretty basic.
Don't think anyone was complaining about the speed TheBrick?
slowed down to a 10mph
3 times their walking speed then
A group of us had problems with dozy ramblers and walkers today on a really fun descent on the Cleveland Way - they'd be walking 3 or 4 abreast blocking the trail, some with dogs all over the place, and see us about 50m away and not move or even allow some room. They were all walking towards us so coudn't claim they were unaware of us. Had to slow to walking pace for most of them until they moved to one side.
This happened with about 6 different groups in a 1km descent.
Next time we'll just hoon down and they'll have to dive for it.
Seems like a reasonble rant to me. The majority of people are stupid idiots (you only have to drive a car for 10 minutes to prove this)
[i]Nobody ever pays attention to bells. Ever. No exceptions[/i]
I use a bell when I'm out on the bike with my dog, and I find almost all people respond to it (even the stupid ones), with very few exceptions.
To be fair Steve B, that does give them some credit for visibly moving! They were racing a few smails I think 😀
Nobody ever pays attention to bells. Ever. No exceptions.
Simply not true.
Me and Mrs Fruitbat quite often use our local canal path and have had a few 'moments' with walking types. We don't have bells and it can be difficult to get the tone and volume of a 'shout' right.
I've recently taken to using a Duck Call and the results are fantastic. A couple of ducky type calls, from a good distance away, makes the walkers turn round to look for the duck. While scanning for the elusive duck they usually see the bikes and any aggressive tendencies appear to be waived.
The Duck Call is plastic so it's weight is not detrimental to the ride.
In Sheff, the council deliberately created a small bike lane in the larger footpath through Endcliffe park so you can get out to the peaks without using much tarmac. Despite this being clearly marked, pedestrians seem to take a perverse pleasure in walking , pushing prams ,walking dogs on leads on the cycle bit rather than the footpath which is twice as big. You then get shouted at for being on the footpath because you have to detour round the walkers on the cycle path! You just can't win.
Hows about a co2 powered duck call using one of those little tyre inflator thingies and a small push valve (like a push button) on yer handlebars. could have different attachments for different calls and perhaps an air-horn function.
This is idea now in the public domain and therefore unpatentable.
neninja - Member
A group of us had problems with dozy ramblers and walkers today on a really fun descent on the Cleveland Way - they'd be walking 3 or 4 abreast blocking the trail, some with dogs all over the place, and see us about 50m away and not move or even allow some room. They were all walking towards us so coudn't claim they were unaware of us. Had to slow to walking pace for most of them until they moved to one side.
This happened with about 6 different groups in a 1km descent.
Next time we'll just hoon down and they'll have to dive for it.
shouldn't you slow down for walkers on a shared trail anyway, no matter if the trail is fun or not?
I think its starting to get to the run up to christmas, the traditional season where people become totally self absorbed and oblivious to anything outside their bubble.
Had some ploke get all arsey with me a B&Q this afternoon as he swanned past the self service queue and didnt understand why I was slightly pissed. Lucky for him I was buying pliers not a nail gun....
@ Marmoset
I'm fortunate that i can ride an abundance of trails and hardly meet a soul but I have found that a road bike and mixed use trails are not a good combination - you are probably doing 12-15mph on an MTB and slow to 6-7 whereas on the road bike you'll easily do over 20mph so "slow" is still fast to walkers - as I have also found out
Most folk in a group are pretty oblivious to others regardless of activity (try going round a busy trail centre as a solo rider and see how much attention the groups are paying to other riders! and theres frequently an @rse in those groups as well* - maybe we just all need to chill a bit
* like the guy(on a bike) at Glentress that told me I should have a bell - my moment of the year
Nobody ever pays attention to bells. Ever. No exceptions.
what rubbish, a bell is a great way to attract attention in a non agressive way as i can attest via the experience of having one on the bike for the last few years
. Had to slow to walking pace for most of them until they moved to one side.
how awful for you to have to show consideration for another trail user, i mean what were they thinking not stepping aside and letting you "DH" the descents, afterall bikesown all the routes don't they? 🙄
show a little bit of courtesy and consideration and maybe they will do the same next time, you never know
Nobody ever pays attention to bells. Ever. No exceptions.
rant fail.
Admittedly you do get some ignorami but that's just [i]too[/i] sweeping
Cannock Chase yesterday on a fire road/bridleway, me climbing at a slow pace. Older fella coming my way with 3 dogs (no leash), I move over to the boggy shoulder to make room for his dogs who he calls out to half-arsedly to behave. Not even passed the guy yet, while I was pondering whether to say cheers or not, he says "could at least say thank you, you ****t". First I laughed at him but as he got more abusive for no reason I had to call him a few names.
Seriously, some people.
Passing people is a combination of letting them know your coming verbally and slowing down
If a trail has 6 groups in a kilometre walking up it then your descent is stuffed isn't it, even if they are getting out the way. Its not reasonable to ride past a group at speed particulaarly if they have a child with them
Also mountain bikers can be really ungreatful about your help. Last weekend I was on a bridleway (on a bike ride). I saw two people descending towards us. I got the dog on its lead (it never gets in the way but its easier if riders can see that its on a lead) got kids and their bikes off the trail so they didn't even have to brake.
Did they say thanks: no
Did they respond to my cheery question about how many were in their group: no
(in that wood its common for polite groups to shout things like I'm the last or 3 more behind me )
No wonder walkers get the hump when we can't even avoid antagonising other cyclists
Shared Trail Riding Rules
* The nicer the weather, the dozier the walkers.
* The more people in a group, the slower they are to react.
* Large groups tend to act like sheep rather than individuals.
* Old people move slower.
* Dogs and children move randomly.
* Everyone moves double slow on Sunday afternoons, apart from dogs and children who move double fast.
* Bells can make people jump, ring them frequently and repeatedly, long before you are near.
* Shouting 'bike coming' feels weird, get a bell.
* Zipping past people with inches to spare would piss off anyone, don't do it.
* A smile and a thanks improves everyone's day.
* Be extra cool with horses.
* Everyone has a right to enjoy their activity. Bikes are the fastest thing on a trail, ride with consideration and you'll have a better time, as well as everyone else.
* There are always occasional prats. Ignore them.
Rich I know what you mean, some people just can't grasp that there might be anyone other than them out for a ride/walk/random zig zag across a public right of way.
Last month we had a bloke with a dog ranting at us for riding on the cycle path and not on the footpath!!!
When I pointed out that we would be breaking the law if we did so he took off on us again saying "you F-ing cyclist want it all???
We left him ranting with one of my fellow riders wishing him a really crap time in the rest of his life
* Large groups tend to act like sheep rather than individuals
Funnily enough, in today's Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8131300/Pedestrians-struggle-to-suppress-their-inner-lemming-when-crossing-the-road.html
coffeeking - Member
Don't think anyone was complaining about the speed TheBrick?
I took the speed complaint tobe implicit, although plenty of people don't like you just because you are on a bike to be fair.
I'd say there is a problem that there is a proportion of the population who just don't like cyclists for some reason no matter what we do. we love to classify people in this country.
A few folk on incredibly high horses here tonight.
how awful for you to have to show consideration for another trail user, i mean what were they thinking not stepping aside and letting you "DH" the descents, afterall bikesown all the routes don't they?show a little bit of courtesy and consideration and maybe they will do the same next time, you never know
shouldn't you slow down for walkers on a shared trail anyway, no matter if the trail is fun or not?
Who said we were DH'ing the descent - where did I say that? Please enlighten me.
This was a technical rocky section where stopping or slowing to less than walking makes stability harder.
Is it too much to ask that on a 4m wide but loose rocky trail with drops and boulders when some riders are coming the other way pretty strung out, that walkers take up one half of the trail instead of completely blocking it? And that they reign in their dogs on extending leads so they aren't strung all over the place?
We do slow for walkers but it seems a bit excessive to have to slow to walking pace or an almost stop when the walkers have seen you 50+ metres away are determined to use the entire width of the trail until you are only yards away.
When I use cycleways I don't go fast as anything can happen with walkers from little kids running out but my bell still works fine.
If you were cycling normally OP, then ignore the swearing bloke -don't get dragged to his level.
Hope hubs seem to get most folks attention 🙂
Rich,
I'm having a guess at the local cycleways concerned but am probably correct, but we've got the Dog Walker in Blacon that is threatening to block the track in protest due to "lycra clad thugs riding at 30mph" despite the fact that its based on a disused railway line and most of us in our dreams could only manage that sort of speed with some gravity assist.
I've had the walker clad completely in black walking a black Lab the other side of the track on a moonless night who can't see you approaching them despite a Lupine on full beam and shouting twice at them Hello, who are still shocked to have you pass them and mumble something about bell, on multiple occasions.
The two people who can somehow manage to completely block an 8 foot wide track as they walk along.
The group of people who all smile at you and move to one side apart from one dozy ****er who then proceeds to give you verbal despite everyone else in the group seeing/hearing you in plenty of time.
Top award goes to a family of three, father, mother and teenage daughter all on trendy/expensive bikes riding towards you and even thou their EYES are looking straight at you none of them see you till its reached the stage of imminent impact and you shout at them what the **** are they thinking. I have to add I've a shout that can shatter eardrums, they then swerve all over the track and verge in panic.
To be honest the local scrotes on bodged up motorbikes give you more respect and room.
essentially were all a bunch of ****s.
I've recently taken to using a Duck Call...
I think that this might just be the best idea I've seen on this forum to date. Brilliant. I'm pricing one up right now. I wonder, do they make goose calls too? *HONK*
Top tip - ride with kids on your bike (tandem / bike seat). Doesn't make them get out of your way any better, but at least they don't seem so upset to see a bike on a bike path (even if you shout for them to get out of your way / buzz them). It's also not generally me shouting for people to get out of the way on the tandem, which helps 😉
p.s. should add my thanks to mieszko and sc-xc who both very generously contributed to helping mini-aracer ride on the back of the tandem.
RealMan - Member
I still don't get why anyone would think using a bell is ever a good idea. Nobody ever pays attention to bells. Ever. No exceptions.
Rubbish - I use one a lot. "Ting ting" on the bell fron 50 - 100 m away until they react followed by a cheery "Hello - just letting you know we are here" "may we just squeeze past" "thank you" "lovvely day"
it is well worth getting and using a bell. Walkers appreciate it and it puts you in the right. I have been on the receiving end of a bike coming past with no warning when walking and it does startle you.
Get a bell, reduce confrontations dramatically
Had it with horses yesterday. Three abreast on the fire-road. No effort to move over to make room for two bikes to go through single file, so stopped two abreast ourselves and made them go into single file themselves.
No reason to have stayed three abreast, we could have passed each other but they insisted on acting like twunts.
Horsey types no more to say really.
"Ting ting" on the bell fron 50 - 100 m away until they react followed by a cheery "Hello - just letting you know we are here" "may we just squeeze past" "thank you" "lovvely day"
100% that's the way. If you smile and thank them and they don't respond you have won the game. If you smile and thank them and they are friendly back you have also won the game.
The two people who can somehow manage to completely block an 8 foot wide track as they walk along.
It is amazing how wide some people can be.
the upgraded basingstoke canal path in woking area is a real pain and there is much conflict between cyclists and peds...
to be be fair there are nob cyclists and peds that use it... peds that walk in the middle on purpose and cyclists that are discourteous...
biggest problem too many people using the same bits of earth.
Is it too much to ask that on a 4m wide but loose rocky trail with drops and boulders when some riders are coming the other way pretty strung out, that walkers take up one half of the trail instead of completely blocking it?
who gives you the right to command the right of way? especially when you say it's technical and you could be slowing, speeding up again and changing direction unexpectedly to get round stuff, how do non cyclist walkers know which way you are going? shouldn't you give way to those climbing up when you are descending?
If anyone gives you verbal, stop an armslength away, off the bike, helmet off and eyeball them like you mean it. Reply in a low voice and VERY calmly.It's amazing how quick the fight goes out of them.
the upgraded basingstoke canal path in woking area is a real pain and there is much conflict between cyclists and peds...to be be fair there are nob cyclists and peds that use it... peds that walk in the middle on purpose and cyclists that are discourteous...
biggest problem too many people using the same bits of earth.
I use the Basingstoke Canal towpath probably about three times a week, even when it's busy I've found it fine, just got to remember to leave a bit of extra time when using it though, as you invariably can't go too fast on it. Someone told me once that it wasn't really designed for cyclist use above 10mph, not sure on the provenance of that though.
Two top tips - 1) Use a bell, most people react well to it, and those that don't are wearing i-pods or are just grumpy. 2) Take some off-road lights, those who wear i-pods get a real shock when they suddenly see their own shadow in front of them! It's great for the darker mornings and evenings too. (I recommend the Dealextreme one on full power, probably best to turn it down to low after you pass them though!)
rich - just practice to flick their ears as you ride past them - that'll make them jump!
will be out on the very same cyclepath this lunchtime with my roadrat and trusty bell 😉
I CBA using cyclepaths for this reason.
Much quicker & easier on the road.
the upgraded basingstoke canal path in woking area is a real pain and there is much conflict between cyclists and peds...
to be be fair there are nob cyclists and peds that use it... peds that walk in the middle on purpose and cyclists that are discourteous...biggest problem too many people using the same bits of earth.
I use the Basingstoke Canal towpath probably about three times a week, even when it's busy I've found it fine, just got to remember to leave a bit of extra time when using it though, as you invariably can't go too fast on it. Someone told me once that it wasn't really designed for cyclist use above 10mph, not sure on the provenance of that though.Two top tips - 1) Use a bell, most people react well to it, and those that don't are wearing i-pods or are just grumpy. 2) Take some off-road lights, those who wear i-pods get a real shock when they suddenly see their own shadow in front of them! It's great for the darker mornings and evenings too. (I recommend the Dealextreme one on full power, probably best to turn it down to low after you pass them though!)
You can zip along that path flat out the surface is very good.... and I have seen people going flat out go straight past pedestrians giving them no warning at all..
Worst bit is between arthurs bridge and St Johns... lots of pedestrians on the weekends..
in the week and at commuting times it is not an issue, but at weekends using the path to get out to pirbright etc it can get very busy..
but most people seem to respond to a bell of some clicky gripshifting and yes always slow down... gives you a chase to get some sprint training in as you speed back up!
who gives you the right to command the right of way? especially when you say it's technical and you could be slowing, speeding up again and changing direction unexpectedly to get round stuff, how do non cyclist walkers know which way you are going? shouldn't you give way to those climbing up when you are descending?
I think he's got a point. Consideration and courtesy works both ways, and I don't think he's saying they should just get out of his way as king of the trail, rather that blocking the whole path when there are other people around when you could just as easily not is just as bad as barelling down at full speed and expecting everyone to get out of the way.
[img] 
[/img]
This should do the trick......although I dont know how you would bunny hop over the victims on that thing!
CP - it would be tricky to flick their ears whilst wearing lobster gloves.
I was toying with the idea of flicking the V's at him, but thought the better of it, and he would have just got the impression that I had hideously distored fingers!
who gives you the right to command the right of way? especially when you say it's technical and you could be slowing, speeding up again and changing direction unexpectedly to get round stuff, how do non cyclist walkers know which way you are going? shouldn't you give way to those climbing up when you are descending?
You simply don't read what people type do you. The various groups of walkers were walking 3 or 4 abreast and not making room for any other users of the trail. They were being as ignorant as you are being patronising.
Am I missing something here? Why not just stop and let them up, and then go freely on your way?
No matter how much you feel you are in control of your bike, it feels totally different when you're on foot and someone is riding past you. If the going is too technical to comfortably ride at walking pace, then stopping is your [i]only[/i] other option.
If I am walking I do expect cyclists to pass at walking pace - and yes, I probably would occupy the track as a means of insisting on that common courtesy.
I can only assume that a lot of mtb'ers don't have any experience of walking.
There's a busy high street that I have to ride down a few times a week at the moment, and despite buses constantly going up and down it, people for some unknown reason (maybe because its paved rather then tarmacked) don't treat it as a road, and just step out into it with reckless abandon and walk around as they like on it. So I ride fast right past them and shout as I go past. Scares the hell out of them, so I'd assume they won't do it again. Idiots.
Ah, the callowness of youth, [b]Realman[/b].
The design purpose of a shared streetspace is to ensure that pedestrians (being the most vulnerable road users) are elevated to their proper position in the traffic status. Accordingly, the reason why they move around as they do is not unknown in the slightest, but designed into the road space.
Your riding at the them while firing off a volley of abuse for having the apparent temerity for using the space as it is designed simply demonstrates your own selfishness and idiocy.
[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_streets ]Shared Space concept[/url]
Cycling or driving, as soon as you start rolling gently through high street spaces (whether designed for shared space or not) actively looking to [i]increase[/i] the space to the vehicle in front and actually looking out for people crossing freely - as soon as you start doing that the whole experience of town centres becomes much better for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike.
Just do it - if someone is able to cross the road freely and safely, that's a good thing! So make it so.
rape alarm
[img] http://www.twenga.co.uk/garden-diy/personal-alarm/plastic-personal-alarm.jp g" target="_blank">http://www.twenga.co.uk/garden-diy/personal-alarm/plastic-personal-alarm.jp g"/> &t=1[/img]
sorted.
Why do so many cyclists insist on not having a bell? I can't understand this.
On some of the groups rides I have been on the bell less have actually encouraged me to pass them to ting my bell at people on the path
another mate I ride with a fair amount call has no bell and a good solution He calls out " ding a ling" from a fair distance back and then as he passes says a variation on " I'm too tight to buy a bell" or " maybe santa will get me a bell this year"
personal choice and risk assessment TJ, thats why i dont have a bell.
phile - touche but whats the downside? Thats what I don't understand. I broke mine and riding for a week or two without I got a lot more grumbles from people on the shared path network
I've read they contribute to rotational injuries 😀
Am I missing something here? Why not just stop and let them up, and then go freely on your way?
Or, how about a couple of members of the group moving over a bit so they're not taking the entire track, and then everyone can go freely on their way?
aracer - Member
Top tip - ride with kids on your bike (tandem / bike seat). Doesn't make them get out of your way any better,
+1. My 6 year old tings, people turn and say 'Aaah'.
Recently here in Swansea we've had a women-only running group using the shared seafront path a lot. They spread out all the way across the path (about 6-8 waddlers abreast) and are completely oblivious to any other users, even when they have 100s of lumens heading straight towards them. I thought it was only going to be a hazard on that particular path, but then got forced off the pavement by them as I walked to work....
People [i]always[/i] act like stupid sheep, whether walking, running, cycling, driving, shopping, whatever. Added together in groups makes it worse, ipods and mobile ten times worse.
MTBers are often just as bad for not being aware of their own actions, but I would ask:
and I have seen people going flat out go straight past pedestrians giving them no warning at all..
Why do they need a warning when they are on a SHARED USE path?
Because the walkers weren't comfortable with being passed at that speed, I guess? If the terrain is awkward to ride slow then stopping is the only option, surely?
Because due consideration and courtesy are [i]conditions[/i] of use of that path?Why do they need a warning when they are on a SHARED USE path?
Because the walkers weren't comfortable with being passed at that speed, I guess? If the terrain is awkward to ride slow then stopping is the only option, surely?
I'm not saying the riders don't need to hold their end up and slow down, just that a bit of thought and consideration both ways goes a long way and can often result in everyone going happily on their way.
hehe i was jsut kidding TJ 🙂
i dont have a bell because the plastic bit that is meant to ping back and ting the bell section bent in one of my epic "i cant ride a bike" moments... thank god i was wearing a helmet eh buddy! 😆
after this i didnt replace it... where i ride its either fire-roads wide enough to not annoy walkers, single track that i've never seen a walker on, or in any other situation i get off my bike and give way to the walker/s 🙂 after all, we're all equal and my little effort might be enough to encourage them to do the same for a cyclist later on 🙂
Recently here in Swansea we've had a women-only running group using the shared seafront path a lot. They spread out all the way across the path (about 6-8 waddlers abreast) and are completely oblivious to any other users, even when they have 100s of lumens heading straight towards them. I thought it was only going to be a hazard on that particular path, but then got forced off the pavement by them as I walked to work....
I've nearly taken them out a few times....love the 'waddlers' bit 😆
Well that sounds fair enough, and a bit more moderately put. End of the day though, you must be ready to stop, and you need to be certain that no debris is going to get thrown up and all that - so dropping to walking pace is the minimum. Under those circumstances I much prefer just stopping.I'm not saying the riders don't need to hold their end up and slow down, just that a bit of thought and consideration both ways goes a long way and can often result in everyone going happily on their way.
Fair enough phil. I use a lot of shared use paths ( the north edinburgh cycleway / WOL / canal
maxlite - MemberI've nearly taken them out a few times....love the 'waddlers' bit
OT - I'm arranging a ride up Kilvey on Wednesday evening, maxlite. Are you free?
the only experiences I've encountered where a pedestrian or walker has felt need to comment on my use of my bell... Is to sincerely and gratefully thank me for having the common courtesy to fit and use one..
as one auld fella pointed out the other day it's rare that modern cyclists can be bothered.. daft really when they seem to be sharing more of the same paths..
The fact that people have the time and are relaxed enough to comment is probably an indicator that I choose to pass at walking speed where terrain dictates that this would be the polite course of action..
There's a few pillocks that ride the same trails whose philosophy is that they are the fast moving heavy object so according to the laws of physics pedestrians are contending for Darwin awards if they don't move in time.. I wish unexpected stationary farm machinery on those lads cos they give us a bad name..
Some of the attitudes posted here are why walkers are agressive towards cyclists the "why should I stop/move to one side" statements just show up how selfish you are, a little consideration for others goes a long way and will only promote full access for bikes, but the childish way you act will just end in conflict and reduction of off road routes for cyclists which is awful for the rest if us
IdleJon....I was up there on Saturday and the week before when I tried to go up on my cross bike...which was not a good idea.
Can't do Wed...cleaning my Schmoos kit 😉
Cheers
Steve
lol, cross bike plus Kilvey = bent rims.
give me an email Jon
roe_graphicsATbtclickDOTcom
classic - just been out on the Dee Loop this afternoon and a cyclist gave me grief for riding on the wrong side of the the cycle path!
well if your dopey wife, her pashley and utter lack of balance had not of been all over the 4m wide, flat and straight path i wouldn't have to slow down to a walking pace and pass her on the right would I?
my response was, i admit, poor, and only consisted of two words - but you can't win with some people
even the two hoodies on a moped I later rode past on the cycle path rode more appropriately.... and they were riding like they just stole it!
maxlite, I'll send it through the groupsite.
My bell seems to stop working at the worst times. I think I need to have it tuned.
I live right on the C2C and it's not unusual for me to use the road instead of the cycletrack to get in and out of the village as the combination of walkers, dog c**p, anti mx gates and glass just brings me down. Get further out of the towns and villages and it's fine though, everyone is more courteous, they seem to be able to hear a bit of freewheel buzz, even the dogs are more sensible.
I had this today on an official route 5 cyclepath. cycling along, slowed down for bloke with 3 dogs across path on extended leads, totally taking over the path. as I approached, "excuse me" nicely. Got closer "excuse me" more forceful. closer -"excusemeeeee! as dogs are yapping and having a go at me an all over front wheel. Bloke just says "you're supposed to have a bell".
I did the honorable thing and rose above it with a tut and carried on my way. In the past I'dve stopped and had a heated discussion that would've certainly put him in his place but put a downer on things. I'm happy I enjoyed my ride without an argument, right or wrong.
it's like an obstacle in a computer game you just have to get past to get to the end of the level.