My approach is that I can ride where I like, when I like, with whom I like, but I am always courteous to everyone I meet along the way.
I don’t see any reason beyond practicality to avoid any path at any time. If it’s full of walkers or full of mud, then chances are that I’d probably be riding a different footpath somewhere else purely based on that criterion alone.
I see this as “working on their expectations” and IMHO we’re thereby getting steadily nearer to the point where it never crosses anyone’s mind to question our presence on the footpaths.
<Edit> The fanatic red-sock faction will have all died-off within a generation anyway, can’t do much with them except smile sweetly and carry on regardless </Edit>
I did get to use the smiling “yes, silly isn’t it” response for the first time a couple of weeks ago though….. it did feel rather satisfying. 😆 No further debate was forthcoming.
Ironically, the most vocal opposition I’ve met have been
1. on the BRIDLEWAY along Ullswater and
2. on a totally off-piste track where the walker was as guilty as me with neither of us having any legitimate right to be there.
😀