Dog walkers on the cycle path

I have very strong opinions on people who walk their dogs on the bicycle path I use to get to work. Both positive and negative opinions. Maybe I should start with the negative ones. 

I really don't like it when dog walkers block the width of the path, and don't pay attention to anyone approaching. That can just be one person and one dog, but a lead between them, but more often it is several people and several dogs. If I walk on a bicycle path I am so Dutch I keep looking over my shoulder at all times. There might be bikes coming, and this is their territory! Brits don't have that instinct.

If you approach some configuration of dog walkers, and ring your bell, the response generally is: first they have to think about what the bicycle bell means. When they have worked it out, they look over their shoulder. Or even in front of them! Some people manage to not even notice a cyclist coming towards them from the front. Generally, because they are looking at their phone while walking the dog. People who then spot me clearly still have to face another intellectual challenge. What to do with the information that there is a cyclist coming? And when they have worked it out, they will generally go to the side, but quite often in a badly organised way. The people on the left go to the right, and the people on the right go to the left. The people go to the side but forget to take the dog with them. That's a lot of chaos! It is not unusual that you have slowed down to walking past by the time you reach them. That annoys me.

It is not just annoying, of course; in the worst case, you could run the dog over. I thought I was going to, years ago in Plymouth! But I ended up hitting the dog walker. And I went over the handlebars. Dog and walker were fine! I was upset. But it could have been different; this was a small dog, and I could imagine that the collision with a downhill-going cyclist could end really badly for a creature like that. I struggle now to find the corresponding blog post. 

I also don't like it if people do everything in their capacity to make sure they won't even hear my bell. Walking around with headphones, and then a hoodie over the top. Why is that a good idea?

You also get people who say I should slow down. I fundamentally disagree! I am only one cyclist wide; at all times, there should be space for me to get past. I should not have to bike walking speed on a bicycle path. If I want to go walking speed, I'll go and walk! Do these people also walk their dogs on the road, expecting the cars to go so slow that nothing untoward happens if they appear, over the full width of the road, behind a blind bend? Because that is clearly something such dog walkers don't pay attention to. Neither to the slope of the path. If it is on the steep side, you can expect fast cyclists!

I also had this encounter with a lady who was walking her dog who hated cyclists, on the cycle path, off the lead, without checking if anyone was approaching. At least she was polite about it and apologised. I did accept that apology and have no hard feelings, but I still don't think it was a particularly good idea, and I hope she pays more attention nowadays. Or, even better, walks the dog on footpaths nowadays.

Having said all that; I suppose you can imagine that if I encounter dog walkers who do stay to the side, or keep an eye on what's coming (or even both!), are actively appreciated by me. Especially if they also have well-behaved dogs.

My favourite dog walker is a man who walks a black Labrador. I have never, ever, had to ring my bell at him to alert him to that I'm approaching. He always spots me himself. And I think he then says something to the dog that I can't hear, but the dog always calmly sits down by the side of the path. That's perfect!

One day I encountered him again, and I decided to just stop and tell him how much I appreciate that he keeps his dog safe and always gives me safe passage, unprompted. I think he didn't see that coming. But I'm glad I told him! It would be a waste if his dog-and-bicycle-path skills are so appreciated and he doesn't even know about it…

Arbitrary bicycle path pic