ME, hubby, daughter and grandson were walking with my daughter's dog along the path from the Double Locks to the Swing Bridge. My grandson was in his pram.
There were several families with young children or dogs, all having a pleasant leisurely walk on a nice afternoon. The path is split into two lanes, one for pedestrians and one for cyclists. Obviously we were in the pedestrian lane.
Most cyclists who use this path do respect pedestrians. They ride slowly and warn of their approach by either ringing a bell or simply saying 'excuse me'.
We saw two male cyclists coming towards us at great speed. They were wearing all the racing gear and obviously must have thought they looked quite impressive. Unfortunately their behaviour was not quite so becoming!
The first cyclist came careering towards the pedestrian lane, colliding with my daughter's dog and trapping her within its wheels. The dog is very well behaved and, as we had stopped to allow these cyclists to pass, she was just stood with us, so this cyclist actually hit her while she was standing still.
It was horrific, seeing a beloved family pet being rolled around and dragged along by this bike.
We had hoped for an apology at least from the cyclist. Instead he just started shouting at us, using extremely foul language, saying our dog should be on a lead. His exact words were 'That f...ing thing should be on a lead'.
The dog was left bruised and limping. She is eight years old. I am disabled and walk with a stick. What if it had been a child?
There are no notices saying dogs must be on a lead. I do think we need a speed restriction of say five miles per hour along this path, as this is not the first time this has happened to us.
Bikes travel quickly and virtually silently and can appear behind you with no warning.
It is high time regulations were brought in to safeguard pedestrians from these menaces. They should be made to have number plates and hold valid insurance. The biggest problem with cyclists is identifying them and tracking them down, should there be any incident.
I realise it is difficult to accommodate cyclists, pedestrians and other road users, but surely all it takes is a little thought, and a little respect.
It is very sad when it is impossible to go for a quiet walk without being endangered by these badly behaved cyclists.
They are just as big a nuisance on the roads. I have seen them disregard traffic lights and stop signs. I have even seen one steaming across a pedestrian crossing, narrowly missing the people on it. They also weave in and out of traffic and creep up beside you on the inside when in a traffic queue.
So come on cyclists, I know the majority of you do respect other people, this is addressed to the mindless, arrogant idiots who put other people in danger – shame on you.Name and address not supplied
