What to do?

[PhilDawson8270]

The pedestrian has a right to be walking on the road also. Saying they should be on the footpath is the same as saying cycles should only be on a cycle path. He may be walking further out in the road in order to make sure the dogs stay under control.

Him moving to make more room for cycles and cars, is no different to saying bicycles should move over to give cars more room to pass.

 

[Mugshot]

As I passed him, this time he called me a “f*cking pri*k”, but I simply carried on without stopping.

He does sound like a right twat and I don't think there's anyway I'd be looking to go a different way, the only thing I would be doing to start with would be slowing right down or even walking the bike past him, I'd rather contend with him trying to crack me across the back of the head with a stick than risk him shoving it through my spokes as I rode past!!

 

[AlanW]

Out of interest, could you not have stopped and waited for the 4x4 to pass the pinch point?

In hindsight yes maybe I could have done, but the lane does have a slight incline (3%? and its good to keep the momentum going when loaded up with panniers. Prior to this slight incline, there is a slight descent of roughly the same gradient..

Had the 4x4 maintained its speed then we would not have all crossed paths at the same time, but the combination of the two dogs, a geriatric old twat stood in the road and an oncoming a cyclist the driver aired on the side of caution and slowed down. Which was the correct thing to do when faced with so many moving obstacles (excluding the old boy of course!)

 

[AlanW]

The pedestrian has a right to be walking on the road also. Saying they should be on the footpath is the same as saying cycles should only be on a cycle path. He may be walking further out in the road in order to make sure the dogs stay under control.

Him moving to make more room for cycles and cars, is no different to saying bicycles should move over to give cars more room to pass.

I'm not saying that he should not be walking on the road, my point was more of a common sense approach, why put yourself at risk when there is a much safer area to walk on? And to stand still so far out from the verge when oncoming traffic is approaching is nothing more than being plain stubborn IMHO, again, why put yourself at risk?

 

[AlanW]

......than risk him shoving it through my spokes as I rode past!!

That's exactly what I thought he was going to do last night, when he altered the angle of his crook. Either that or it was coming at me like a snooker cue, either way I was ready to take what ever avoiding action required, including possibly swerving directly at him.

 

[ColinJ]

He does sound a pain but no good will come of further confrontation with him. If you meet him at the same place every night, couldn't you just set off slightly earlier or slightly later and avoid him? (I can see why you might be reluctant to do that, but it would be better for you than getting into a brawl with him.)

 

[martint235]

I'm not saying that he should not be walking on the road, my point was more of a common sense approach, why put yourself at risk when there is a much safer area to walk on? And to stand still so far out from the verge when oncoming traffic is approaching is nothing more than being plain stubborn IMHO, again, why put yourself at risk?

You're heading towards dodgy ground now because you're only a short step away from saying I should be in the cycle lane

 

[classic33]

Get and carry a single use film camera, given that your worried about what he might do with his stick.
I'd also say that the dogs are not under full control, so worth reporting if you live near any livestock. Farmers may take a bigger interest in him.

 

[AlanW]

He does sound a pain but no good will come of further confrontation with him. If you meet him at the same place every night, couldn't you just set off slightly earlier or slightly later and avoid him? (I can see why you might be reluctant to do that, but it would be better for you than getting into a brawl with him.)

Yes, I am reluctant to do that as it would mean waiting at work, and when its home time.....its home time! I could go another way back, but this would involve a busy main road and a small village with lots of shops and parked cars, hence why I choose the "safer" option of this particular.

 

[martint235]

Get and carry a single use film camera, given that your worried about what he might do with his stick.
I'd also say that the dogs are not under full control, so worth reporting if you live near any livestock. Farmers may take a bigger interest in him.

Based on the OP, the dogs sound under full control. There's a difference between being under control and being on a lead. A well trained dog shouldn't need a lead.

 

[Banjo]

Possibly the old guy has a dodgy ankle and prefers to walk on tarmac . tbh both you or the 4x4 driver could have stopped a momen to prevent the 3 of you arriving simultaneously at the same point .

how about at least trying to pacify the old bugger . maybe stop and apologise for riding close to him at speed .say you will try to pass him more considerately in future and say something nice about his dogs.

If he still acts like a miserable old sod at least you can feel that you have tried and have not lowered yourself to his level.You never know it may just work and you can pass with a friendly wave in future.

 

[AlanW]

Possibly the old guy has a dodgy ankle and prefers to walk on tarmac . tbh both you or the 4x4 driver could have stopped a momen to prevent the 3 of you arriving simultaneously at the same point .

how about at least trying to pacify the old bugger . maybe stop and apologise for riding close to him at speed .say you will try to pass him more considerately in future and say something nice about his dogs.

If he still acts like a miserable old sod at least you can feel that you have tried and have not lowered yourself to his level.You never know it may just work and you can pass with a friendly wave in future.

Yep, I agree that would be a really nice thing to do and then we could all move on without any fear of any further actions. However, rightly or wrongly but his actions and his verbal abuse last night put paid to any such approach from me to be honest. No matter what has gone on in the past, it did not warrant that last night. And even on the first occasion, IMHO it was not worthy of such vile language and personal insult directed towards me.

 

[Banjo]

That's a shame because nothing else will resolve the situation .

 

[Crackle]

Wiggle sell 'em

 

[martinclive]

Buy some dog biscuits, stop and give them to him as a peace offering and see what happens - escalation never helps