IT appears to be getting more dangerous for a pedestrian to walk on these ‘so-called’ joint footpaths and cycleways than it is to cross a busy main road.

Why must some cyclists feel the need to travel so dangerously fast on these shared areas?

Last Thursday evening, my husband and I were walking along the Holes Bay footpath, towards Upton Country Park, when two cyclists raced past us so fast, one of them missing my husband by millimetres.

My husband is in his sixties and suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and had he diverted slightly and there been a collision, the consequences would have been disastrous, for him, and the cyclist.

The young man clearly realised it was a very near miss as he looked back over his shoulder to make sure all was well. As we had our backs to the on-coming cyclists, we had no knowledge of them approaching and the shock of his closeness and his speed gave my husband a real fright and his reaction was to call out ‘hey, you could have killed me’.

The young man pulled up, got off his bike and walked back towards us in a ‘bullish and thuggish’ manner, squaring up to my husband. We then had to listen to a rant of foul language.

The whole incident was very unpleasant and ruined what was meant to be an enjoyable walk on a lovely evening.

Surely, if the paths must be shared, cyclists could show some respect and less arrogance and slow down when they approach pedestrians, who have as much right to enjoy the footpaths.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED