Fortunately I would be surprised if many people walked along this particular section of shared path; it is long and doesn’t connect to much along the way. So in practice, it will be just a cycleway 95% of the time I’d say.

Also you need to think about what my original post was related to … The Quarrymans Trail amended plans. Originally it was to be a cycleway from Halswell to Town. But a large section is now proposed to be more ridiculous shared pathway. I was pointing out that shared paths don’t work very well because pedestrians won’t keep left. They end up being obstacle courses . Cycleways need to be cycleways otherwise they are a waste of money. Cyclists seem to know what shared means, but pedestrians and dogs in my experience don’t.

Your missing the point, I too am retired and hearing impaired, the intolerance is of all the NON cyclists REFUSING TO KEEP LEFT regardless of age and abilities. If they would just keep left it would not matter what they did and it would be their own fault if they got a fright as you pass them. The problem is you can’t get past and if you swerve onto the grass to get past you are likely to come off in soft mud etc when wet.

Yes, weekends are a total shamble, South Hagley and many other places too. But also later in the day weekdays when all the mothers with prams and deaf retired people that don’t hear my loud bell are walking dogs is often a shamble almost everywhere that I go. More and more people are riding e-bikes, traveling faster and the shared paths are like obstacle courses.

There is a cultural change required, and it will happen, albeit over a period of time. The place to see how it can happen is South Hagley Park during commuter periods. Walkers know to be on the left. Cyclists know to pass when safe , and allow space. At the weekends however, a totally different story. Cities in Europe with good rates of cycling have plenty of shared zones, we are only starting out on this journey now. Bells are good, as is politeness, and time.