I LOVE cycling. For the last ten years, I’ve been out on my bike almost every day, covering over 2,500 miles a year.

I ride partly on roads and bridleways, and partly on Durham’s marvellous network of old railway paths, which are very popular with walkers, joggers, cyclists and dog-walkers.

If these are the “walkways” Gillian Humble is referring to in her letter “Walking priority” (HAS, Nov 27), it would be ridiculous to expect cyclists to dismount and walk past every pedestrian.

We might as well leave our bikes at home and go for a walk, because we’d be getting off our bikes every few hundred yards. Staying on the bike, and slowing down to walking pace if necessary, is just fine.

However, as I also enjoy walking, I know some cyclists can be very inconsiderate. (I have a theory that a cyclist’s propensity to be rude is directly proportional to the amount of money they have spent on Lycra clothing. At the age of 70, I wouldn’t be seen dead in Lycra - shorts and T-shirt are fine for me, with a hi-vis jacket for inclement weather.)

So I would appeal to these inconsiderate cyclists not to give the rest of us a bad name.

First, get a bell. A proper old-fashioned bicycle bell is far more likely to be heard than a silly little “ping” bell. It’s no good flying along at 20mph yelling “bike coming!” and leaving no time or distance to slow down or stop if you are not heard.

Remember pedestrians have priority, and don’t forget to say “thank you!” when they move out of your way.

Mind you, my efforts to be polite don’t always pay off.

I was recently cycling behind an old woman walking her dog. I rang my bell, which usually prompts dog-walkers to move to one side and bring the dog under control. However, she carried on down the middle of the path, with the dog meandering from side to side on a long lead. Thinking she may be hard of hearing, I rang my bell again, to no avail.

Eventually, with the dog engrossed in sniffing something interesting on the verge, I was able to get past her at a safe distance.

As I went by, she said, “No need to keep ringing your f***ing bell. I heard you the first f***ing time.”

Pete Winstanley, Durham.