ON Monday morning I had yet another encounter with a cyclist who considered that I have no right to walk along a public footpath.

The route in question is not a designated cycle way, but under normal circumstances I have no objection to its use by cyclists as long as they show consideration for those of us simply out for a walk.

On Monday, the person concerned nearly ran me and my dog down. He had no warning device (too macho to use one?) and was clearly plugged into some music device or other, so he was mostly impervious to my protests – which were met with a torrent of verbal abuse.

Cyclists – quite rightly – complain when they are cut-up by motorists and demand protection in the form of segregated cycle ways.

I wish that they would observe similar consideration for pedestrians.

David Lacey, Durham.