I live in a city that is blessed with bike paths. On weekends there is a parade of exercise enthusiasts, all vying for right of way.
It reminds me of a trip we took to Indonesia a few years ago. There is a pecking order on the highways that explains why religion is such an important part of the people's lives.There are seven modes of transportation. A horse and carriage is at the lowest end of the spectrum. It must give way to pedicabs, which are little buggies on two wheels. However, if a becak (powered tricycle) wants to pass, it has the right of way - unless the driver encounters a motor scooter approaching, and then he must head for the ditch. If the motor scooter meets a taxi, the scooter knows instinctively he loses. Taxis give way to trucks, and trucks don't even want to think where they must go if they meet a bus. A bus is king of the road.
It's pretty much the same on bike paths. Your basic walkers are at the bottom of the heap. They must be alert and listen and be ready to get off the path with anything oncoming.
If the path is paved, in-line skaters are next. They plow through out of control and are more intimidating than dangerous. Walkers tend to get out of the way, visualizing their bodies in two pieces.
Bicyclists take the words "bike path" literally. They figure it was created for them and everyone else is there at his own risk.
Next comes runners with big dogs nipping at calves and bicycle spokes. They have precedence over bicyclists, especially if the animals are not on leashes. Even more so when the owner says, "He doesn't bite."
Runners with earphones top the runners with dogs. They have no fear of death or any of the aforementioned. They are oblivious to anything and just tear along the path.
Horses dominate. They're like the buses of Indonesia. No one wants to meet a horse.
Rules for bike paths are never recorded anywhere. But everyone knows instinctively who has to move out of the way.
I'm a mere walker. I brake for anything - squirrels, cars backfiring, sprinklers. The other day I saw a man wearing earphones on a horse with a big dog running alongside. Whoa! I not only stopped, I dropped to my knees until he passed.