"Persons walking on paths and sidewalks have every right to use as they see fit ..." No, they don't, just as they can't use streets as they see fit. There are laws, ethics, and customs that apply. I walk or run on the paths more than I bike, and when I do those things I encounter few problem bicyclists, mostly because I share the space and leave them plenty of room to go by. It's people with animals that usually pose problems.