Quite simply because its illegal to ride a pushbike on a public footpath, and not asking too much for a cyclist to dismount and walk the short distance where the road is closed from.

Why? When they should not be there in the first place.

Indeed, and it should be done as soon as cyclists reach the end of the ridable roadway.

I am a cyclist to, and dont ride along pavements terrorising pedestrians, nor compromising their space.
Im a motorist also, and dont drive down pavements. And a pedestrian, and feel the pavement is the place I should feel safest.

Im sure if the child struck by the cyclist could claim from the cyclists insurance if they had been more seriously hurt....... or would the cyclist have been one of the 98% of cyclists who are uninsured.

My point is, regardless of the huge reply I have made, the matter is simple..... the cyclist have no right to be there, therefore there should be no squeezing, near missed or confrontations.