I do both the biking and the hiking, and have all my life. I've experiencced these issues in many different environments.
I would certainly abhor the idea of government involvement in this area at all.
The greater part of my enjoyment arises from leaving that behind.
In my experience, it doesn't matter one wit what the rules are, there will always be those morons with a sense of entitlement.
I live along the arkansas river, where access below the high water mark is public. The big thing around here is atvs, there are miles upon miles of trail on the river, yet so many want to ride in the off limits areas, dikes, private property, etc.
The same thing happens at our city lake, we have a huge area for the dog walkers, yet so many prefer to bring em down to the pond so the fishermen gotta deal with the land mines.
When I lived in the city, the same thing went on with the biking and hiking trails. And when you speak up for yourself, you get what Set mentioned, a raving arsehole telling you he can do whatever he wants.
You get the same problem with jet skis on the lake, I used to get so pissed off pulling little kids on the knee board and have some moron come along to jump the wake behind them. God, I get livid just thinkin about that horse ****.
I don't have any answers, good opportunity to spout off though.
The problem, as I see, is this sense of entitlement that so many people seem to have today. The worst part of it is, it eventually just brings more interference and regulation, making it worse for those who act with common sense.
On a lighter note, when my daughter was very small, I rode a lot and she had a nice seat on the bike, we rode most evenings on an urban joint use trail, she loved to sing back there and it was such a riot to approach walkers from behind, they all heard us coming and to a fault stepped aside to watch us pass with smiling faces. So much better than the passing on your left routine