Passing a horse as a cyclist

[CambridgeCambridge]

Horse riders, how would you like me, a cyclist, to pass you on a horse? I know wide and slow, but if I'm coming from behind, should I call out/ring my bell as a warning or is that unhelpful?

For context, on the outskirts of Cambridge we have a busway, alongside which runs a footpath/cycleway/bridleway. It's mostly 4m wide, fairly straight and has a smooth tarmac surface. I sometimes come across horses being ridden on it; the surface means I'm almost silent as I travel, and sometimes I'm coming from behind. What's the best way to pass?

Shout out gently something like ‘cyclist coming past’ I find is my preference

Call out please but don’t ring your bell.

For me as a rider, I prefer a cyclist to ring thier bell or cough but not when they are right behind, they need to do it when further away.

My horse is alright with silent cyclists but it is nice to know you're coming.

A friendly 'hello/morning' should do the trick, to make sure that the horse and rider have both realised that you are there. Thanks for asking.

Thank you so much for asking 😊 cyclists often don't realise how scary they can be - yes a call out would be my preference too 🙂

Calling out "hello" from a bit of a distance is my preference. If going downhill try not to freewheel- my horse isn't worried about bikes but hates the clicking noise if they're freewheeling.

I tend to hand back and go wide, shout a jolly “hello, am I ok to pass?”
The horse riders tend to say, yeah it’s fine or ask you to wait until they turn off if their horse is spooky with cyclists.

Just a quick “hiya” or “coming past” is appreciated, horse usually knows before I do!

Thank you - a call it is, and I'll bear in mind that some horses don't like clicking freewheels.

I admit the question isn't entirely altruistic - I've seen a horse that's a bit frightened, and that was scary enough (for me); I really don't want a spooked horse landing on top of me.

A shout out in plenty of time works for us.

Thank you for asking
Yes please just call out.
Mine are all fine with bikes, when they see them. It's just the sudden ninja bike whizzing past that makes us both jump.

Thank you for being so considerate :)

Another vote here for a yell rather than a bell.

Call out please, and don’t ring your bell. Shout from way back, riders may not hear properly the first time, especially if it’s windy, you need time to call again, “I’m going to pass you”. And then keep wide enough so if the horse steps sideways you won’t be knocked off.

Thank you for giving consideration to this.

Thank you OP! Yes just a cheery hello when you're a few metres away please.

My daughter's pony was spooked by a herd? of cyclists years ago and shot up the road passing them at speed. I don't know who was more frightened!

Thank you for the consideration, I too am in the call out camp!

This for me aswell

Also if you have a noisy freewheel (where it clicks when you’re not pedalling) maybe keep pedalling slowly. A horse rider gave me that tip once.

I call out from some way back, then keep talking to the rider in a calm voice as I pass wide and slow. I keep talking so the house knows I'm a human and where I am.

I'll try to keep pedalling (slowly) too - I wouldn't have thought of that.

One of my idiotic creatures loves a cyclist and tries to join in. 🙄 so yes it's very helpful (to me) to know you're coming. So I can be prepared to stop him trying to join you. 🤣