WIBU to politely ask cyclists.....

[Bruisedarse]

.... To shout a warning, ring their bell, sing Bohemian Rhapsody, in fact anything to warn you are coming up behind a horse?

As my (changed from regular) username suggests, I landed on a hard lane from a large horse this morning because 4 cyclists appeared from no where, going quite a pace and scared the living daylights out of me and my horse. She launched forward as they approached from behind but as I regained control, myself not knowing the issue at that moment, they flew past, 2 abreast. Horse shied away and spun and I came off over the shoulder. Not one stopped, despite looking back. Luckily I'm pretty tough and once she realised what they were she stopped.
A warning shout could have totally prevented it, bikes are silent as they approach more or less until they're very close, and if the lead bikes could have warned me they were there then I could have let the horse see, and she'd have heard them call out as well and it wouldn't have completely taken both of us by nasty surprise. I was wearing fluorescent and reflective clothing, and I know that you can see parts of the road from the lane though admittedly they may have missed me.
Luckily there were no cars about or it could have been worse, but I'd like to say a big thank you to the farmer who legged me back on in the safety of his field gateway because I'd have had to walk quite a way to safely get back on and not do it at the side of the road, causing a hazard.
So all you cyclists out there, please, please warn us horse riders you're approaching behind, I can hear a car, so can the horse so we know what to expect, both cyclists and horse riders are vulnerable road users and if we look out for each other then there may be less accidents.

Thank you!

[MissMisery]

ursulaPandress I'll do you a deal okay? You find one of these elusive fields to ride your horse in, and I'll join you there with my dancing.. thus not irritating the shite out of anyone with our hobbies.

We can shout 'pillock' over at each other occasionally! Big grin

Sorted.

[UrsulaPandress]

As long as you don't wear something floaty that might frighten him

[HarmlessChap]

When cycling in a group the lead cyclist is the eyes of the group as the people behind can't see through them. They generally call out the hazzards such as potholes, pedestrians, horses etc.

What happens when I'm riding in a group is that we call out that there are horses and the riders will generally hear, we slow to pass wide. Normally say morning or afternoon as we pass all very civilized.

If you are chasing fast average speeds then you need to select appropriate roads for everybody's safety, if you're using rural lanes the road surface, mud, dog walkers, horses, livestock, tractors and so on are going to slow you down.

There are plenty of selfish and stupid road users whatever thier mode of transport, the trouble is you only remember the bad ones.

One thing which surprises me though is the number of times I have been passed dangerously close by a horse box, if anyone should appreciate the need to pass slow and wide it's other vulnerable road users.

[Bruisedarse]

MissMisery - what exactly was the point of your dancing metaphor then? If I've missed it? I ride for a mile on the road because as others have mentioned, the places horses are allowed are limited. No footpaths, not on private land (unless by permission) so how would you propose I get the horse to the areas that I can ride in. 'Fields' tend to be owned by someone, usually a farmer, and are private land. Horses work very well on grass, but unfortunately I need to use the road to access the grass, same as say, someone who enjoys a dance class but needs to use a road to access where the dance class is. It's not sanctimonious for someone walking or driving along to expect other road users to obey the highway code, no matter why they are there, and not put them in danger when it can be avoided, so why is it sanctimonious for horse riders or cyclists? I'm there because I need to use it to access off road riding, I'm allowed to be there, I'm not breaking any laws so why is it so different to anyone else using a road to gain access to an area to peruse their chosen hobby? I'm not asking for everyone else to get off the road, I'm just asking for it to be shared!

[Bruisedarse]

deadliestCatch

@Bruisedarse

"That's why I didn't come on ranting and raving about cyclists but used the tone I did."

You thought the idea of them being kicked off their bikes was amusing.
Already explained it earlier in the thread. Yes in my reply was ha ha as I'd taken the posters messages as a joke - genuinely. Which is why I followed it up with saying that although two back feet to a cyclists would have articulated that flying up behind anyone and flying past without any warning is dangerous, that I would be mortified if it actually happened and someone was hurt because that's not what I want at all. I want everyone to be able to be safe
I have no idea what kind of moral high-ground you think you own? Going to explain?
I'm really not sure what you want me to explain? It sounds like you aren't happy because I'm not calling cyclists and having a go but rather saying actually, you know what maybe people don't know about this issue? I'm not sure why you think that I think I occupy any moral high ground, I certainly don't, it's just my own experience that usually the reactions of people with regards to horses on roads or in fact, anywhere else, is due to their lack of experience. I don't suppose that will satisfy you though, because it would seem even a reasonably and polite request and the POV of let's look from a different angle first before you start kicking off and pointing fingers is 'taking the moral high ground' - so are you going to explain why you think, that I think, that I have some sort of moral high ground?

[ivykaty44]

Miss misery might want to take all the bleeding cars in that field with her as they keep fecking blocking the road. Every weekday they do it, come out and sit nose to tail polluting the air we breath and choking us to an early grave