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!

[diddl]

Not sure it would occur to me to ring my bell or call out tbh.

I'd probably try to get quietly & slowly past (if I dared & there seemed to be enough room).

Presumably that's wrong.

[ShotsFired]

By the by @bigbluebus, what was with the crossing out here? You have some objection to lycra?: I have on more than one occasion been unexpectedly overtaken by lycra clad cyclists

I am pretty amateur, but I wear lycra because I sweat, and because I don't want seams to chafe me, or flapping trouser legs to get caught in the chain etc. It is also brightly coloured so hopefully I am highly visible (as per regular complaints from non-cyclists).

I am under NO illusion that I look good in it. In fact I am painfully aware of how stupid and fat I look

But I'd rather look ridiculous, be seen, and then come home alive and un-chafed than the alternative.

[Bruisedarse]

Orchard - no I don't.

Lethal - I took it as a joke, which is how I assume it was intended because who would actually want that to happen? As I said in the rest of that post I'd be mortified if it did and someone was hurt - but you've conveniently missed that bit out.

[TitusPullo]

Hope you are Ok OP!

I think the difference between motorists and cyclists is that the majority of motorists will not deny that there are some absolute shit drivers out there. There is also some recourse against them if you are able to get their number plate, they should also have insurance. Furthermore, there are tough penalties if they are caught without a licence that can only be obtained through driver training.

The issue with cycling is that anyone can buy a bike and off they go. Whilst there are lots of cyclists who know and obey the rules, there are also a huge amount who don’t and it is a really big problem.

I live in a large Victorian town, without fail a cyclist will bomb towards me on the pavement at least once a week and I have to dive out the way. I have no way of reporting these people as they have no number plates etc.

I also find cyclists in general the most defensive! If someone posted about a crap motorist we will all agree yes they are awful. If a crap cyclist is posted about (as above) then lots of comments spouting well motorists are crap, pedestrians are crap and the shutting down of much needed debate. Last Christmas a cyclists knocked me down going to work. I needed stitches. The super keen cyclist at work berated me about how I must have done something stupid, waking on the pavement in broad daylight.

[auntBessiesAreAwful]

bluebells1 I love it when dogs chase me. I like to see how far I can encourage them. 2 miles is a personal best. I assume the owner found it.

I also have absolutely no qualms about kicking a dog in the jaw if it's trying to bite me.

What is it exactly that your dog does to stop cyclists?

[MyKingdomForBrie]

Horses were on the road waaaay before cyclists so the ‘shouldn’t be on the road’ stuff is just bullshit.

Obviously no one ‘hates’ your nine yo ds don’t be pathetic ‘cyclists’ are generalised because there are a noticeable subsection of them who act like twats.

There are also a lot of them who are lovely people and who act accordingly. The ones who buzzed OP in silent formation were not lovely, they were twats.

[Oysterbabe]

I don't think a horse that panics when passed by a cyclist should be on the road, that sounds incredibly dangerous.

[AnnieOH1]

Have you considered speaking with a local cycling group about horses? There has to be some way to educate the cyclists about horses.

Cyclists seem to imagine they are above the law round here, despite a high number of accidents and deaths. Just last night I was in crawling traffic (stop start less than 5mph). There was a junction to my left with keep clear to allow uses to turn right (from the opposite direction!) into the other road. So I waited and spotted a car begin to turn right so didn't move forward (I was going to let him go) suddenly though this idiot of a female cyclist flew past me from the right, crossing in front of my car. Somehow my brain kicked in and I moved to stop the car that was turning right from completely obliterating her. She was totally oblivious went onto the pavement, we spotted she had earphones on at that point and then in what I can only call ignorance to the roadway commenced to cycle against the flow of traffic on the road. SMH.

[Lethaldrizzle]

I don't think the op meant it as a joke

[Lethaldrizzle]

Sorry I meant the pp!

[disahsterdahling]

Surely the horse would react worse to a bell or a shout from behind

I was thinking this too, especially the bell.

I don't use my bell because I don't like cyclists using it to me. It's not a warning, it's a "get out of my way".

Don't most runners wear lycra too? I do!

[thisgirlrides]

I always give a friendly call of ‘hello cyclist coming’ & given the appreciative replies I’m guessing many don’t bother. Mind you I am a horse rider too so possibly have a better understanding & slightly more empathy than those who have never taken a horse on the rode. Same could also be said for those that don’t ever cycle & treat cyclists like a major inconvenience rather than consider the fact they are 1 less car on the road

[bluebells1]

auntBessie if you are a cunty cyclist who has zero respect for others on the road then you probably deserve to be chased by randon dogs. Mine won't chase. You just won't get too far on the bike. He is fast and he will knock you off.

[Bruisedarse]

Wide and slow is fine, the horse has time to see you and work out what you are. Anything flying past that approaches silently, with no warning is going to make a horse, dog or human jump - wouldn't it? Had I had a warning they were coming then myself and the horse wouldn't have been taken unawares. I was on a single track road so the space for passing was limited, slowing down would have worked because the idea is to have some warning, but most don't and don't want to for various reasons, so a warning I think is just practical!

If I were to gallop up a bridleway, where walkers are allowed to walk, on grass with an unshod horse, so my approach was muffled, would it be OK for me to just gallop on past them?! Even though technically it's not 'wrong' to do it, it'd be dangerous and rude and I'd slow to a trot and shout good morning rather than blast on through. Same principal really - a bit of forethought and respect.

[SoupDragon]

I'd like to say I'm surprised at the cyclists who are blaming the horse but I'm not.

[auntBessiesAreAwful]

@bluebells1

So, you have no problem with a dog knocking someone off their bicycle on the road? You know that could easily kill them?

The last time a dog knocked me off on the road, it cost the owner nearly 4k. BC Insurance took care of it. I bet they were as smug as you were before the incident. However, I'm extremely well paid and my bike and kit is expensive. In case you were wondering, they had to pay from their own pocket.

[SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace]

I also find cyclists in general the most defensive! If someone posted about a crap motorist we will all agree yes they are awful. If a crap cyclist is posted about (as above) then lots of comments spouting well motorists are crap, pedestrians are crap and the shutting down of much needed debate

But that's also because when one person says, could cyclists do this please, they're immediately agreed with by people saying cyclists are cunts and deserve to die and they should have been knocked into a ditch!

If someone says a car cut them up at a junction, people would certainly respond, what a tit, hope you reported, that's awful... they wouldn't say 'I loathe all drivers, drivers are cunts, you should have set fire to his car' or whatever.

[Bruisedarse]

Lethal - well that's her/his prerogative. Yes I did put ha ha. But then the rest of the post goes on to say I'd be mortified and wouldn't want anyone hurt etc. You seem to want to goad me into saying the very same thing, I'm not going to. I've been kicked by a horse, it hurts, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

[SoupDragon]

If someone says a car cut them up at a junction, people would certainly respond, what a tit, hope you reported, that's awful... they wouldn't say 'I loathe all drivers, drivers are cunts, you should have set fire to his car' or whatever.

Actually, you get similar comments about car drivers from cyclists.

[Bruisedarse]

Sonya, cars aren't silent as they approach, you can hear the engine, so they don't take you by surprise like a bike does that is silent and fast until it's on top of you. And there's a marked difference between a human voice Calli out or a tinkle on a bell to a car horn.

[MipMipMip]

Please can cyclists also make a noise (not telling "out of my way!") when appearing behind pedestrians on a path? I'm happy to go to one side and keep my dog out of the way/make sure the lead isn't across the path but only if I know you're there.

[SoupDragon]

In the scenario described by the OP, the cyclists were cunts. They looked back, saw they had caused her to fall off but didn't stop. That is the action of a cunt whatever their mode of transport. If a car driver had caused another road user to fall off/over but didn't stop they would also be cunts. Being a cyclist does not make you immune to being a cunt.

[NachoAddict]

This thread has really depressed me. I have started cycling to work, I don't drive and public transport is not viable. I am loathe to think that so many people hate me. I ride pretty slowly though because I am not confident at all and I am certainly not whizzing anywhere!

OP I hope your bottom recovers quickly!

[Tinycitrus]

I’m a cyclist (I know, who the fuck do I think I am etc etc)

I don’t know about horses.

My main concern would be spooking the horse by using a bell/horn/shouting. I would probably overtake slowly leaving plenty of room.

So should I beep horn and shout?