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!

Milk - so why do you think people dislike cyclists so much? Genuine question.

oh, another thread bashing cyclists!
That should tell you something then surely. Perhaps people have genuine concerns?

'people' dislike 'cyclists'. yeah

a lot of people don't actually dislike cyclists and not all cyclists are the same, you know? Well, obviously not.

I am cyclist and I am also a motorist (I drive much much than I cycle), I see far more bad driving than bad cycling.

And I dislike ignorant twats. HTH

Well no.

See, a lot of people dislike cyclists for some very good reasons. Maybe if cyclists could come up with some ways to help control the bad cyclists, you wouldn't have quite the same reputation. Simply saying "yawn" and "not everyone hates cyclists" just makes you seem like one of the bad ones!

I just think there are a lot of aggressive drivers on the roads - cyclists and motorists.

I’ve seen some utter arse behaviour from cyclists including one who nearly knocked my children down on a pedestrian crossing while speeding through a red light.

But as a cyclist I am on the receiving end of behaviour which could have killed me at least every week.cars passing to close, undetaking me really close, ignoring my signals when I’m pulling into the left lane to overtake a parked car, lorries, buses passing too close, cars not giving me space at roundabouts.

People are in such a rush that they think it’s eidgh my life to save 10 seconds.

Surely all the technology is already in place though - cameras etc. It couldn't cost that much more.

(And if it does, the cyclists can pay it... )

Maybe if cyclists could come up with some ways to help control the bad cyclists,

there is also a lot of bad driving. Maybe car drivers should come up with ways to control bad driving?

I'm a cyclist (in London, so don't see a huge number of horses, admittedly) and didn't even realise it was good practice to call put a warning / greeting to horses. I tend to just slow down and give them a wide berth as you would in a car. So - ignoring all the predictable "all cyclists are wankers" posts - this is a useful thread. Thanks OP!

Well yeah. I'm an excellent driver who's had a totally clean licence for over 20 years, as reflected by a low insurance premium, and I'd be up for sharing my thoughts on controlling wankers if there's a thread on here. IRL if see bad driving I call it out.

But the fact remains, you just don't see the same vitriol for pedestrians or cars as you do for cyclists. Why do cyclists think that might be - it can't just be that the rest of the world is prejudiced!

Haven’t read the thread, but I was riding my horse at the weekend, and didn’t hear a cyclist approach from behind. Being obviously a nice person, said cyclist called out to me. I think he said something like ‘Hello, cyclist behind you’. I jumped, the horse didn’t, but I thanked him for making his presence known. He wished me a good ride, and I said the same to him.

So not everyone are arseholes.

Thank fuck.

Out of curiosity do you hear electric cars approaching?

See, a lot of people dislike motorists for some very good reasons. They kill 5 people per week Maybe if motorists could come up with some ways to help control the bad motorists that kill, you wouldn't have quite the same reputation. Simply saying "yawn" and "not everyone hates motorists that kill just makes you seem like one of the bad ones!

and I'd be up for sharing my thoughts on controlling wankers if there's a thread on here

I am sure controlling bad cycling/driving/whatever can be achieved by a thread in MN. you are deluded in many ways and

I am off to a Halloween party. might change my outfit for my lycra gear

Horse rider and cyclist here (not both at once) and YANBU, op. Hope you and your horse are both ok. This thread has made horribly depressing reading all round.

I once rode a horse so utterly bombproof that a twat in a car once brushed its wing mirror through his tail without him turning a hair (he was a central London horse and had been there, done that, and had the t-shirt) but he could still be spooked by a silent bike materialising behind him! Just because they can see all around doesn't mean they're always looking all around, and who among us doesn't jump a bit when something suddenly appears from nowhere? It's just that a horse weighs a few hundred kilos and can jump 6 feet in any direction, and you really don't want that landing on you...

Rebecca cyclists aren’t a collective group any more than motorist are

There is no way you can stop another persons actions in their chosen transportation mode.

You can dislike me all you want due to my chosen mode of transport - if that makes you happy so be it, but IMO it’s a rather daft theory to dislike someone

To lighten the thread, I was riding back home down a private lane. Heard a very quiet noise behind me, turned round to see a person on a Segway. My usually completely sane horse went utterly bonkers, completely petrified by this silent moving alien human that had grown wheels
The poor guy on the Segway was "er. I'll um. Wait here?" as horse turned herself inside out while snorting
Her brain just couldn't comprehend what it was 😂😂

Omg ollivander, what a nightmare hazard to encounter! Re the OP, yes if cyclists could call out and most importantly slow down when meeting a horse out on a hack it would be great.
Another heads up to non horse riders, if you see a horse coming when you are walking on a bridleway please don't hide in the bushes to try and be out of the way but stay on the path where we can see you. Thank you!

I'm glad that the thread has helped some - the general way to pass a horse is wide and slow - car, bike, tractor, anything. The idea being that the horse and rider are aware you're there and what you are - and therefore far less likely to spook. As bikes approach almost silently and at speed, a warning to say you're approaching is appropriate, to draw attention to the fact you are there and intend to pass. How am I or the horse supposed to know if you approach silently, and at speed? It would make anything with consciousness jump.

Horse and I are fine, thank you to those who asked, aware of where I was I pretty much jumped up straight away and kept hold of the reins, horse looked a bit sorry for herself but didn't leg it because she'd seen they were bikes at that point and doesn't generally bother with anything unless it's a situation like this morning.

I don't hate cyclists, but tbh my perception has changed a little because of some responses here, as well as the incident this morning and a few others I've had with cyclists in the past both on horse and on foot. I really don't think the cyclists did it on purpose, but the fact that they didn't stop makes me wonder now after reading this, I saw two look back, and they also had time to slow down, as I said they were going quite a pace, down hill and I was wearing fluorescent clothing, on a grey horse. Not hard to see. I'll still treat all that I come across with respect though - they have as much right to enjoy their pastime as I do, and to do it safely. I'm surprised at some of the cyclists responses tbh, I genuinely thought as road users who also are at greater risk of injury or death when things go wrong, they would welcome the chance to help make the roads a little safer for all - in that belief I see I was a bit naïve.
The thing I'm most shocked about is the hatred directed towards cyclists - I've said this once about horses on the road but it applies to all road users really, it doesn't matter about your opinion of who and what should be on the road and when, if they are legally allowed to be there then they should be able to use the road without other road users causing incidents so they are injured or killed.

Op I will raise this point with the club I cycle with and get something on our social media pages to Highlight how to pass horses and riders correctly and safely to avoid what happened to you today.

Newpapa - I honestly cannot answer that because I haven't come across one. I ride only on about a mile of country lane to get to a green lane that leads to off road tracks and bridleways. And the lane is mainly used by the locals, the farmers, dog walkers and horse riders. But I don't actually recall seeing one while I'm out and about either, maybe being quite rural they're not practical yet due to lack of places to charge? Interesting though because would they be aw silent in approach as a bike? They are larger though so less chance of sneaking up.

Ollivander - I've not come across a segway before out hacking, it's not something I'd think to include in traffic training a youngster! Did once see a hang glider when we were at the top of some large hills, my horse watched with fascination rather than fear, her head followed him everywhere!

Popfan - Yes to that! I really appreciate the gesture when people try and get out of the way, and the fact they may be scared but to a horse a person they can see is fine, a person hiding in a hedge becomes a hedge monster to be got past as fast as I will allow whilst snorting and eye rolling!

Thank you Ivy, I have a few colleagues that cycle in clubs, I'll ask them about mentioning it at the local club.

It's just a bit of consideration between every one. Some drivers seem to be in a world of their own, don't look at us, whizz past and if asked to slow down or stop just stare straight ahead like they have tunnel vision

One thing that's useful for everyone is if a horse rider asks you to stop, it might not be because of the horse - we can see over hedges which helps on blind bends. If I can see a car coming or a group of cyclists, I'll ask the car driver behind to stop obviously for their safety, not mine!

I've never seen as much bad driving as the past couple of years and it's frustrating. I'll get out of people's way, wave to children, let your children pat the horse or stand if you're frightened, help your dog not to be scared, chat to walkers/cyclists, catch loose dogs, herd loose sheep, tell you how much to price your local honey at (don't ask!) etc etc but it's terrifying how oblivious drivers are

Not sure why people hate cyclists as much as they do, admittedly there are a few knob cyclists out there - but using a non polluting vehicle and keeping yourself fit at the same time, (given the strain on the national health), seems like a pretty sensible option to me.

Yes, people are trying to be helpful by moving into the undergrowth but are obviously a horse eating monster once hidden!

www.britishcycling.org.uk/knowledge/skills/article/izn20150106-Horses-on-the-road-0

Found this to pop on social media