about these cyclists on a bridle way?

[Ellybellyboo]

I don't want to start a cycling bashing post, most cyclists I come into contact with are fab

DD2 has been riding for years and a few months ago we were lucky enough to find her her own horse.

During DD's lesson Saturday morning, her teacher suggested they go out on a hack. There's a bridle way just to the side of the yard - about an hour, off road, in a nice loop that brings them back to the yard. Clearly signed as a bridle way, on local maps and information. Great. Off they go.

They come back to the yard and the teacher tells me DD has had a fall and explains that DD's horse got in a bit of a tizz after a huge group of cyclists went charging past. Several cyclists went past them - singly and in pairs, gave the horses plenty of room and all was fine. Until a huge pack of cyclists came towards them - all over the path, clearly racing each other, jostling and shouting, etc, etc. Horse had a moment, DD fell off (bit bruised but not hurt)

Anyway, teacher said this isn't the first time it has happened, as apparently it's a good path for time trials and more and more groups of cyclists were using it. She said that other owners at the yard were writing to the local cycling clubs to ask them to speak to their members.

I emailed the main club and explained exactly what happened - was very polite and explained that several people had gone past and were great, it was just the big group. I got a reply this morning, basically stating that cyclists have every right to use bridle ways - we should ride else where.

Yes, they do have every right to use bridle ways and the majority of cyclists were brilliant, but AIBU to think there could be a bit more consideration?

@twopoint

if you hate horses i suggest you stay on a "cycle path" and don't venture near a "bridle path". The clue is in the name....

@snowpony

Ah bless.

I prefer understanding as opposed to looking for clues in names.

Being a cyclist, driver, pedestrian and formerly a horse rider I think the main problem is some people are just crap whatever form of locomotion they decide to use and ruin it for everyone. My husband has a commute on a cycle track which is now in the dark, he was almost knocked off by a dog off the lead with no reflective on far from its owner jumping out the bushes straight towards him. It really scares me that people don't consider other people.

The situation here is quite clear - the behaviour of this group of cyclists caused an accident, and it's fortunate that the OP's dd wasn't more seriously injured.

A group of shouting, jostling cyclists racing each other, and speeding towards you, would give me a fright - let alone a horse.

OP - YANBU. The club's response was inadequate. Reply to them including the link upthread, and with the fact that cyclists should give way to horses on a bridleway.

There are a minority of cyclists who behave like complete dicks. The club's response suggests that they actively encourage dickish behaviour, which is shocking.

I'd shame them all over social media, and forward their response to the local police and possibly the local council's rights of way team, in the hope that someone will have a friendly word with them.

If my dog spooked a horse I'd be mortified. Thankfully, she's grown up in an area where there are lots of riders and when there are horses around, she comes back on command and sits by my feet while they pass. Can't trust the little baggage anywhere near sheep or poultry though.

Thanks all!

I've emailed them back and included the link above. Will see what they say.

Chrys2017. It was just DD and her teacher rather than a big group. Her teacher's horse freaked a bit too, but the teacher stayed on. Horse didn't bolt fortunately

I'd mention in the next email that in future your DD will be wearing a bodycam.

I think it's horses that shouldn't be let out on public paths. They are a liability, nervous and poo a lot

Who do you think a BRIDLEway is primarily for.

Hope your DD is ok. I live fairly rurally and have seen on a number of occasions cyclists riding aggressively close to horses. So stupid.

Yet my cheery call of "I hate horses and will kick them"

Cool story bro

I live on a bridleway and frankly the cyclists are a menace to all. There is a blind bend on the bridleway and they race around that. If there were walkers or horses around that there would be an accident. I have had my children shouted at by cyclists for daring to walk on the bridleway. The cyclists will not Slow Down!

Another unfortunate trait is that they now use the footpaths too! We have a stile opposite our house that accesses the footpaths in the woods and they throw their bikes over it and carry on down the footpaths. It is just not good enough but when I asked them to stop, needless to say I received abuse.

Our council has invested £ millions in new cycleways. Are the cyclists on these? No. Of course not. All over the adjacent road! Why? Some cyclists are not interested in safety or other people’s safety. I despair!

The club person sounds like an absolute idiot. They may have a right to use the path but that right can be withdrawn.

Why did Twopoint get deleted? Surely nothing broke the T&C.

For being a goady cunt here just to insult people, I imagine.

Obviously horses galloping last cyclists would be equally bad.

Yes, which was my whole point, that it'd be unacceptable from the horses as much as the cyclists. I was asking @Twopoint if they would consider the reverse situation OK, as they've condoned the actions of the cyclists.
But I notice despite @Twopoint coming back on the thread to respond other posters that question goes unanswered......

{Shrugs}

OP - not sure if you saw my earlier post about contacting the council as it's a bridleway and most are maintained by the local council? They may be able to speak to the cycle club and have more clout?

We have this on tow paths. You are trying to moor your boat and cyclists speeding down the canal path yelling at you to move whilst your pulling in a narrow boat.

Or you are walking down the tow path from one lock to another and a Lycra lout nearly pushes you into the canal.

Am seriously thinking of swinging my windlass around in my arm in order to give me some space.

I’m a lone cyclist, don’t belong to any club and ride purely for exercise and - in summer - pleasure. I stick to country lanes for safety and I enjoy the solitude. I frequently encounter horses. Now, I am terrified of them although I think they are lovely animals and I think the bond they can have with humans is wonderful. I am just wary of their size and unpredictability.

But to come to the point, I always greet riders as I gingerly cycle past and one day a lady rider thanked me for saying hello. She said it helped the horse to understand what I was and thus not be spooked by me. I was really grateful for that. Anybody who blithely ignores horses is in my view just plain ignorant. And unfortunately there are boorish types among the cycling fraternity.

Berliz

They didn't insult anyone. They were insulted.

I think it's a shame her two points are now gone; that nothing illegal was done by the cyclists and that horse riders wishing harm on cyclists or car drivers saying they'd lay in wait for the cyclists seems unacceptable and should be challenged.

Beerwench. Sorry, yes, I did. I meant to thank you.

I've had a nosy round on the net but can't find much about it.

We have joined a local bridle ways group and from what I've read they either paid for, or contributed to, proper surfacing as the bridle way became a messy, unusuable mud bath

I'll phone the council in a bit (I'm waiting for a call from a courier who have lost a parcel so I don't want to tie the phone up)

Thanks!

that nothing illegal was done by the cyclists Is doing nothing technically illegal the only criterion?

What about thoughtless, discourteous, reckless?
Seriously, on a bridle path you really should be prepared to encounter horses and riders and adjust your behaviour accordingly.

AnnaMagdalenaGluc

It becomes more important when others are suggesting harming other users to get their own way. Staying within the law is a minimum. TooPoints was told they'd be attacked by a rider and another poster said they'd lay in wait for the cyclists in their car.

I agree that illegal isn't the only criterion and common decency is important. However, NACALT / NAHRALT but... seems the order of the day.

I'm a cyclist (road and mountain), motorbiker, horse rider, teacher, Tory and 4x4 driver. I have a thick skin as is necessary on MN but I guess am also easily riled by hypocrisy.

gurteen - these particular cyclists caused an accident - they caused a young girl to come off her horse.

They were at fault - not because they were cyclists - but because of their behaviour. They were meant to give way to the rider - as per the rules of the bridleway - but instead rowdily sped towards the horse, en masse, taking up the whole bridlepath.

It was the OP's DD - the horserider - who was actually harmed here.

gurteen Fair enough point if they genuinely intended to attack the cyclists in some way. I don't think that it was a serious threat, do you?

I honestly read that as hyperbole - in the same way that when DS3 leaves about 15 dirty mugs in his bedroom for the umpteenth time this month and I threaten to smash them on his head...

Sorry, that comparison was a bit frivolous.
Shoes is right, the rider had a fall caused by the recklessness of the cyclists. The consequences could have been much more serious.

ShoesHaveSoles

Arguably, you're right. It was her horse that threw the girl off but

• an act is not law
• an act is a statute
• obeying a statute is voluntary ie it requires consent

There's a reason there's never been a prosecution of a cyclist for their riding on a bridleway!

In my experience, cyclists and walkers manage to get on well - when I've been on either 'side'. It's horse riders who expect all over users to fuck off. I'll never forget a horse rider telling me to take off my red beanie as their animal didn't like red. NAHRALT but ...

x-post

I've been deliberately knocked off my motorbike (the driver went to prison as they were on parole). I didn't read lying in wait in a car as hyperbole. Nor should you. Threats of violence are never okay.

nothing illegal was done by the cyclists

Illegality is not the only measure. As a member of a running club, the council could tell the club to stop running through the park if we were causing disruption for and being discourteous to other users. Any group of users has to consider their impact on others using the same space.