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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

about these cyclists on a bridle way?

124 replies

Ellybellyboo · 11/12/2017 11:04

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?

OP posts:
ShoesHaveSouls · 11/12/2017 15:02

Ah, gurteen's the type of poster who wants to enter a lengthy argument about legality - when a child has been knocked off their horse.

I was just coming on to respond - but I see catwoozle has done so already.

MissEliza · 11/12/2017 15:07

Maybe we need to start passing some laws to protect others from inconsiderate cyclists.

gurteenKnowledge · 11/12/2017 15:09

ShoesHaveSouls

The legality aspect isn't an argument, short or not.

No one was knocked off their horse. HTH

SoupDragon · 11/12/2017 15:10

It was her horse that threw the girl off

It was the cyclists that caused the horse to throw the girl off. These cyclists were at fault and were arrogant tossers.

SoupDragon · 11/12/2017 15:11

I bet if a car driver went past a cyclist too close, causing them to fall off, it wouldn't be the cyclists fault.

gurteenKnowledge · 11/12/2017 15:12

SoupDragon

Correct. Are you a lawyer?

catwoozle · 11/12/2017 15:15

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)

What bit of the second lot of cyclists' behaviour would you like to defend, gurteen? Other than to say it wasn't illegal. Was it reasonable behaviour? Secondly, were the club reasonable to reply dismissively, not to apologise and to say the horse riders should ride elsewhere, other than on a bridleway near stables? Where should they ride, perhaps? A cycle path?

Original poster
Ellybellyboo · 11/12/2017 15:15

Aahhh, I see, it’s only an act. That’s OK then, they didn’t break the actual law Hmm

OP posts:
Stoptherideiwannagetoff · 11/12/2017 16:22

I'd stick bloody great logs six strides apart along the entire length of the path and watch them race then (whilst sat in the hedge with a big pile of sticks to poke through their spokes as they passed)

Scentofwater · 11/12/2017 16:51

Ahhhhh now I understand why so many bridalways have trees felled across them!

If you can put down a couple of logs then do that- not so many that it stops reasonable cyclists but so that it isn’t possible to build up a crazy amount of speed?

Namechangetempissue · 11/12/2017 17:03

gurteenKnowledge -the rider who told you her horse "didn't like red" was obviously bullshitting as horses can't distinguish red at all - they see in different shades of blue and green.
I've obviously lucked out massively as in the 30 odd years I've been riding I've never had a problem with cyclists or motorcyclists, only with car drivers going to fast and close. I really never understand how people (adults!) can't just share and be NICE whatever we are riding/doing. Surely we just all make space for each other. Why I'm an unsociable bugger!

Namechangetempissue · 11/12/2017 17:05

Our bridleways have trees felled at points to stop off road motorcyclists churning up the tracks.

gurteenKnowledge · 11/12/2017 17:10

I really never understand how people (adults!) can't just share and be NICE whatever we are riding/doing.

I couldn't agree more.

What do you make of the last few posts about logs and sticks through wheels?

Namechangetempissue · 11/12/2017 17:14

Christ no. I would never purposefully hurt anyone. Felled trees I can see a purpose for as they are clearly visible and can be avoided at a slower pace (a "speed bump" perhaps).
I have a friend who broke his neck in an accident involving a wire strung across a track (a legal track) presumably as a joke? He was on a motocross bike. Luckily he wasn't paralysed. I could never advocate such a thing.

gurteenKnowledge · 11/12/2017 17:19

That's good. Shame the poster a few above you doesn't agree.

"whilst sat in the hedge with a big pile of sticks to poke through their spokes as they passed"

gurteenKnowledge · 11/12/2017 17:19

That's good. Shame the poster a few above you doesn't agree.

"whilst sat in the hedge with a big pile of sticks to poke through their spokes as they passed"

This thread took a really nasty turn very quickly.

FlaviaAlbia · 11/12/2017 17:23

Not a joke Namechangetempissue some sicko did it at neck level on a decent on mountain bike tracks near me. It could have killed someone.

SoupDragon · 11/12/2017 17:24

So, if a car driver makes a cyclist fall off because they drove too close it is the driver's fault?

Namechangetempissue · 11/12/2017 17:27

I know discourteous horse riders exist-as do cyclists, motorcyclists, car drivers etc. I've driven past horse riders I know in the area who don't acknowledge motorists and its not acceptable. Sadly, rude fuckers appear in all walks of life. We can't hurt them though.
The OP should complain about the cyclists and aa she was polite in her email, should really have received a polite email back, at least enquiring how her daughter, which they could do without accepting responsibility. It makes the club look unprofessional and doesn't build good local relationships. Would have been better to say they would speak with the members and ask them to be aware of other bridleway users.

SoupDragon · 11/12/2017 17:28

These cyclists, no all others who behave like them, are twats.

End of story as far as I'm concerned.

Namechangetempissue · 11/12/2017 17:29

Horrifying isn't it Flavia -who would think that was funny?! It's psychopathic.

SoupDragon · 11/12/2017 17:29

and all others...

FlaviaAlbia · 11/12/2017 17:38

NamechangetempissueIt is. How could someone do that and live with themselves when someone got hurt unless they were a psychopath?

ShoesHaveSouls · 11/12/2017 17:39

The post took a nasty turn when twopoint posted about kicking horses. Which was rightly deleted - it was not a reasonable response to a horserider calling a warning to dogwalkers that their dog might be kicked by their horse.

Certainly don't condone any violence to anyone - cyclists or otherwise. But I think the logs across the bridleways are a good idea. Motorbikes are prohibited on the bridleways near me, but they manage to get on anyway - and at least the logs mean they can't pick up too much speed, or ride alongside each other, or race each other.

ShoesHaveSouls · 11/12/2017 17:40

And, as I said upthread - let's remember who was put at risk in the subject of the OP's thread.

It was the OP's DD - a child on horseback. It's very lucky she wasn't seriously injured.

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