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?

*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!*

I could have written exactly that. We get cyclists hurtling along the footpaths because they tend not to be as rutted etc as the bridleways, and they don't give a toss about anyone.

A neighbour (retired police chief superintendent!) says the next time he has to jump out of the way of one, he'll poke his walking stick through the spokes of the wheels and have the bugger off. An elderly lady's dog was hit by a cyclist on the footpath a few years ago, sustained a broken pelvis and the vet bill ran into several hundreds.

I tend to stand my ground and just block the path, and they often just yell "Get out the fucking way" as they hurtle down the hill.

A lovely riverside cycle path was built locally at great expense (£1.5m, if I recall correctly), but the cyclists seem to prefer to ride along the narrow, winding country road, dice with lorries and hold up the traffic. Tossers.

I tend to stand my ground and just block the path, and they often just yell "Get out the fucking way" as they hurtle down the hill.

This reminded me of an acquaintance who was crossing a road at a crossing point with his son.
Cyclist came pelting along and yelled "bike". Acquaintance calmly moved in front of the young son and yelled "fist"!

Skid marks in more than one place

Logs on the path are only dangerous if the cyclist is riding dangerously. One or two placed strategically would likely make the bridleway less attractive for speed/ trials/ competitive behaviour/ cycling at silly speeds.

Sticks in wheels is a disgusting suggestion but logs placed to discourage antisocial cycling behaviour is certainly not!

It pisses me off that our local council is spending thousands on cycle paths that aren't used by cyclists. Instead they prefer country lanes, footpaths, pavements and bridleways. Apparently cyclists rights take priority over motorists and pedestrians alike.

I’m a mountain biker and I agree that the cyclists were well in the wrong. So would British Cycling and Cycling UK . There’s law and there’s manners and respect.

Cycling UK code of conduct for Bridleways.

British Cycling guidance on riding near horses

We have the same problem with bikes on the bridle path in our area. Plus dogs off lead with no recall. Which is why I never ride my horse out at the weekends.

I was startled by a cyclist on a dog walk at the weekend. On lovely heathland near us.

Was taking a photo of the lovely frost covered trees - heard "ring ring" behind me. I moved to the side, and said 'oh sorry!" - the cyclist then passed me, and said "sorry to startle you, thank you!"

^ this is how it should be. I don't know what those cyclists described in the OP thought they were doing, shouting and racing past a rider on a horse. It's just not how you behave.

You should ride elsewhere? Ffs. Well I guess we all know which club the problem group came from!

@MissEliza
@LakieLady

Cycle lanes are often poorly designed and honestly, no matter how much they cost, no cyclist is obliged to use them in the same way a horse rider can use the road instead of a bridleway.

They aren't tossers. If they are "dicing" with lorries then it is the irresponsible drivers' fault. Do you victim blame in other areas of life?

Can I ask why you deliberately "block the path"? That doesn't seem to be in the spirit of shared access. Combined with your other comments, it seems entitled and quite unpleasant.

Cyclists have equal rights to the road. If they want to use them they are allowed. Why shouldn't they?

Cyclist and rider (competitive in both when I have the time)
gurt putting logs or other 'speed bumps' on the path doesn't stop cyclists using a bridle way but it does stop them using it as a time trial track which is very much in the spirit of shared access because it makes it safe for all users.

Unfortunately there are speed/Strava obsessed idiot cyclists everywhere
Richmond Park tried to clamp down on speeding cyclists a couple of years ago - there is a 20mph limit for cars after a spate of accidents. Not unsurprising considering the free roaming deer, the horses and all the dog walkers, pedestrians and drivers.

Rather than slow down and make things safer for everyone, a small minority of cyclists instead quoted legal chapter and verse about how they aren't legally bound by speed limits and have no legal requirement to have a speedometer and therefore have no need to respect speed limits.

This seems to be the same attitude being displayed by this club - just total arrogance

OP, it would also be worth checking if the club is affiliated with the British Triathlon Federation, and if so, let them know about the response you've had

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.

Then please explain why my warmblood decided he didn't like the red spiky hazard lines on the road and decided he absolutely wouldn't walk on them or why a mate's cob jumped every red line he ever came across? Spooky sod my warmblood was! :D

I do alot of cycling on the road and unfortunately I have to deal with my fair share of tossers who drive cars.
Sadly alot of them seem to ride bikes aswell these days. I'd do whatever you can to make them regret their actions; it sounds like they were acting just like the (sadly) numerous entitled motorists I encounter.
I try and kick their wing mirrors on the way past (if they end up stopping up ahead) but you obviously didn't have a chance for immediate action.
Try Strava and/or Facebook, could very well be part of an organized group ride.
As for the cycling club, it sort of sounds unlikely. Most tend to ride on the roads, and if they were part of a club then they'd have been wearing a club jersey no doubt.

@Maelstrop

I wondered about that too. I was taught that horses see in shades of blue/grey and that they can't distinguish other colours, the shade is darker/lighter depending on the colour, so possibly red is a very dark shade which makes it harder for the horse to work out what it is against a background that is also dark, thus the reaction you describe?

Sorry for the derail!

@Beerwench Quite honestly, I haven't looked too deeply into what colours the cones in a horse's eyes can see, but there's a joke about a horse spooking at a daffodil that wasn't there the day before! Dunno, my warmblood was very spooky, he was an ex Grand Prix dressage boy, German import, bit broken by the time I found him, bless him, just a light hack but full of cheekiness!

Ah I know the type - bored with everyday humdrum hacking so make their own entertainment! sounds lovely though.
I did some training and sight was covered but no one seemed to agree either way so until a horse learns to speak I guess we'll never know!

Sparechange, the (very marginally) interesting thing about the Richmond Park thing is that some cyclists have been fined for speeding in them, as Royal Parks are governed by a separate act of parliament and it includes bicycles.

And yes, of course they were twats. I can't think of any bridleways which would be suitable for serious club rides. If the OP doesn't get a more reasonable response from the club then I would be taking it further.

And whilst it may not be 'illegal', the cyclists could be sued. From the cases with horses I've heard of, I think they would be deemed at fault.

@whatsthecomingoverthehill

Which cases? There are none which set a precedent.

Thanks all

Just a wee update, got a reply to my second email this morning. This time from a different person, very apologetic, gave me his number and asked me to give him a ring

Really lovely bloke, we had a nice chat, he enquired about DD, explained that it wasn’t a club event but that he was more than happy to speak to their members.

See what happens from here

Well OP, that's a better response! I'd follow through on the recording of incidents still, and keep a close eye on the situation. And possibly still report to the council.

Good result from that cycling club. I’d keep a wee log of this and any future incidents though.

Set of cu*ts! My plan would be to sit in a bush with a pile of sticks to throw in passing cyclists spokes! Might not sort the problem in the long term but it will cheer you up a bit

OnToTheNextOne

People have been sued when their actions have spooked horses.
e.g. here. And there was this case (but it doesn't appear to have gone to court which indicates it was settled).

There isn't a clear legal precedence one way or the other as far as I can tell. You have a duty of care, and my opinion is that the cyclists in this case didn't exercise that duty properly.