Bridleways

"Paul Boyd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 19/04/2007 14:18, Tim Hall said,

Quoted message said:

Let's try "walkers and horse riders".

Where is this supposed antagonism between bikers and horse riders? I
occasionally encounter horsey types, and without exception so far they have
been courteous and cheery, even pulling over to let me pass. Perhaps it's my
winning smile! Red-socks on the other hand...

I expect the red socks on your other hand have a different meaning to a horse
as opposed to the male bovines! ---- but why on only one hand and not both!

--
Trevor A Panther
In South Yorkshire,
England, United Kingdom.
www.tapan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Quoted message said:

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

in message <[email hidden]>, Paul Boyd

(') said:

On 19/04/2007 14:18, Tim Hall said,

Quoted message said:

Let's try "walkers and horse riders".

Where is this supposed antagonism between bikers and horse riders? I
occasionally encounter horsey types, and without exception so far they
have been courteous and cheery, even pulling over to let me pass.
Perhaps it's my winning smile! Red-socks on the other hand...

Horses are easily spooked and bikes approach very fast for something so
quiet (and very quiet for something so fast). This is a potentially risky
combination. It's a good thing to call out when approaching, so that the
horse can identify you as human, and to give the equestrian some warning.
Cyclists who don't do this are disliked by horsey people, and I can
understand that.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; "If I were a Microsoft Public Relations person, I would probably
;; be sobbing on a desk right now" -- Rob Miller, editor, /.

In news:[email hidden],
Ian Smith <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:

Quoted message said:

Also, we have a lot of race-horses round here. Stupid flighty
easily-panicked by unexpected things like the sky, or trees, or some
such. When one of these takes exception to you (I have, for example,
had one object to me standing stationary) the riders seem to assume
you will naturally go miles out of your way, at great inconvenience,
so as not to trouble their over-priced animal.

Every other Audax in central southern England seems to go through Lambourn,
which is positively infested with the wretched things. I've seen them going
completely hatstand even when there's been a fence and sturdy hedge 'twixt
me and their paddock.

--
Dave Larrington
<http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk>
I am the Disgruntled Employee; I am the New Face of Labour
Relations.

On Apr 19, 11:31 am, "[email hidden]" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Is it legal to cycle along bridleways?

MBQ

Yes. Unless a Traffic Regulation Order or local bye-law has been
passed making it a criminal offence, it is not actually 'illegal' to
cycle on footpaths in the countryside either. The legislation relating
to cycling on footways only relates to those which run alongside a
road. In the countryside where there is no road cycling on a footpath
is merely the civil wrong of trespass. (The Ramblers Association for
one don't think much of the laws on trespass...).

In any case, the 'victim' of a trespass would have to show that your
actions caused some sort of loss in order to be able to get
compensation out of you in court. 'Loss of privacy' or similar would
appear to be a non-starter as you would be on a public right of way
and so would have had the same impact had you been walking. Also, the
surface of the path is officially the responsibility of the local
highways authority, not the landowner, so the landowner could hardly
press for compensation for leaving a few wheel marks. Ride away from
a PROW and through someone's crops and (quite rightly) a landowner may
well be able to press you for compensation though!

For more information see:

http://www.thebikezone.org.uk/thebikezone/campaigning/offroad/offroadlaw.html

Ian Smith said the following on 19/04/2007 22:19:

Quoted message said:

but also the route in question was actually not a
bridleway, but a BOAT - I could legally have been there in a 40 tonne
HGV, never mind a bicycle. Stupid cow.

Know anyone with a 40 tonne artic? Could be a bit of fun!

Quoted message said:

Also, we have a lot of race-horses round here.

Not a lot of those here - we have the big sturdy lumps!

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Paul Boyd usenet.dont.work@plusnet said:

Ian Smith said the following on 19/04/2007 22:19:

Quoted message said:

but also the route in question was actually not a bridleway, but a
BOAT - I could legally have been there in a 40 tonne HGV, never mind
a bicycle. Stupid cow.

Know anyone with a 40 tonne artic? Could be a bit of fun!

Well yer, but unfortunely there's a recent fad for tribes of fools in
4x4s to go driving down every available byway in convoy, making a real
nusiance for everyone else.

Some local authorities are introducing bylaws preventing it - but
things like OS maps still show the byways, so people still do it,
signage nowithstanding.

Simon Brooke said:

in message <[email hidden]>, Paul Boyd

(') said:

On 19/04/2007 14:18, Tim Hall said,

Quoted message said:

Let's try "walkers and horse riders".

Where is this supposed antagonism between bikers and horse riders? I
occasionally encounter horsey types, and without exception so far they
have been courteous and cheery, even pulling over to let me pass.
Perhaps it's my winning smile! Red-socks on the other hand...

I don't think there is any antagonism. I was just paraphrasing the
requirements of the law which allows (in England (and Wales?))
cyclists to ride on bridleways.

Quoted message said:

Horses are easily spooked and bikes approach very fast for something so
quiet (and very quiet for something so fast). This is a potentially risky
combination. It's a good thing to call out when approaching, so that the
horse can identify you as human, and to give the equestrian some warning.
Cyclists who don't do this are disliked by horsey people, and I can
understand that.

Absoulutley. On last Sunday's TC ride (10 bikes) through the Ashdown
Forest, we encountered a large horse. After about 4 riders had passed
it decided it didn't like them, and did that sideways walking thing.
We stopped and dismounted, had a chat with the rider and pushed our
bikes up the road for a 100m or so. A good excuse for a breather too.

Tim

Tim Hall said the following on 20/04/2007 09:41:

Quoted message said:

I don't think there is any antagonism. I was just paraphrasing the
requirements of the law which allows (in England (and Wales?))
cyclists to ride on bridleways.

Sorry - I didn't mean to imply you were referring to any antagonism, if
that's what you thought I meant. It's just that there always seem to be
stories or anecdotes about bikers and horse riders not getting on and it
just isn't something I experience. In fact, cycling groups and
equestrian groups are joining forces to get the authorities to maintain
bridleways!

As others have said though, this must come down to the attitude of the
biker, and I'm always happy to give way and be polite to horse riders,
or anyone else for that matter.

Quoted message said:

We stopped and dismounted, had a chat with the rider and pushed our
bikes up the road for a 100m or so. A good excuse for a breather too.

Sounds like my "just admiring the view, honest" halfway up a steep hill :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

"Paul Boyd" <usenet.dont.work@plusnet> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

We stopped and dismounted, had a chat with the rider and pushed our
bikes up the road for a 100m or so. A good excuse for a breather too.

Sounds like my "just admiring the view, honest" halfway up a steep hill
:-)

It's why you should always carry a camera - evidence to back up that
statement :-)

cheers,
clive

Dave Larrington said:

In news:[email hidden],
Ian Smith <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:

Quoted message said:

Also, we have a lot of race-horses round here. Stupid flighty
easily-panicked by unexpected things like the sky, or trees, or some
such. When one of these takes exception to you (I have, for example,
had one object to me standing stationary) the riders seem to assume
you will naturally go miles out of your way, at great inconvenience,
so as not to trouble their over-priced animal.

Every other Audax in central southern England seems to go through Lambourn,
which is positively infested with the wretched things. I've seen them going
completely hatstand even when there's been a fence and sturdy hedge 'twixt
me and their paddock.

That would explain why a friend of mine made himself so unpopular.
Apparently the horses objected to his bright red Alfa, especially to the
delightful noise emitting from the exhaust pipes.

Paul Rudin said:

Paul Boyd usenet.dont.work@plusnet said:

Ian Smith said the following on 19/04/2007 22:19:

Quoted message said:

but also the route in question was actually not a bridleway, but a
BOAT - I could legally have been there in a 40 tonne HGV, never mind
a bicycle. Stupid cow.

Know anyone with a 40 tonne artic? Could be a bit of fun!

Well yer, but unfortunely there's a recent fad for tribes of fools in
4x4s to go driving down every available byway in convoy, making a real
nusiance for everyone else.

More of a nuisance than a convoy of unpredictable horses?

Al C-F said:

Paul Rudin said:

Paul Boyd usenet.dont.work@plusnet said:

Ian Smith said the following on 19/04/2007 22:19:

> but also the route in question was actually not a bridleway, but a
> BOAT - I could legally have been there in a 40 tonne HGV, never mind
> a bicycle. Stupid cow.
Know anyone with a 40 tonne artic? Could be a bit of fun!

Well yer, but unfortunely there's a recent fad for tribes of fools in
4x4s to go driving down every available byway in convoy, making a real
nusiance for everyone else.

More of a nuisance than a convoy of unpredictable horses?

I've yet to see more that 2 horses together AFAIR, but in any case
horses don't take up the whole road, make so much noise, cause so much
damage to the track, or go as fast...

Howard said:

For more information see:

http://www.thebikezone.org.uk/thebikezone/campaigning/offroad/offroad...

Thanks for all the replies, this one was particularly interesting.

MBQ

Al C-F said the following on 20/04/2007 12:15:

Quoted message said:

More of a nuisance than a convoy of unpredictable horses?

Not that I see many convoys of horses, but I think on balance a convoy
of horses would be preferable to a convoy of 4x4s.

Especially if you grow rhubarb and have a bike trailer :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Howard said:

http://www.thebikezone.org.uk/thebikezone/campaigning/offroad/offroadlaw.html

Intersting read.

I'm not sure that paragraph is correct:

"Unfortunately, there are many laws that can be applied to prohibit
cycling in various situations. Some relate to civil law (the
breaking of which is a matter between you and a landowner). Some
relate to traffic law (the breaking of which will be dealt with in
court and may result in a fine). Yet others relate to criminal
law. (Break these and you will get a criminal record as well as a
fine)."

Which suggests that "traffic law" is somehow different from "criminal
law". AFAIK traffic law *is* criminal law.

The point about criminal *records* depends on the severity of the
offence, not on whether it happens to be a road traffic offence. You
can get a crimnal record for serious road traffic offences; conversely
you can commit minor non-traffic offences and not get a criminal
record.

"Paul Rudin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
SNIP

Quoted message said:

Which suggests that "traffic law" is somehow different from "criminal
law". AFAIK traffic law *is* criminal law.

Generally with most traffic offences you do not get a criminal record. Just
a driving record.

Dave

Paul Rudin said:

Al C-F said:

Paul Rudin said:

Paul Boyd <usenet.dont.work@plusnet> writes:

Well yer, but unfortunely there's a recent fad for tribes of fools in
4x4s to go driving down every available byway in convoy, making a real
nusiance for everyone else.

More of a nuisance than a convoy of unpredictable horses?

I've yet to see more that 2 horses together AFAIR, but in any case
horses don't take up the whole road, make so much noise, cause so much
damage to the track, or go as fast...

Lucky you. I meet groups of six or eight or so occasionally. On the
trice it's nightmarish (boom boom) because at least some of them will
get agitated, and then they all get jumpy.

Significant groups of horses are inconvenient when you're riding as
recumbent, imo. Still greatly preferable to significant groups of
ramblers, though.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

Dave said:

"Paul Rudin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
SNIP

Quoted message said:

Which suggests that "traffic law" is somehow different from "criminal
law". AFAIK traffic law *is* criminal law.

Generally with most traffic offences you do not get a criminal record. Just
a driving record.

As I said in the part of my post that you snipped - it depends on the
severity of the offence, but this is true for all areas of criminal
law, not just road traffic law, AIUI.

Dave Larrington wrote on 20/04/2007 08:26 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Every other Audax in central southern England seems to go through Lambourn,
which is positively infested with the wretched things. I've seen them going
completely hatstand even when there's been a fence and sturdy hedge 'twixt
me and their paddock.

Well it is racehorse central and no doubt they are perturbed by this new
technology that makes them obsolete outside the French dinner plate ;-)

--
Tony

"The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there
is no good evidence either way."
- Bertrand Russell

Paul Rudin said:

I've yet to see more that 2 horses together AFAIR, but in any case
horses don't cause so much damage to the track,

YMBFJ - they pound them into Somme-like morass double-quick, and no mistake.

bfn,

Tony B