Crossing a busy bypass

[welshcobmad]

To get to an abundance of hacking off the yard I'm moving to involves a ride through a busy village (which I can handle) but also involves crossing a busy bypass. Its single carriageway in each direction & on a straight (so drivers have good vision from a distance & I was on the edge to cross I'm easily seen) - its almost directly across the road & 2 dedicated lanes in the middle for left & right turning traffic, which gives a little breathing space worst case scenario. My horse is great in traffic & we'll be kitted right up in high viz from hat band to exercise sheet but still crossing a 60 mph limit road still gives me the jitters!

Do any of you have to cross anything like this at all & do drivers tend to back off & let you go to an extend or carry on hurtling past? I know if I was driving I'd slow down & flash them over but that me being a rider! I've never been on the other end of it. I was wondering if it was worth contacting the council for some horse signs to be put at the crossing but guessing it would fall on deaf ears although I do know others use it. I'm winding myself up to the point I wont even try it but seems daft as that's all that stands between us & some lovely rides!

 

[FfionWinnie]

Slowing down and letting you over is a good way to cause an accident. Just make sure your horse will wait patiently until there is a large space with plenty of time to cross safely.

 

[Corbie]

I know what you mean. There is a busy bypass near me which some years ago completely cut through a bridleway and left riders effectively unable to access any routes further on. So frustrating!
For your road I would choose a time when the road will be at its quietest - an early Sunday morning perhaps. This should give you slight breathing space, and you'll be better able to assess the road. Also I would go with another rider if possible. If you feel too vulnerable still even at a quiet time then obviously too dangerous a road to cross on a horse at all. If you have a bridleway exiting directly onto this road then council should put up horse crossing warning signs I should think, but even with them I don't think some drivers take any notice!

 

[Sussexbythesea]

My friend crosses a dual carriageway to meet me for hacking. Ironically She's stopped wearing hi-viz because people have literally stopped to let her across when other people are hurtling along at 70 plus miles per hour when she's wearing it but dont when she's not wearing it. The rest of the hack is off road and doesn't really need any hi-viz.

Agree with FfionWinnie better to make sure you horse can patiently wait for a good gap. I've also seen drivers stop for a horse to cross whilst drivers behind don't understand why they are slowing down or stopping and then start to overtake.

 

[Nudibranch]

I'd agree on waiting for gaps and make sure your horse is a patient waiter. Tbh if I felt nervous I'd probably dismount and lead the first few times if need be. I know some will argue that you are better staying put, but a foot lead may give you both more confidence.

 

[teddypops]

I do and I wait until there is a space. On the one occasion someone stopped to let me cross, someone overtook him! So luckily I hadn't started to cross!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Slowing down and letting you over is a good way to cause an accident. Just make sure your horse will wait patiently until there is a large space with plenty of time to cross safely.

This. I train all my horses to wait at give way or stop lines at junctions, no matter how insignificant. We pause at every one, so the new horse soon realises that it's no big deal.

I have to cross and recross a major A road on my 2 hour ride, and may have to wait for a few minutes for a large gap to appear. There would be nothing worse than a tense horse jiggling and messing about whilst we wait, but my horses go into 'park' mode and wait patiently until we can cross.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Actually she does, if she comes off on her ride off road and is in hi viz she is easier to spot from above laying in a ditch by police helicopters out looking for her

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Actually she does, if she comes off on her ride off road and is in hi viz she is easier to spot from above laying in a ditch by police helicopters out looking for her

She actually never rides on her own except the 5 minutes to my yard. Personally I always wear it mostly so the shoot, cyclists and dog walkers see me in good time.

 

[Kezzabell2]

We have to cross over an A road, two lanes on each side, but a passing area in the middle, to get to miles of off road hacking, once we are over the A road, we have a about 1/4 mile and then have to cross a motorway bridge, then a few hundred meters and we are at the hacking! first time was a bit worrying on my youngster but once he'd done it a few times he was fine.

 

[Dubsie]

Daughter crosses the busy A4. Despite being busy, there are always gaps to get to the island (wide enough) in the middle, and people generally are polite and slow - it is a 40 but most seem to do faster. I would go at a less busy time to start with eg early Sunday morning till your horse is used to standing and waiting. She usually crosses and is back before 10.

 

[Pigeon]

Is your horse good at waiting?

We used to cross one all the time, main road from the city to a major town. It was technically a 40mph but everyone went at 60. No one ever let us out! But the visibility was good and there were enough gaps. I wouldn't take pony that way if he was feeling fresh though as he'd get a bit jittery about waiting.

 

[Vodkagirly]

Teach your horse to wait and trot on as soon as asked. Also standing facing lorries/buses pass quickly is a skill. At the yard I used to be at, we had to cross a busy road to turn out/bring in so got very used to it, only time I don't like it is when there is water on the road as mine hates spray.

 

[welshcobmad]

Nice to know I'm not the only one in this situation which alone gives me a bit of confidence! Thank you for all the advice & tips that great He stand patiently most of the time & at the worst turns a circle after a few minutes - something of course we can work on. He's pretty good off the leg stand to trot so that's no issue & also he's near on unflappable with anything from tractors/buses/combines/lorries etc its only air brakes he's not fond of (but who is!) which we shouldn't really encounter on that stretch. Will definitely make sure we're in full hi viz. As it leads to longer rides I suspect we'd only ever attempt it on quiet periods & weekends anyway.

 

[PeterNatt]

We used to regularly cross the A1 at Galley Lane, Barnet, Hertfordshire and so did the local riding school when it took out hacks (Barnet Riding School - Monica Robarts).
Eventually as the traffic got busier on the A1 British Horse Society got a bridleway bridge built over the A1 as well as an equine underpass under the M25 just to the East of the South Mimms Service Area.
May be worthwhile to ask for an equine underpass so that you and other riders can cross this busy road safely.

 

[pennyturner]

Wish we could have an underpass where our local bridleway crosses the A34. I used to do it on my own, but usually have half a dozen children in tow now, and just couldn't risk crossing 4 lanes of traffic moving at 80mph (it's at the bottom of a steep hill, so everyone is speeding) in such a large group, let alone with young riders.

 

[wingedhorse]

We used to regularly cross the A1 at Galley Lane, Barnet, Hertfordshire and so did the local riding school when it took out hacks (Barnet Riding School - Monica Robarts).
Eventually as the traffic got busier on the A1 British Horse Society got a bridleway bridge built over the A1 as well as an equine underpass under the M25 just to the East of the South Mimms Service Area.
May be worthwhile to ask for an equine underpass so that you and other riders can cross this busy road safely.

I remember those days! I used to ride at Monica's regularly with my Gran who was a similar age. Jigsaw, Plug, Nutmeg and Monica's horse Champion! And the central water trough with goldfish!

 

[welshcobmad]

We used to cross a roundabout in the middle of a dual carriageway a few years ago - all the liveries & yards were the one side & riding club field was the other so it was the only way! There would be 10-15 of us most times all in high viz & all the traffic was great & used to stop totally to let us trot around it. I didnt mind that so much as they were all quite slow at the roundabout even though very busy.

 

[Orangehorse]

Good advice, but as already stated, do be careful if someone slows right down for you as undoubtedly the car behind will overtake not realising why it has slowed.

 

[HashRouge]

We have amazing hacking, but to get to the routes on one side of the hill we do have to cross a busy B road. It has a 50 mph limit on it but I would say a lot of drivers go even faster at the point we need to cross, as it is a straight run. I sit and wait until there is a large gap before crossing as I think it is by far the safest way to do it, although some cars do see me waiting and will stop, which often encourages people going the other way to do the same. I hate crossing it, it makes me really nervous, but my share horse is great in traffic and it's the only time we ever really have to go on the road (other than very quiet lanes) at all.