Would anyone like to quote the part in highway code re riding two abreast.Im fed up with defending myself with daft motorists and would like a correct quote .
I don't know about the highway code, its been along time since I read it
but when I did my riding and road safety exam many many many moons ago we were taught to ride 2 abreast on the roads except on narrow/single track roads and on bends where visability is bad...no real help sorry but I still have my cert to say I past
Page 19 Rule 53 Before riding off or turning, look behind
you to make sure it is safe, then give a clear
arm signal.
When riding on the road you should
· Keep to the left
· Keep both hands on the reins unless
you are signalling
· Keep both feet in the stirrups
· Not carry another person
· Not carry anything which might
affect your balance or get tangled
up with the reins
· Keep a horse you are leading to
your left
· Move in the direction of the traffic
flow in a one-way street
Never ride more than two abreast, and ride
in single file on narrow or busy roads and
when riding round bends.
Copied and pasted from the internet! Not sure if this is what you wanted.
Never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends.
This is from the internet highway code. So it doesn't exactly tell you to ride two abreast, just not more than two. Not sure how you would quote this positively to a car driver though
Its the bit about riding in single file on busy or narrow roads that people forget.There will always be people who drive like pratts,nothing you can do about it,except keep out the way (single file.)Riding two abreast antagonises road users who would otherwise be sympathetic drivers.In my opinion no one should be riding two abreast unless there are a significant number of horses,(at least six)
not quite what I was looking for but quotes riding two abreast under certain conditionsThe Highway Code Road users requiring extra care (204-225)204
The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders. It is particularly important to be aware of children, older and disabled people, and learner and inexperienced drivers and riders.
ction or lane. Be sure to check mirrors and blind spots carefully.
other road users
214
Animals. When passing animals, drive slowly. Give them plenty of room and be ready to stop. Do not scare animals by sounding your horn, revving your engine or accelerating rapidly once you have passed them. Look out for animals being led, driven or ridden on the road and take extra care. Keep your speed down at bends and on narrow country roads. If a road is blocked by a herd of animals, stop and switch off your engine until they have left the road. Watch out for animals on unfenced roads.
215
Horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles especially when overtaking. Always pass wide and slowly. Horse riders are often children, so take extra care and remember riders may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse or rider. Look out for horse riders and horse drivers signals and heed a request to slow down or stop. Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard; they can be unpredictable, despite the efforts of their rider/driver.
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Thanks but that refers to turning so perhaps doesnt apply to walking down road .
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No it doesn't. It's quite clearly listed under 'When riding on the road...'
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check rule 215 that clearly states about riding two abreast with young riders or young horses.I have copied it on early post but it wont copy again.
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not quite what I was looking for but quotes riding two abreast under certain conditionsThe Highway Code Road users requiring extra care (204-225)204
The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders. It is particularly important to be aware of children, older and disabled people, and learner and inexperienced drivers and riders.
ction or lane. Be sure to check mirrors and blind spots carefully.
other road users
214
Animals. When passing animals, drive slowly. Give them plenty of room and be ready to stop. Do not scare animals by sounding your horn, revving your engine or accelerating rapidly once you have passed them. Look out for animals being led, driven or ridden on the road and take extra care. Keep your speed down at bends and on narrow country roads. If a road is blocked by a herd of animals, stop and switch off your engine until they have left the road. Watch out for animals on unfenced roads.
215
Horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles especially when overtaking. Always pass wide and slowly. Horse riders are often children, so take extra care and remember riders may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse or rider. Look out for horse riders and horse drivers signals and heed a request to slow down or stop. Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard; they can be unpredictable, despite the efforts of their rider/driver.
216
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Yes all lovely and cosy, problem is I dont think the highway code is "law" only a "code" (hopefully someone can prove me wrong) to be used against the arseholes that dont follow it "after" there has been an accident which is then too late, lets face it how many motorists use a mobile phone when driving when they know full well they shouldn't and that they will only get £60.00 fine anyway, how many of us on here still do it ? how many times do we see people not indicating, double parking at school runs blocking streets to emergency vehicles daily, getting children out "into" the road ect and breaching numerous "highway codes" in this day and age of bollocks to everyone I'm allright jack, the highway code is pissing into the wind.
I am afraid this problem is as broad as it is long, literally.
I have been told by drivers to 'ride side by side', I have also been told to be more considerate and ride 'one behind the other'.
Now if my OH and I ride single file, then the driver has to pass two horses, with a gap between, so we will say the length of a decent sized truck. If we are abreast, then the length of the slow moving 'obstruction' is halved, to the same size as a car, but now, we are taking up the entire width of a carriageway. Either way they have pass us, and I really don't see how riding abreast or single file makes the slightest bit of difference to them. For my part, I ride in a style that keeps me and my horse safe, but as a motorcyclist, I learned how to keep myself safe from cars a long time ago (including riding a 1000cc bike down a pavement once, when a woman pulled out straight in front of me. It was the pavement, or T bone her).
IMHO, whatever we do, we will be wrong, because what many drivers want is a road with no other users or traffic on it, so they can use it as a race track. I expect the same drivers cross zebra crossings while people are on them, and jump red traffic lights too.
Whenever the mounted Police are out they always ride 2 abreast. They actually call it defensive riding, & advised all riders to do the same (or did a few years ago)