Horses and the Highway Code - Need help from everyone!!

[fine_and_dandy]

Ok, been contacted by a Council from up north who has a bit of a predicament on their hands.

Basically, some horse riders (don't know how many) have been riding the wrong way up a one way street/system. The Police don't know what to do as the Highway Code is silent on this.

I need as much information, or links to contacts as possible so I can send it off by close of play Monday (11th). It needs to be from a substantive source - i.e. any guidelines that would be widely accepted etc.

I am aware of the Highway Code specifying that no one road user has precedence over another and both are to treat the other with respect, but that care and consideration should always be given to the more vulnerable road user.

PLEASE HELP!!

 

[stencilface]

I woudl say it depends on the situation. If the horse riders are riding up there and it used to be a two way street that they have always ridden up to avaoid a busier more dangerous road than imo, they have good reason to. Is there any way a two way cycle/horse path can be introduced onto the one way street?

If it has always been a one way street, and the riders are using it to avoid a more dangerous road then either they should let them continue to use it, or make another route safe enough for horses to be ridden on.

Sorry, not much help from a legal stance just my opinion. I ride on the wrong side of the wrong down a steep hill near me which must be a little confusing for some motorists. However the road is very 'shiny' and slippy and the right hand side of the road has a good verge to go on which imo is safer for me given how quiet the road is for traffic. More likely that I'll slip than anyting else

 

[fine_and_dandy]

Don't worry - have checked the Highway Code somewhat more thoroughly than whichever person did as it's page 19 rule 53 in the 2007 Highway Code!

 

[fine_and_dandy]

if you go on the BHS website, go to safety and then the bottom link "highway code-horses" it goes to all the bits of the highway code that are relevant to horses and expressly says that horse riders should move in the direction of the traffic flow in a one way street.

 

[kick_On]

interesting but i would suggest that horse riders do have abay one way systems. As i would suggest that it a basic guidance to all traffic, equine or not -push bike can defo get done

But daft Police don't know Have you contact your local council Highways dept or Traffic section of police - What about mounted section of police. What about contacting BHS aswell

 

[mdcwheeler]

It would surprise me that the Highway Code allows riders to ride the wrong way down a one-way system... horseriders are like vehicles on the road; they should respect the signs and signals and have the right to a full lane when being over-taken... i would think that special permission from the Council would be required for riders to ride down a one-way street the wrong way, as long as it is the safest option they have.

What did the section in the Highway Code say about it?

 

[fine_and_dandy]

Highway Code says Riders "should" move in the direction of the traffic flow down a one way street. Howevr horse drawn vehicles are regulated under the Road Traffic Act as well as a couple of other things.

BHS Safety department said that the Highway Code is only place where you would find this. I did bring up the point that it is not a legally binding document and therefore its relevance could and probably would be disputed in a Court. If it was law there would be a firmer ground for evidence etc, but as it isn't it is open to debate - which is the problem. I need to check the Road Traffic Act to see whether it is mentioned in there.