Important - for all those that wish to ride off road.

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PeterNatt

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The Government have drafted a cycling and walking strategy and people can respond by 23 May, 11:45. The British Horse Society has responded, however, it would be extremely useful if there were a lot of responses from individual equestrians. Please do use any part of the below template for your own response, and forward this to other riders if you think they might want to use the text for their own use.

Let’s work together to bring riders in the forefront of Government strategies.

Department of Transport

Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy

Response of (name) of (address)

I request that routes being developed for walking and cyclists be made available for equestrian use and that equestrian use is fully included in the strategy and in its title.

I support the Government’s ambition to encourage walking and cycling in England, provided that in achieving this, the opportunity is not lost to include horse riding in this worthwhile ambition. The Government’s desire to reduce each year the rate of cyclists killed or seriously injured on English roads cannot be argued with, but it seems strange that the Government does not want to achieve the same for equestrians at the same time. Recent government statistics show that many more equestrians (4052 hospital admissions) are injured in vehicle related accidents on the roads compared to cyclists (2820 hospital admissions). Removing the on road dangers for walkers and cyclists but expecting horse riders to have to continue to endure those risks, not only to their own lives but the lives of vehicle drivers as well, does not make sense.

Our Public Rights of Way network caters for walkers, riders and cyclists, thus I request that all new routes being developed should similarly include use by equines.

Dated

Please email your response to walking.cycling@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Before 11.45pm 23 May

https://www.gov.uk/…/draft-cycling-and-walking-investment-s…

Draft cycling and walking investment strategy - Consultations - GOV.UK

Seeking views on the draft cycling and walking investment strategy.

gov.uk
 
Done and thanks for bringing this to our attention.

I have taken the liberty of amending your copy slightly, as follows. Hope it's OK .... please feel free to copy.

Dear Sirs,

With reference to the above consultation, as a horse rider and owner, I would strongly urge that proposed routes being developed for walking and cyclists be made available for equestrian use and that equestrian use is fully included in the strategy and in its title.

I fully support the Government’s ambition to encourage walking and cycling in England, provided that in achieving this, the opportunity is not lost to include horse riding in this worthwhile aim. The Government’s wish to reduce each year the rate of cyclists killed or seriously injured on English roads cannot be argued with. But it seems contradictory that the Government does not want to maximise this opportunity to achieve the same for equestrians at the same time.

Recent government statistics show that many more equestrians (4052 hospital admissions) are injured in vehicle related accidents on the roads, compared to cyclists (2820 hospital admissions). Removing the on road dangers for walkers and cyclists but requiring horse riders to have to continue to endure those risks simply does not make sense, not only to their own lives but the lives of vehicle drivers as well, and the associated trauma and carnage relating to horses involved in impacts with vehicles.

Our Public Rights of Way network caters for walkers, riders and cyclists, thus I request that all new routes being developed should similarly include use by equines and their riders.

Thank you for considering my views on this subject.

Sincerely (name)
 
Done

In addition please do not forget the many CARRIAGE DRIVERS that we have, many of whom are disabled and/or no longer able to ride who also have a right to enjoy the wonderful outdoors with the minimum of risk.
 
PeterNatt said:
Recent government statistics show that many more equestrians (4052 hospital admissions) are injured in vehicle related accidents on the roads compared to cyclists (2820 hospital admissions).
Click to expand...


do you have a link to the data to back this up please? the link in your post didn't work for me. That seems an astounding number. Is it suggesting that there were 4052 admissions as a result of incidents between a horse and car? In what time period? I'd be amazed if twice as many horses were in incidents with cars than cyclists with cars.
 
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