Nearly got hit by a cyclist today :(

puli

puli

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 July 2006
Messages
190
Visit site
I had a great hack today everyone was really polite and everyone stopped and slowed down for me it was great. In till we were going down one of the roads before getting back to the yard, the road is very narrow and only for one car. We were nearly at the end and there is a really nasty blind corner, which you cannot see around at all and its very sharp, I was going around it and all of the sudden a cyclist comes around in the middle of the road really fast straight towards my horse. My horse had a little jump then stopped as soon as I said stand . The cyclists had to swerve else he would of gone straight into my horses chest. I am so proud of my boy for listening when I said stand and I am soo thankfully the bike manage to turn quickly. The cyclists did say sorry but still he had no need to come around that corner that fast I just hope in the future he slows down. Thank god he to missed my boy
 
I know this doesn't apply to all cyclists but I have to admit I am not a fan. They seem to have no respect for other road users, especially when it is the more narrow country lanes.
There is a little chicane in my single track lane, at the chicane there's a bridle path that cyclists like to use, but so many times now either on horseback or driving they fly out of the bridlepath onto the chicane and I front of moving vehicles. They've nearly hit me twice, both times I had to emergency stop. Whose fault was it??!! Well of course mine, and a mouthful of abuse I got for it too!!!
I actually do wonder who would be at fault?
Merry Xmas OP glad it wasn't a disaster!
 
Merry xmas to you too :)

I must admit that most of the cyclists I meet are great and are really nice. It's just the odd one or two that ruin it and give them a bad name. What worry's me is if a cyclist spooks are horses when on a hack and the horse reacts and knocks them off their bike it will properly end up being see as are fault not their fault. I am soo glad he manage to avoid us if he had of gone into us it would of been a nightmare. My boy is only 6 and that would of really scared him. When I saw him coming around the corner my heart skipped a beat I really thought he was going to go straight into us
 
Nativelover said:
I know this doesn't apply to all cyclists but I have to admit I am not a fan. They seem to have no respect for other road users, especially when it is the more narrow country lanes.
There is a little chicane in my single track lane, at the chicane there's a bridle path that cyclists like to use, but so many times now either on horseback or driving they fly out of the bridlepath onto the chicane and I front of moving vehicles. They've nearly hit me twice, both times I had to emergency stop. Whose fault was it??!! Well of course mine, and a mouthful of abuse I got for it too!!!
I actually do wonder who would be at fault?
Merry Xmas OP glad it wasn't a disaster!
Click to expand...

They have to obey the same road laws as everybody else( most dont think so) so if they pulled out in front of a moving vehicle or indeed a horse they would be at fault. My pet hate is red traffic lights as to most cyclist they just dont exist.
 
Last edited:
Cyclists where I ride in Herts are all really cool and respectful to horses. In London, however, they are flipping thugs. Have nearly been taken out by them quite a few times, me on foot obvs, not horse.
 
You were lucky there!

I did get hit by a cyclist, well his bike, I was on the ground doing up my girth, he shot around the corner saw us and baled out, bike skidded in to horses heels. I was off the road and out of his way but I think he panicked. Horse bolted, I was sent flying and cyclist winded and bruised. The cyclist was very sorry and apologised once he got his breath back, horse made his way back to me in one piece , if a bit shook up. I was just glad we were all ok, I thought for a moment I was going to have to get an ambulance for the cyclist, he was a very funny colour. Accidents to happen I was happy to forgive because he made all the right noises between gasping for air. A few weeks later I had another incident with a cyclist who was, after nearly causing grief to a child, nothing but rude. That one went viral on Facebook as I had been taking pictures of the child having a hack on my horse for her birthday and I got a nice snap of him! :D
 
As a racing cyclist (and Chairman of a large cycle racing club), it really annoys me when incidents like this occur. I accept that we all get it wrong and make mistakes sometimes, but as has been stated, if it had been a car he would have been into the front of it.

Although it won't make you feel any better, I have had incidents like this when I have been on my bike, and met cyclists coming the other way far too fast to stop within the distance they can see. We do our best in our club to educate our members about safe cycling and other road users, we actually have documented risk assessments for approaching horses.

Unfortunately most cyclists aren't members of clubs or British Cycling, so education is difficult.
 
I must admit, although the ones where I live which is very narrow lanes ( hedge touches car both sides) are generally good with the horses and will shout hello or whatever from behind so we are aware of them, in the car on the way to the yard has been a different matter, they fly round blind corners then desperately try to stop and sometimes can't and iv had 1 push past banging his way down the car and funny enough where's their insurance?? They don't seem to think they might meet other vehicles.
 
So glad you and your boy were okay - I bet you are very proud of him for behaving so well!
My partner nearly hit one the other day, it was pitch dark and the cyclist was wearing head to toe black, hood up, literally the only visible part was those little reflective strips on his pedals. Luckily we were going slowly and saw him at the last minute but it was still pretty scary; my partner is a delivery driver too so if he had had an accident he could have been out of work.

On a more lighthearted note, every time I see a cyclist thread come up on here, I can't help but think of the cyclists from Monkey Dust: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBFFrsvgu1Y
 
I met a cyclist (I call them silent ninjas to my horse) on a hack the other day, he was coming down a hill behind us, and he slowed right down, kept a good distance and called out to see if the horses would be happy for him to pass. I took the opportunity to do a little training so turned my horse around to face him and he passed steadily without incident, and we both said thank you. He was great!! There is a father of a girl who keeps her horse at my yard, he is a keen cyclist; I was coming back off a hack with three others, just below the entrance to the yard on a hill, he zipped out of the yard, not looking if anything was coming, but ringing his bell as he did so and skittered into the hack but luckily made no contact, although his breaks were squeezing as he stopped and road chipping a and leaves went flying. Horses jumped feet! He looked sheepish but just kept going! You would think he would know better than most to check both ways leaving the yard, and to leave the yard carefully! I think he hurt wanted to get speed up down the hill.
 
Sadly, round my way at least 80% of cyclists are completely oblivious to other road users. I appreciate that the remaining 20% are courteous and responsible but the bad far outweigh the good.

Many of the bad ones also seem to like riding around in stealth mode after dark. No lights, dark clothing and still expect other road users to know when they're going to swerve in to or across the road. The 'correctly' attired ones on the whole have absolutely no regard for the rules of the road.
 
Problem is that in my day every child took the 'Cycling Proficiency Course and Test' (including myself) which taught us the basics.
Horse riders also did the Road Safety Course and Exam (which still exists - contact BHS for further details).
Nowadays it is a free for all and although most cyclists are very good there is a minority of ones that are a serious danger to themselves and others.
Please report all horse related accidents to www.horseaccidents.org.uk
Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas.
 
case895 said:
I wonder what the longest period we can go on HHO is before a new anti-cyclist thread is started?
Click to expand...


perhaps there are anti cyclist threads as they really are a problem. There are around here. As motorist I would never dream of driving fast and close to a mother, pushchair and her kids all over the road on a narrow lane. It would be unsafe to do so. So why does a cyclist in a similar position think he can do it to horses on narrow lanes? There wouldn't need to be anti cyclist threads if they exercised courtesy and safety. I have had several mountain bikers end up on the ground as they have gone over their handle bars doing an emergency stop when we have met them on the horses. One lot were even told by the National park warden to slow down as there were horses ahead. The warden came down to find the bikes in a heap on the ground. They hadn't listened. They were only on the ground as they were going too fast on a public path. How much commonsense do they need to understand that if they undertake on a narrow road, or if they try and push past on a narrow track and their pedal catches the horse's hind leg then half a ton of horse is going to kick them. And who could blame the horse, although I expect it will be my fault.
 
paddy555 said:
perhaps there are anti cyclist threads as they really are a problem. There are around here. As motorist I would never dream of driving fast and close to a mother, pushchair and her kids all over the road on a narrow lane. It would be unsafe to do so. So why does a cyclist in a similar position think he can do it to horses on narrow lanes? There wouldn't need to be anti cyclist threads if they exercised courtesy and safety. I have had several mountain bikers end up on the ground as they have gone over their handle bars doing an emergency stop when we have met them on the horses. One lot were even told by the National park warden to slow down as there were horses ahead. The warden came down to find the bikes in a heap on the ground. They hadn't listened. They were only on the ground as they were going too fast on a public path. How much commonsense do they need to understand that if they undertake on a narrow road, or if they try and push past on a narrow track and their pedal catches the horse's hind leg then half a ton of horse is going to kick them. And who could blame the horse, although I expect it will be my fault.
Click to expand...

Cycling home from work on Wednesday two pedestrians stepped off the kerb in to a cycling lane adjoining a kerbed in section. I barely avoided them. However, I don't start a whining thread on an internet forum as I know it wi absolutely zero difference to anything.
 
Ages ago I got hit by a racing cyclist when I was riding my pony. We were going up a bit of a hill and suddenly the pony startled and I looked round to see a cyclist sprawled on the road behind us. He'd had his head down and rudden straight into the back of us. He got up but he was a bit battered. I thought the pony was fine and we carried on though when we got home found he had a little cut on his leg. I'm glad I was on my quiet old pony who wasn't really bothered rather than something more highly strung.
 
case895 said:
Cycling home from work on Wednesday two pedestrians stepped off the kerb in to a cycling lane adjoining a kerbed in section. I barely avoided them. However, I don't start a whining thread on an internet forum as I know it wi absolutely zero difference to anything.
Click to expand...


difference is they just made a mistake, forgot or were careless. The cyclists causing the problem are not. They are travelling at that speed deliberately and nothing will make them slow down. If they cause an accident they don't seem to care. All that matters to them is they go as fast as they like, where they like and sod everyone else, with us it is not just horses that get in their way but people as well. If you are out walking with the kids on a week end off road you don't expect yourself or kids to get run down by cyclists.

you are right though , it will make no difference.
 
Yeah I am really proud of him, he can sometimes react to bikes but he was brill thank god :). If I had been a car then he would of defiantly of gone into it. I am not anti- cyclist at all 90% of the time the ones I met are great and stop and they are always nice and smile and they always ask before passing. It's just the odd ones that ruin it to be fair he was going far to fast but he did say sorry. I am so happy he did not go into us as soon as I saw him my heart just skipped a beat I really thought he was going to hit us.
 
The cyclists round here are absolute nightmares, none ever wear hi vis, they go where they please and several times I've had them cause chaos in front of cars.

There is a dual carriage way running through town here, it is very busy and 60mph limit, there is a cycle path, marked out in bright red Tarmac just the other side of a set of railings and it runs perfectly parallel to the road. Yet cyclists insist on riding on the road, with no high vis and weaving all over the road at that.
It takes quite a bit of stopping in a Lorry when you are doing 60mph in the dark and a barely visible black form suddenly appears out of a shadow in the road.
 
I had a cyclist nearly go into the back of my horse and she wasn't even going that fast!!! We were coming up to a junction and her and her buddy were riding two abreast behind us (we were single file). As we got to the junction and stopped they just kept coming, the bloke on the outside didn't move over and it wasn't until I shouted at her to watch herself that she even moved. They did not acknowledge us once or apologise, they just kept going at the same speed seemingly oblivious to anyone else on the road. At one stage I even thought the woman was blind the way she was riding, but she was lucky because if I'd been on my other horse she'd have been booted into the next county.
 
puli said:
I had a great hack today everyone was really polite and everyone stopped and slowed down for me it was great. In till we were going down one of the roads before getting back to the yard, the road is very narrow and only for one car. We were nearly at the end and there is a really nasty blind corner, which you cannot see around at all and its very sharp, I was going around it and all of the sudden a cyclist comes around in the middle of the road really fast straight towards my horse. My horse had a little jump then stopped as soon as I said stand . The cyclists had to swerve else he would of gone straight into my horses chest. I am so proud of my boy for listening when I said stand and I am soo thankfully the bike manage to turn quickly. The cyclists did say sorry but still he had no need to come around that corner that fast I just hope in the future he slows down. Thank god he to missed my boy
Click to expand...

What a shame its good your horse is so well trained that he stopped so quickly. The cyclist was apologetic and will learn from the incident. Why have you posted this? it seems like an excuse to have (yet another) kickout at cyclists. Hope you get what you want from the responses. Goodnight
 
pepsimaxrock said:
What a shame its good your horse is so well trained that he stopped so quickly. The cyclist was apologetic and will learn from the incident. Why have you posted this? it seems like an excuse to have (yet another) kickout at cyclists. Hope you get what you want from the responses. Goodnight
Click to expand...

I posted it because I was annoyed at what had happened it also makes people aware of the dangers of hacking out. It's not a massive go at cyclists its a go at that one cyclists as I said further up 90% of the time the cyclist I met are great I have nothing against them at all. In fact my dad is a cyclists so I don't hate them
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top