Rant....why do people ride on pavements

Miss-rose

Miss-rose

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east yorkshire
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There's some women that keep there horses on the outskirts of the town I live in and they allways ride on the pavement and it really bugs me. If they go the other way it's fields and river bank but no there they are all decked out in hi-viz presumably so all the pedestrians can get out of the way. Now one of the horses is really bad in traffic but it's still no reason to ride on the pavement and expect ppl to get out of your way if it's that bad and you don't need to ride on the roads why oh why take it through a town on the pavement we as riders get enough critasism(sp) without doing thins like this... Sorry for the rant but it is my first hot chic fudge cake and ice cream if u got this far
 
I don't like people riding on the pavement but I don't normally come across any other riders so it's never really a problem - I find bikes on pavements more annoying! I do sometimes ride on the pavement but only because to get to any hacks or quiet roads I need to go down a very busy A road for about 200m. Normally I don't meet anybody on the pavement but if I do they I'll either pop onto the road (if clear) or give them plenty of room to pass. I don't like riding on the pavement and I do feel really guilty about it so if I do meet someone I'd always give them right of way and be very polite! Most of the people I meet are quite understanding as the road is very busy. Otherwise I always ride on the road. Besides, I find the cars are more likely to slow down for you and give you space if your on the road rather than on the pavement/riding on the verge.
 
Doesn't bother me if people ride on the pavements as long as they give way to pedestrians.

I have ridden on pavements before on a nervous horse and also have lead my youngster on the pavement before introducing him to the road and traffic.
 
I confess to riding on one particular short length of pavement just outside my place. The cars come round the bend so fast, there's no chance of them missing a horse on the road, if something is coming the other way. However I would always get out of the way if there was a pedestrian, and yes cars do slow down more if you are on the road - but only if they can see you in time!
 
I understand that sometimes you need to for whatever reason ride/cross on pavements but it's the way they ride 2 abreast and expect ppl to move for them. Agree about bikes which just shows I'm getting old cos when I was young I used to ride my bike on pavement and wonder what everyones problem was when I nearly ran them over and they gave me dirty looks oooops
 
I will confess also to riding a short stretch of road on the pavement, on a series of bad S bends, for safety's sake.

I will however always move onto the road for pedestrians (as soon as I see them) and if my horse has ever poo'd on the pavement I have got off and kicked it off the pavement into the road straight away.

There are some people who ride on the pavements in the village and leave horse poo on the pavements, it really annoys me, gives the rest of us horse riders a bad name.
 
The village of Woodhouse has it right I think:-

"Horses on the pavement
Why?
Occasionally, and unfortunately, horses are required to move onto the pavement. This generally happens to alleviate other serious traffic problems and situations (e.g. if a rider is holding up the flow of traffic whilst trying to negotiate a line of parked cars, it is easier for all – IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO – to ride a little on the pavement to ease the congestion). Going onto the pavement can also be an important safety issue. It is occasionally necessary to move off-road to make room for large, noisy and fast moving vehicles - particularly tractors with trailers, the increasing number of HGVs, and double-decker buses; especially when these vehicles are attempting to negotiate lines of parked cars. Riders should only be on the pavement for as long as necessary, and should only use the pavement if it is clear of pedestrians and safe to do so.

Horse muck on pavement
Due to the traffic situation it is occasionally necessary for horses to be on the pavement. An unfortunate - but rare - consequence of this is horse muck on the pavement. If the horse is moved onto the pavement to avoid a dangerous traffic situation one of its stress reactions is to "produce"; and as such is unavoidable. WESRRA actively promotes and encourages all riders to return after their ride and clear any muck off of the pavements, whenever it occurs."

Here's the link to the whole handout that was apparently passed around the parish - I think it is a great idea to help non horsey folk understand our needs a bit more:- http://www.woodhouse-eaves.co.uk/no...RA handout on horses and riding in the Parish
 
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