Riding two abreast on the roads - RANT!

M

MarthaRodman1

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Hertfordshire
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OK, what do you all do when a driver winds down his window and shouts ' you shouldn't be riding side by side'. Correct me if I'm wrong, but:
a) It is still legal and the highway code hasn't been changed - yet!
b) we always wear flourescents and the friend I'm with wears one that says 'Caution Young Horse' because she is.
c) and we always (where we can) trot round the corners so the drivers can see/pass quicker.

It REALLY REALLY winds me up when drivers do this! And I/my friend generally end up shouting 'we're allowed'! What else can we do? or do we generally just have to put up with that - sometimes I am so tempted just to raise my whip and smack the roof of their car (oops, agression!). Also, we only ever do this on a country road, its not like it's a fast moving dual carriage way or anything, Do they not realise that we do this for a reason, and them slowing down, winding their window down and yelling at us through the window is likely to cause the horse to spook more rather than if they just drive past slowly!!

AAAAHHHHH - Sorry, rant over!

MX
 
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two fingered salute

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Ooh, I know it's tempting, but when drivers already have a biased opinion against riders being out on the roads, certain responses do nothing to alter this view.

How good is your memory? You may want to commit a snippetof the highway code to memory to sprout off parrot fashion when confronyed with ignorant drivers.

Polite, but firm. If they continue to be idiots, then it's time to get horse features to [****] on the bonnet.
 
Ask them to read page 36 of the Highway Code - have not a clue what page it is but it sounds business like
wink.gif
 
Riding two abreast won't become illegal. The highway code is going to recommend in certain areas that riding 2 abreast is not safe but its a recommendation only - not enforceable.
I would politely and briefly explain to any driver why I'm riding 2 abreast and then get on my way. Don't let it bother you too much, most drivers are respectful and you mustn't let the odd pillock spoil your ride!
 
It is difficult without knowing the full circumstances but I feel that if a rider hears a vehicle approaching on a country lanes, where perhaps the driver could not get past or had limited visability when driving on the wrong side of the road...the riders should get out of the way wherever possible. Just my opinion! But as a horse rider and car driver it is annoying when you come across riders 2 a breast pootling along whilst I sit behind them in the vain hope they will signal that I can pass or until I get to a bit of the road where I can see to overtake! It does happen a lot and I don't understand why they can't just get their arses onto the grass verge or gateway. It just makes for an easier life all round and stops drivers getting even more grouchy about horse riders on the road.
I appreciate this is not always possible with a young or inexperienced horse...there is always an exception...but if we use common sense we don't get fed up with each other! Sorry but well meant crops on roofs or two fingered salutes really don't help our cause at all!
 
Fantastic - love the responses!

Am gonna be real sad, and check the highway code for which page it is!

Several years ago, I did just what you suggested Minerva, it was a horrible looking man and his wife, they stopped the car and he started chasing after us - on foot!!! Luckily we were just heading down a bridleway so off we cantered! However, would love to have stuck horses arse in his face!!!! or get horse to *hit on bonnet!!!

Thanks all - your responses have certainly made me smile!

Off to buy copy of highway code now - he he!

MX
 
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c) and we always (where we can) trot round the corners so the drivers can see/pass quicker.


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I thought it was illegal to ride 2 abreast on a corner.
 
It really annoys me as a driver when two riders are riding two abreast and they can quite plainly hear a car behind them but they don't go single file as soon as they get the chance to let a car past. If I were ever riding that way I'd always move over as soon as possible as it's really annoying and rude when the riders are just plodding along chatting and you're stuck behind them. Just to give the other side of the coin.
 
One of my hack routes (a bridleway) went past the house of a grouchy just retired bloke and his wife. The bloke didn't like horses passing his house so used to wave poly bags at the horse from his garden gate or on the path to spook them (mine was a baby at the time).
I took to loudly exclaiming 'You dirty old man! How could you be so rude?! You are a pervert! What would your wife think? You should be ashamed!' And 'If you don't stay away from me, I'll call the police! A man of your age!'
Of course he hadn't said anything remotely rude, but his wife was always pretty quick to frog march him indoors.
Perhaps this approach would work?!
S
smile.gif
 
i thought you shouldn't trot around corners...????

i always get loadsa chavs around where i live *yuck* and they always shout to me 'do you want me between your legs!' or something along those lines. why i oughta...............

f**k them i say, youre allowed to ride 2 abreast! i defiantly think you should have a look in your highway code and mention that to them if anyone says anything.

god i hate riding on the roads!
 
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It really annoys me as a driver when two riders are riding two abreast and they can quite plainly hear a car behind them but they don't go single file as soon as they get the chance to let a car past. If I were ever riding that way I'd always move over as soon as possible as it's really annoying and rude when the riders are just plodding along chatting and you're stuck behind them. Just to give the other side of the coin.

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We continue to ride two abreast because it is the ONLY way traffic slows down along our roads - I ALWAYS thank them though - is an extra 30 seconds on a journey going to kill them rather than us?
 
We are extremely fortunate as we are off the beaten track and have little traffic. We do have a few individuals race round our 'main' (single track in places) road as it can be a cut through.
I had a man race up behind Will and I the other night (7pm)as we went round a blind corned, he had just roared overt he hump back bridge behind us and could have easily run into the back of us. As it was he skidded across the road, I gestured at him to slow down - in a polite, but panicky way. He slowed down wound down his window and informed me that we shouldn't be riding on the road in the rush hour.
I laughed at him, mentioned that this was the middle of bloody no-where not Piccadilly Circus and that there was a 20mph speed limit in the village.
He called me a fat cow,
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and roared off towards the next blind corner, where there were - unbenown to him, 3 police cars and two chavs who had roared round that corner at such a rate they'd lost control.
hehe - sadly he slowed down in time, but I bet he had a shock.
 
This happened to my friend and I the other week.
There is a big private school in the village and the minibus drivers from there never slow down for horses, they have horses at the school so you'd think they would know better
frown.gif

My friends horse isn't the best on the road with anything bigger than a car coming towards her so we ride 2 abreast.
It is very narrow and windy but we feel that if you are nearer the outside then cars have a better chance of seeing you rather than if you were tucked in the hedge. Also if we do ride in single file cars don't slow down at all, and they do if we're riding 2 abreast.
Anyhow, this minibus driver from the school sped past us and we shouted 'oh thanks for slowing down mate!' He slammed the brakes on and reversed back shouting a barrage of abuse at us saying we were dangerous etc.
I emailed the school and told them and since then they have slowed down!
 
I stopped riding on the road after a lorry forced me & my pony into the ditch, we had to jump up & out, (what a good girl), I then had to dismount in a load of brambles & luckily a lovely man stopped to help, he stopped all the traffic & helped me force a path back along the edge of the ditch into a driveway. I was shaking & crying, luckily Meggy was fine, I rode back to the yard in my high vis tabbard & exercise sheet & came upon the lorry parked up, the driver leaned out & said "sorry love, I didn't see you!!" OMG what a pr***k, "thanks so much for your help you delightful fellow" or words to that effect, I said. That was my last EVER hack out on the roads, just stick to the bit of farmland we have access to & the school, plus going out for shows etc.
 
[ QUOTE ]
One of my hack routes (a bridleway) went past the house of a grouchy just retired bloke and his wife. The bloke didn't like horses passing his house so used to wave poly bags at the horse from his garden gate or on the path to spook them (mine was a baby at the time).
I took to loudly exclaiming 'You dirty old man! How could you be so rude?! You are a pervert! What would your wife think? You should be ashamed!' And 'If you don't stay away from me, I'll call the police! A man of your age!'
Of course he hadn't said anything remotely rude, but his wife was always pretty quick to frog march him indoors.
Perhaps this approach would work?!
S
smile.gif


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omg that's hilarious hahah
 
This is taken from the Highway code so hopefully will clear up some issues;
39: 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 where the road narrows or on the approach to a bend.
http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/02.htm
 
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