Fenris
Well-Known Member
At the SHG ( http://the-shg.org/ ) we don't just get RSPCA issues. Calls from people who either can't find somewhere safe to ride or who have come into varying degrees of 'conflict' with traffic are increasing. Yes, I know horse riders have every right to be on the public highway, but claiming rights from a hospital bed or coffin isn't a winning situation!
Part of what we do is look for resolutions to conflicts and there is a real need for safe riding areas. Looking around we realised that some canal towpaths are also bridleways. Some that are not are totally unsuitable - you wouldn't want to be riding a horse over an aqueduct for instance! Nevertheless, there appears to be scope for the canal-bridlepath network to be safely extended.
The cyclists have been far more organised than horse riders. http://www.ctc.org.uk/sites/default/files/file_public/towpathsbrf.pdf
In some areas people have used towpaths for years when the canals were unused. In those areas proof of 20 years plus unopposed usage could mean that public paths have already been created. Same for disused railway lines. Where they have been used for the required time period and then railway societies take them over it might be that they would have to provide for horse riders (safely!)
Now that the charity Canal and River Trust (CaRT) has take over the running and care of the canals from British Waterways it might be a good time to talk to them in terms of creating or re-instating bridleways in some areas.
Yes there would need to be restrictions. Maybe even use for part of the year only. And of course a code of conduct to prevent conflict with other users.
Is there any support here for such a campaign? Who would be best to run it and negotiate with CaRT? BHS? (don't all swear at once!)
If there isn't any support does anyone have any ideas for extending safe riding areas? Conflict with other road users is only going to increase with increasing population and while most of it is just irritation and a few harsh words even that makes what should be enjoyable utterly miserable.
Part of what we do is look for resolutions to conflicts and there is a real need for safe riding areas. Looking around we realised that some canal towpaths are also bridleways. Some that are not are totally unsuitable - you wouldn't want to be riding a horse over an aqueduct for instance! Nevertheless, there appears to be scope for the canal-bridlepath network to be safely extended.
The cyclists have been far more organised than horse riders. http://www.ctc.org.uk/sites/default/files/file_public/towpathsbrf.pdf
In some areas people have used towpaths for years when the canals were unused. In those areas proof of 20 years plus unopposed usage could mean that public paths have already been created. Same for disused railway lines. Where they have been used for the required time period and then railway societies take them over it might be that they would have to provide for horse riders (safely!)
Now that the charity Canal and River Trust (CaRT) has take over the running and care of the canals from British Waterways it might be a good time to talk to them in terms of creating or re-instating bridleways in some areas.
Yes there would need to be restrictions. Maybe even use for part of the year only. And of course a code of conduct to prevent conflict with other users.
Is there any support here for such a campaign? Who would be best to run it and negotiate with CaRT? BHS? (don't all swear at once!)
If there isn't any support does anyone have any ideas for extending safe riding areas? Conflict with other road users is only going to increase with increasing population and while most of it is just irritation and a few harsh words even that makes what should be enjoyable utterly miserable.