Would You?......ride on the roads at night?

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Archie73

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As title really.....

Would you ride on the roads (small suburban areas) with lots of high vis etc at night?

I would really like to know thoughts and experiences on this.....
Cyleists do and they are small......should we? or are we asking for trouble?

All comments greatly appreciated.
 
My instant reaction was: NO WAY
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Absolutely not, Sorry imo, think that is just asking for trouble and it's not what we do, its the lunatics that may be out. Mine are too precious and these days it's concerning in the daylight, let alone at night although have met some riders in the dark over a humpback bridge and thought how stupid!.
 
I wouldn't ride in the dark wearing high vis or not. Its not just others being able to see you and horse but i like to be able to see what is on the road or anything that may spooke them if that makes sense.
ETS: i wouldn't even in fields in the dark, deers etc. run out and spooke my horse in the light but at least i can see where they are coming from.
 
there's a street lights lit (?lol) road i'll often trot along to get to field to ride on - then it's fields all the way back to the stables... it's usually about 4/4.15pm when i trot along there so dusk... i have on loads of high viz/reflective on myself and the horse and feel happy to do that. then i do the rest of the ride in the dark
i also cross other roads (on a different hack) in the dark - but not ride along them.
that's all i'm happy doing...
 
Nope, I definitely wouldn't.

I have been tempted to ride in the orchard next to the house though when it has been a full moon so not very dark out. Never done it though!
 
Sorry, meant to add that roads are 30mph and fully lit with street lights not coutry lane types......if that makes a difference?
 
I did when I was a kid, I cringe when I think about it!!!

I got a 'stirrup light' for Christmas when I was about 12 which had a very dim white light facing forwards and an even dimmer red light facing backwards; I strapped it to my right boot and rode around in the dark on the roads (all residential roads lit by street lamps) at every opportunity, even waiting till it got dark to ride!!

I never came to any harm but I'm not sure that's an endorsement.............!!
 
Nope, no, never - not even smothered from head to foot in hi-viz. In my experience many people drive faster at night thinking that headlights will warn them of other road-users prescence but even if horses came fitted with a powerful set of main beams I wouldn't risk it - daytime is dangerous enough!
 
Sorry but I wouldn't do it with or without hi-viz.

I suppose I'd be tempted to ride on streets with lights, as long as you don't have to go on any main roads to get there, but then again I probably wouldn't pluck up the courage as I still think it's too dangerous
 
Nope. I get worried enough passing cyclists in my car in the dark! I'm a wuss about riding on the road at the best of times but my initial response is number one the drivers will not be expecting to see a horse if it's dark. Number two, with all the car headlights etc. I think the horses I ride would hate it! And number 3 - if something happned and the rider came off the horse is left runnign off in the dark - even if you plaster it in high viz it's a scary thought! (Although please note, with my thought process I can make riding down a country lane with no traffic the scariest thing on the planet!)
 
No, simply because it's the very last thing a car driver is going to expect to meet at night, so they won't be looking out for a horse. However daughter has ridden up the end of our road in the dark, but you're unlikely to meet a car at night - dead end country lane with just 4 houses at our end. More likely to meet a fox/deer.
 
QR- I used to when yard was surrounded by fully street lit roads, as like you say no different to a bike if you are lit up like a christmas tree... but cant anymore as we come out onto a country lane..... and am possibly a bit older and wiser...
 
we used to all the time, but it was a lane up to the woods most people driving up there were going to thier yards so were aware of horses only lit by street lights half way then it was up to head torches! we had great fun as kids playing 'had' in the dark
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horses see better than u think, i wouldnt do it now, purely because the lanes we are on are full of people cutting trough and having no idea for the horses! for me it would depend what amount/sort of traffic u had coming trough!
 
Dubsie.....your reason is the reason I wont!

I ride off road in the pitch black (on private farm) but I am much too nervous to go the road.....however other friends of mine in the area (not my yard) think I'm a woss because I wont go on the road even though its mostly cul de sacs and very well lit!

Glad to see i'm not alone....
 
Unfortunately some people see the speed limits as suggestions only, especially when it gets darker and they think there are less police around to get caught. Sorry still a no for me!
 
No way, it's a stupid idea - no matter how hi-vizzed up you are a driver does NOT expect to see a horse on a road at night. Plus, you cannot see things properly yourself.
 
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Definitely not. No way. Never.

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Ditto. Its just not worth the risk IMO, there are far too many idiots on the roads these days
 
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As title really.....

Would you ride on the roads (small suburban areas) with lots of high vis etc at night?

I would really like to know thoughts and experiences on this.....
Cyleists do and they are small......should we? or are we asking for trouble?

All comments greatly appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]
NO! I want to die in relative good health at an advaced age. Would much prefer to eat, drink and smoke myself to death slowly that end up being scooped up with a teaspoon along with my horse
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Being hosed off the road isnt an option Im particularly keen on either
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I have ridden on the roads (including central London) for 40 years but no way would I ever ride at night on the roads it is just asking for trouble and far too dangerous. My horse is too precious.
Whenever I ride out I always wear a long sleeved Hi-Viz jacket so that motorists can see my hand signals and also my horse wears Hi-Viz. I also wear a Hi Viz hat band.
I would also advise anyone that rides out on the road to take the BHS road safety course as this will give you manty new skills on how to ride on the roads and bridleways and also signal to other road users in way that they will understand.
 
I ride out every morning at 7am without fail. If I dont, one of my horses doesnt get ridden! I have 200m of road work before I get to the all weather bridle path we have (thanks to the lovely council) so in the winter my horses do 'the circuit' of that, and then (as it is usually a bit lighter) they go round my landlords field edge in trot or canter. It means they both get ridden, walked out etc, and really helps through the winter months.

Delightfully, I wear reflective EVERYTHING. Including bike lights on my arms and hat! I look like a Christmas tree, but you cant miss me.
 
No no no no it is so incredibly dangerous. I pased a young girl 13/14 out hacking on her own on a wiggly country road at gone 5pm last nite. I pulled over told her how dangerous it was and lent her my hi vis that was in my car.

Fair enough she had set out in good daylight and got stuck with the pony napping but i was so terrified for her as I could have so easily hit her
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i felt sick.

Im sure one hi vis didnt help much but it made a difference and I stayed behind her till she reached home
 
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As title really.....

Would you ride on the roads (small suburban areas) with lots of high vis etc at night?

I would really like to know thoughts and experiences on this.....
Cyleists do and they are small......should we? or are we asking for trouble?

All comments greatly appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]
NO! I want to die in relative good health at an advaced age. Would much prefer to eat, drink and smoke myself to death slowly that end up being scooped up with a teaspoon along with my horse
smile.gif
Being hosed off the road isnt an option Im particularly keen on either
wink.gif


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I know it isn't funny but i did snigger at this, brilliant response
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grin.gif
 
Ok, thanks to all you, I now have enough ammo to prove I am not stupid but night ride road users are reckless to their horses and themselves....

THANKS TO ALL WHO POSTED!!!
 
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