They don't just dislike road cycling in Surrey. Objections to people having fun on bikes have kept a new mountain bike trail closed at Leith Hill while Surrey County Council waits for a formal complaint from local equestrians.
The British Horse Society said the track, which has been built on National Trust land, is too close to existing bridleways and the potential combination of horses and cyclists could be fatal.
Bob Milton, from the society, told the BBC that the path was illegal and that the authority had not carried out adequate consultation.
He said: “It has been constructed, it impedes access and it is on a common.”
He said there was clear guidance from the planning inspectorate that had not been followed.
Penny Tyson-Davies, BHS bridleways officer for Mole Valley, told Martha Terry of Horse and Hound that there had been no input rom equestrians into the building of the mountain bike trail.
“If they had consulted the BHS, they would have been told that a fast off-road cycle track alongside and crossing bridleways is out of order. Mountain bikes whizzing in and out of trees, jumping ramps above horses’ heads, around an established sunken horse track, is an accident waiting to happen.”
In a statement, Surrey County Council said it was waiting for Mr Milton to confirm whether he wanted it to investigate his complaint.
It added: “Should he decide to take the matter to the planning inspectorate we will co-operate fully with any inquiry.
“In the meantime we have made a request to the landowners for the trail to remain closed for the duration of any investigation.”
Julie Rand, from the national cycling charity CTC, said: “There are bridleways and tracks all over Surrey that are quite happily co-existing at the moment without too much anguish and they respect each other.
“People are anticipating problems that may not actually arise.”
Sam Bayley, National Trust head ranger, told Horse and Hound that dedicated tracks for mountain bikers will improve safety, because cyclists have been “creating unauthorised trails at Leith Hill following and crossing many bridleways”.
“We aim to balance the needs of everyone,” he said. “The design will ensure cyclists naturally slow down at crossing points by appropriate turns and signage.”
Rob Fairbanks, of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Board said: “It is not feasible to ban biking in one of the most popular areas in England. We want to work with the BHS to educate cyclists about the priority that needs to be given to horse riders, so we can all share the Surrey Hills.”
46 thoughts on “Surrey* hates mountain bikers too: horse riders object to new trail at Leith Hill”
I am always amazed by the
I am always amazed by the respect that a posh person mounted on a large quadruped commands. You watch cars tiptoe around them, drivers basically tugging their forelocks. Then driving past cyclist at twice the speed limit, complaining about being held up and seeing how close they can get without scratching their vehicle. Not having been born here, I can only attribute this to some kind of unconscious class inferiority complex. It really beggars belief.
surly_by_name wrote:I am
We cyclists are unlikely to get startled pull a wheelie and smash our front wheel through their windscreens, so they’re not scared of us. (we’re likely to call them names and ‘wave at them’ then back down rather sharpish when confronted…)
Notsofast wrote:surly_by_name
don’t back down
“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
Winston Churchill
Or as my old dad a Para Sgt used to say. “Never start a fight you can’t finish.”
Notsofast wrote:We cyclists
Maybe we should start doing this, it might engender slightly more space and respect…
I too thought bikes could use bridleways, unless there is a local by-law preventing this.
I fail to understand though how a track could “impede access” unless it is some kind of force field that only prevents those on two wheels breaching it.
This entire story is utterly
This entire story is utterly bizarre when you consider that the nextdoor forests of the Hurtwood estate have horses, walkers and mountain bikers all happily rubbing along with each other on the same land. The difference ? The Hurtwood estate is privately owned and has been opened up to public access and access rights determined by the land owners without the need for expensive “consultations”.
I find the arguments of the equestrian lobby somewhat self centred and disingenuous as a result.
I have found the vast majority of all types of users to be civil and considerate in their usage of hurtwood as it is generally understood to be a privilege to have access to this land. The problem with Leith hill appears to be a false sense of “entitlement” to exclusive use of public land.
surely a planning order was
surely a planning order was drawn up and the relevant “Public Notices” published both on the land itself and in the press. The horseriders have only themselves to blame for not spotting them. There’s no legal requirement to personally drop a copy off with every tom, dick and harry unless someone who lives there is directly affected
“jumping ramps above horses’
“jumping ramps above horses’ heads”
Sweet air though. At least the mtbers (presumably) won’t be shitting all over the trails for everyone else to trundle through..
I wonder what the number of
I wonder what the number of users are for both activities on the land. I would have thought that the number of cyclists compared to horse riders would be many times more.
What I can’t understand is
What I can’t understand is that the BHS etc object to a Mountain Bike Path “next” to a Bridleway…given that since 1968 it has been legal to cycle on a Bridleway, you would have thought they would have welcomed the segregation ???
If I was cynical I might think that the objectors were really more concerned with the Plebs from the city coming near their houses? Mind you that particular objection around cyclists has been around since Victorian times
Yeah, let’s close the MTB
Yeah, let’s close the MTB trail so the MTBers have to go “whizzing along” “an established sunken horse track” instead of having the horses and their riders kept well out of the way by having separate trails 🙄
I too cannot understand the
I too cannot understand the deference and respect the equestrian lobby get. They are human beings who have chosen to ride a horse much as we are human beings who ride a bicycle. No more, no less.
Don’t mess with money I suppose.
I have nothing against
I have nothing against horses, just the people on them.
It seems pretty suprising
It seems pretty suprising that the BHS were not aware of the development vua the Local Access Forum at which most new R.O.W developments are discussed and where, from my experience in Herts, a lot of communication between different user groups takes place. The BHS tends to be well represented in these groups and they are very effective at going through the arcane rituals of getting new bridleways made.
Early engagement certainly helps to inform both sides of things which affect other trail users.
Sounds like it would be very
Sounds like it would be very frustrating if someone organised a mass ‘slow ride’ along the bridleway one Sunday morning… 😉
dafyddp wrote:Sounds like it
You could probably do that for weeks and never see a horse.
dafyddp wrote:Sounds like it
Actually going slower than the horses round my way would be a virtual impossibility. Some people seem to consider a horse ride is a good way to have a nice walk in the countryside without actually having to use one’s own legs.
There’s a long history of
There’s a long history of naughty trail construction in the Surrey Hills, buffoons having mass-start mate’s races on the bridleway up to Leith Hill Tower and other such outrages to common decency. But there’s also a long record of mountain bikers being responsible, working with landowners and putting in lots of graft to keep everyone happy.
Seems like the horsey brigade are just picking on an easy target here. Hope the NT have the good sense to tell them to do one.
I am very deferential around
I am very deferential around all animals – horses, dogs, cats, bunnies, whatever… I have to assume that I am more intelligent than them and it is up to me to ensure there is no collision.
So to me, the ‘tip-toeing’ around horses is because I know that I am responsible for not spooking the animal. I can’t put that responsibility on the horse.
jmaccelari wrote:I am very
Have to agree, most horse riders I have come across have been polite and very grateful when we make the effort to slow down, that said I agree with the comment that it’s a different matter when some are in the 4×4’s towing a trailer and don’t bother slowing down. Still I’m inclined to let it go as most of the horse riders I see are women and plenty are pleasing on eye.
The biggest issue around here is the dog walkers, they are far worse than the horse riders.
jmaccelari wrote:I am very
Big call, that. 😀
Did you know that the horse
Did you know that the horse is the most unfortunately animal in the world?
It’s the only one that occasionally has two aresholes!
Some Surrey Hills mtb-ers are
Some Surrey Hills mtb-ers are the living embodiment of “nobbers”. Some Surrey Hills equestrians are the living embodiment of “nobbers”.
Most people from each group, and I know a couple of folk with a foot in both camps, are perfectly lovely, perfectly reasonable people.
One can only conclude that some people are “nobbers” regardless of their hobbies and will always seek to disadvantage others in order to protect their own interests.
I quite like horses… they
I quite like horses… they are delicious.
Crumbs. When I used to
Crumbs. When I used to inhabit and pedal in that part of the world there were no issues with road cycling, trundling up Box Hill, MTBing or horses that I encountered – although I did steer clear of Leith Hill on a weekend unless I needed cake from the tower cafe. Better riding to be had on Pitch Hill and Holmbury anyway.
But Surrey now sounds like the embodiment of overpopulated, over-entitled NIMBYist HELL. Good luck to you all.
EDIT: just looked at map of the area again and came over all nostalgic…
Its happened more than once
Its happened more than once on a club run, a car pulling a horse box with a driver spouting abuse about being held up, “%*?! bloody cyclists!” Beggars belief!
lolol wrote:Its happened more
Are horse box “drivers” the new audi…
lolol wrote:Its happened more
The same person will ride along and expect absolute consideration from all road users including cyclist. I was riding on a single width road in Lancashire then two horse rider came up towards me two a breast the road, they had no intention of moving si I was forced on to the mud verge. Really felt very tempted to shock the horse but had I and it would have been an evil cyclist story.
What I really don’t get is that drivers seem very happy to slow down for horse riders but won’t offer the same consideration to cyclists? I really don’t know why?
lolol wrote:Its happened more
The same person will ride along and expect absolute consideration from all road users including cyclist. I was riding on a single width road in Lancashire then two horse rider came up towards me two a breast the road, they had no intention of moving si I was forced on to the mud verge. Really felt very tempted to shock the horse but had I and it would have been an evil cyclist story.
What I really don’t get is that drivers seem very happy to slow down for horse riders but won’t offer the same consideration to cyclists? I really don’t know why?
Quote:Mountain bikes whizzing
I think I must be doing it wrong then… :S
Maybe one solution might be a
Maybe one solution might be a voluntary agreement, through which opposing interests restrict their activities to alternate weekends.
Nothing enforcible, of course, but any “understanding” could dramatically reduce the current conflict in popular areas.
If you speak to the more
If you speak to the more sensible horse riders, you’ll get familiar tales of close passes, being honked at, yells to do with “road tax” etc. They do have issues with cyclists- after all, we do approach from behind almost silently- but generally the main issues they have on the road are the same that we have.
Obviously the horsey types kicking up a stink here are arses, but they’re not all bad!
Al__S wrote:(horse riders) do
I’m guessing you know, but don’t do that. Say hello, so the horse knows you’re there, from far enough away that you won’t startle it.
For more (fairly obvious) stuff on how to behave around horses… http://www.bhs.org.uk/~/media/BHS/Files/PDF%20Documents/Safety%20leaflets/Cycling%20Guidance%20leaflet.ashx
Road CC trying to
Road CC trying to sensationalise a story of ‘hate’ between road user groups again? Well done.
700c wrote:Road CC trying to
And ably fuelled by many of the posts above.
As a car driving, 4 x 4 owning, horse trailer pulling, motorcycling, horse riding, cyclist, it is great to know that there is no ‘them and us’ attitude between road users, and that it is just a storm being whipped up by the press.
Grubbythumb wrote:700c
serious question…
do you do all those things in the surrey hills?
and I mean the surrey hills aonb in surrey england not surry hills sydney or somewhere else with a superabundance of motherhood and apple pie.
workhard wrote:
serious
I don’t do any of those things in Surrey. In fact, I’m not certain I have ever visited the county.
Why do you ask? As I am pretty sure the bigotry and misinformed Clarksonesque comments made towards horse riders throughout this thread are not confined to only those who live or ride in Surrey.
It’s been a few years since I
It’s been a few years since I rode around Leith Hill so perhaps things have changed, but I can’t imagine why anyone would complain about mountain bikes when there were motorcross bikers inventing routes.
If horse riders are so
If horse riders are so concerned about sharing space with cyclists, how come so many of them deliberately use a certain section of the Bristol to Bath cycle path by Emersons Green that actually has a sign at the entrance saying “No horseriding”? The evidence is in small brown piles all over the tarmac surface…. X(
JeevesBath wrote:If horse
First thing that came into my mind when I read this story. Not too bad in the summer when you can see the piles although, according to environmental health, manure isn’t a hazard (unlike dog poo).
As mentioned earlier there are ‘nobbers’ in every group, but I do wonder why you get glared at by horseriders (on road and off road) and you haven’t done anything wrong. Probably the same ones that try and mow you down with a horsebox. If there’s one way to make a bridleway ‘un-cycleable’, send a load of horses down it.
Horse riding involves a dumb
Horse riding involves a dumb prey animal……and a horse
We get horses on the chase
We get horses on the chase and there is never a problem. This is because horses are mental skittish things that are dangerous at both ends and crafty in the middle and we know better than to spook them. Give them space, make your self heard politely when approaching them, if it all looks dodgy and is if the horse is unhappy then simply don’t go near it. Anyone doing otherwise is angling to get them self removed from the gene pool, which would be doing the species a favour IMHO.
If you can afford a horse you
If you can afford a horse you can afford a field to put it in, and leave it there. 🙂
I’ve said it before and I’ll
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again;
Cyclists get more respect on the continent. They also eat horses over there. So I’d recommend all cyclists carry one of these at all times:
http://www.russums-shop.co.uk/images/products/zoom/1361802984-44480800.jpg
The other upside to doing this, other than taking away the shite hobby of wannabe gentry, inbred toffs and weak parents is that snacking on horses mid-ride will reduce the number of gel wrappers being dropped.
This is all rather bizarre.
This is all rather bizarre. MTBers are just as legally entitled to use public bridleways as horse riders. So what’s the problem with an MTB trail running near a bridleway?
One things that’s baffled me for ages: Horses can be trained to charge into battle with bullets whizzing past them. Why aren’t horses properly trained to deal with the “scary” things they will encounter on roads and bridleways? That said, I know they usually aren’t, so I give them a lot of room and slow right down. Riders seem to be in two camps – those that appreciate your consideration, and those that still look down their nose at you like they are appalled that you even exist!
Cyclists probably need a bit
Cyclists probably need a bit of information about the proper way to ride around horses. My wife is a bit of a equine psychologist so I have been made aware of their dislike of cyclists. I regularly see group rides pass horses without giving warning and space and the horse starts as a result.
My daughter competes and I ride out to her events. I even walk the bike in to the farm so as not to spook the competitors…the horses with my bike and the riders with my lycra 😉
The world would be a better
The world would be a better place if people just chill out, realise that life shouldn’t be taken so seriously and learn to share with each other. If people stay courteous and friendly then there should never be a problem.