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Re: [RC] RC Deadly Bicyclist - Tina RushingI was saddened and horrified by the post submitted by Tammy Maramonte of Santa Barbara. My deepest sympathy goes to Tammy for the tragic loss of Rocket. In the ensuing discussions, someone wrote: "...we can't set speed limits on them [bicyclists]... without also setting speed limits for the horses..." Where I ride there *are* speed limits. They don't work. They are difficult or impossible to enforce. Common sense and courtesy from bikers (and equestrians) would do the job. If you can't see the trail ahead you S-L-O-W D-O-W-N until it is safe to resume speed. Why is this so freakin' hard to grasp? [no response is expected, I believe that we all know the answer] I would not bomb my horse around a blind turn on a public trail. I expect the same courtesy from the bikers. We slow to a jog. I expect bikes to slow to a similar speed. When they do, I thank them and when they don't - and we have a bad encounter - they usually appear remorseful, often beginning their apology even before I've finished hauling my butt back into the center of the saddle. Someone suggested training the horse not to fear bikes, and another suggested that horses can hear the bike approach implying that the rider may be inattentive. Please allow me to offer my opinions: It's not the horse's fear of bikes, it's the *very* sudden and unexpected appearance at high speed followed immediately by the sound of the bike skidding under the horse that results in a panic response. In our steep and rugged terrain I am certain that my horse does not hear the biker in advance. I am on high alert while on the steep curves. Be assured that my horse has perfect recollection of the many places where we have survived close encounters and near collisions. You'll have to trust me on this one; neither I nor my horse can be expected to hear the bike approach. When the wind is ripping through the trees you wouldn't hear a 747 until it was on top of you. Some bikers use bells, the kind that are thumb operated with a musical "bllliiiing! bllliiiing!". I love those bells and I love the courteous bikers that use them. The speeding downhill demon death racers do not use bells and bells wouldn't help anyway. When there is no place for the horse to escape and no time for the bike to stop then there is no advantage to the 1-second warning. I won't address the suggestion that more trails be created to serve all users because the writer would not have brought this up if he/she were familiar with rough terrain. This would only be feasible in the flatlands. My focus is on steep topography because that is where my close encounters always occur. The majority of the bikers that I share trails with are skilled and considerate. It's the one bad rider in 50 that ruins it for the rest. In the San Francisco Bay area there is a great organization called ROMP (Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers) http://www.romp.org/ they are making an effort to find solutions to the multi-use conflict problem. ROMP's website offers good guidelines for bikers on the subject of horses. ROMP's advisory to bikers that equestrian encounters should be handled with great care because horse riders are likely to be landed gentry is amusing (okay, it's amusing to those of us who are not landed gentry and are easily amused). Check it out. Are there any equestrian organizations working to develop a positive solution (vs. banning all bikes) toward the conflict problem? ***I am not being a smartass, I am asking the question because I am sincerely interested***. Someone had suggested that education and teamwork is the answer. I couldn't agree more. Pardon the lengthy post. I'm keen on the subject. Tina Rushing El Granada, CA =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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