Slow down for riders... horse riders, that is

[sincewednesday]

I find it fascinating that NJ has a law that requires motorists' slow down for horse riders, but not bicyclists. Interesting that the riders' complaints are similar to ours.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-10082007-1420059.html
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-10082007-1420044.html

“We can ride out to the back and be on Oakshade Road, but people are going faster than 50 miles per hour there,” Stollsteimer said. “It's not safe.”

At times, MacDonald said, motorists yell at her and her neighbors when they're riding along the side of the road.

“On Labor Day weekend, I had motorcyclists scream derogatory comments at me (while she was riding toward the state forest), and the state police had to come and escort us (to the forest),” MacDonald said. “We get beeped at a lot. The best thing to do would be to slow down and give us a wide area. I don't want to be your hood ornament.”

...

Township road crews have installed four signs on that road to alert motorists to reduce their speed to 25 mph when they encounter a horse and rider.

Mayor Jon Shevelew said the signs were erected to enforce an amendment to a 2004 state law that states motor vehicles must reduce their speed to no more than 25 mph for horses and riders. The speed limit on Atsion Road varies from 45 mph and 50 mph.



Would a similar law work/help bicyclists?

[noisebeam]

Arizona Law:
"28-858. Approaching horses and livestock
A person operating a motor vehicle on a public highway and approaching a horse-drawn vehicle, a horse on which a person is riding or livestock being driven on the highway shall exercise reasonable precaution to prevent frightening and to safeguard the animals and to ensure the safety of persons riding or driving the animals. If the animals appear frightened, the person in control of the vehicle shall reduce its speed and if requested by signal or otherwise shall not proceed further toward the animals unless necessary to avoid accident or injury until the animals appear to be under control."

and
"28-625. Persons riding animals or driving animal drawn vehicles
A person riding an animal or driving an animal drawn vehicle on a roadway has all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter and chapters 4 and 5 of this title, except the provisions of this chapter and chapters 4 and 5 of this title that by their very nature can have no application. "

[fordfasterr]

hmm... maybe I can dress my bike up like little miniature horse !!!

[maddyfish]

Wonder if any of those horse riders honk at bike riders?

[noisebeam]

Are equestrians permitted to use bike lanes? Technical it seems not. I have seen some use them on the more residental streets with bike lanes. On arterials they stick to sidewalks. Both are fine by me.

C. A path or lane that is designated as a bicycle path or lane by state or local authorities is for the exclusive use of bicycles even though other uses are permitted pursuant to subsection D or are otherwise permitted by state or local authorities.
D. A person shall not operate, stop, park or leave standing a vehicle in a path or lane designated as a bicycle path or lane by a state or local authority except in the case of emergency or for crossing the path or lane to gain access to a public or private road or driveway.

Al

[04jtb]

if they block the whole road, yeah and a polite excuse me, if not just ride past same speed (20ish)

[noisebeam]

I'm sure that there's a big discussion on horseforums.net about driving your horse vehicularly outside of the bike lane to reduce the chances of inadvertent drift and to make sure that every approaching motorist notices your equine.

Not much discussion on horseforums.net (http://members.tripod.com/sporthorseforum/generaldisc_toc.htm)

Al

[Booger1]

In California,horses have the right-of-way no matter where they are,people on bikes are 3rd on the yielding tote-um-pole.Horse-people-bikes.

[StrangeWill]

Hitting a horse can kill whoever is in the car, they are quite heavy...

A bicycle however....