Horse riding incident with bike ignites reminders about trail etiquette 

I got hit in crosswalk from behind by a bicyclist making a right turn after coming down a steep hill... it knocked me 5 feet forward... then on to my knees and face... there was no warning... it was in Seattle... a very bike and pedestrian friendly city...

Bet they filmed it.

I agree

Or a decent, caring human being. Thank you.

I don't bike but I do go 4 wheeling. Anytime I see folks on the side of the trail, walking the trail, etc I also slow way down. Not only for safety but just so I don't kick up a bunch of dust. There is one trail I frequent that is popular with horse riders. They mostly stay off the 'main' trail since they are not required to stay on the designated trail but when I do come up to them I always stay way back or, if approaching them head on, I will stop and look for the riders to provide me input.

Same with horse riders, walkers, joggers, runners. Nobody cares about anyone else.

​@@marcuslinton310I wouldn't say that. Equestrians are very respectful because we know things can go south really quickly.

@@olliehopnoodle4628 Yeah we use to take our 4 wheelers out in the woods years ago and when we come upon horses sometimes we'd just turn around or stop and turn off our engines so we don't spook the horses as they pass.

@@marcuslinton310 True, but I see it more with bikers. Too many bikers have no etiquette. They think the trails belong solely to them and everyone should yield and move off the trail as they speedily pass by. They even do it to other bikers.

I’m both as well and it infuriates me that the rider was on an untrained, unprepared horse. I have two standard breds in my barn right now, this man can say it was trained but i will say it was not. Some horses are flighty and shouldn’t be ridden now matter how cute a woman thinks she looks on it. There she be a state law that any horse riders must have insurance on them and their horse before riding in public.

@@lizzieb6311 I am neither an equestrian or a cyclist and it infuriates me as well. It is so incredibly selfish. It is not rocket science to realize the potential harm to the horse and fellow human being. And then keep going!!!!! WTF

@@Pam-ov1bv Exactly! It’s absolutely disturbing that the cyclist could blast pass the horse…see what happened as a result…and continue on. Disgusting!

​@@hillbillysceptic1982-- Wow! Victim blaming much? From the gentleman's description, I'll bet that cyclist was on an e-bike. But even if not, you DO NOT blow past anyone on the road with an animal. I don't even bike fast when I see someone walking their dog so as not to trigger a chase instinct. The biker had no way of knowing whether any of the six horses were familiar with bikes or e-bikes. Without that info, it was incumbent on him to stop or at least slow down. He treated passing a group of horses the same as if he were riding past a couple of cars. And to look back and see a rider on the ground but then just take off was despicable behavior.

DEMAND respect is more like it. I appreciate cyclists who actually understand they are SHARING the roadway with others, but I rarely meet them. I must qualify stance and add that I speak as a pedestrian who had been hit, more that once, from behind, while walking on sidewalks, by cyclists who ride where they want, do not follow traffic laws, etc.

People from the city move out to the country and they think it's all about them. They also think it's funny to scare the horse with their cars and motorcycles... it's entertainment for these sub humans from the city. Gosh, I dislike people more and more each day.

Car drivers are just as bad but a lot more deadly.

@@stevesecret2515 that saying about a hit dog always hollers seems to be at play here.

Correct

Then there should be more education.

No not really! According to NM state law pedestrians do unless they are walking down the middle of the street or jaywalking or impeding in traffic. Horses may be prohibited in pedestrian trails bicycles lanes ect. By city ordinance. In New Mexico, horses and other animals being ridden or driven are not considered vehicles, but they must follow all applicable vehicular laws. Here are some New Mexico laws that apply to horses on the road: Riding at night: It is illegal to ride a horse on a highway at night. Livestock: It is illegal to let livestock graze on a fenced highway at any time, or to drive livestock on a highway at night. Entering intersections: When approaching an intersection with a stop sign or a through highway, riders must stop and yield to other vehicles. Traffic laws: Riders and drivers of animal-drawn vehicles have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicle drivers, except where otherwise specified. Anticipating traffic: Riders should be aware of traffic hazards that might get in their way. Following pedestrian rules: Riders should follow pedestrian rules. State statue. Many other laws can take place. One has a responsibility and duty to keep a proper look out for all persons regardless of driving, walking, riding, cycling ect. You should never assume you have the right away always play it safe. Horses or any animal possess a serious threat to traffic or people because they can spook and wander. These horse owners need to know owning a horse is an expensive hobby not just care for the horse but if that horse creates damage or serious injury or death that lawsuit will be very expensive. Motorists have a lot to watch bicyclists, Pedestrians, motorcyclists, (horses) other cars and so forth. Playing it safe keeping off the road’s, trails near traffic or people is the best thing to do. And when they use the term highway it doesn’t mean just the freeway it means roads in general.

@@Bossnopoly To Horse riders yes! Horses are unpredictable animals as well as any animal or (dogs). Drivers have to many responsibilities but horse owners need to be aware of their surroundings when outside their property. Many city ordinances prohibit horses or livestock in roads, trails, bicycles lanes, public walking areas ect.

@@JS-yj4rb Yes because this excuses the number of times someone thought it would be funny to blow their horn while passing me. Far be it for me to ruin the fun simply because I do not wish to be thrown.

Yup. Cyclists are too often rude and dangerous on roads.

@@jeannerogers7085 even on walking paths! i was once on a city walking path that was crowded with people, baby strollers, kids, and a DEER with a TINY FAWN stepped near the path, a speeding cyclist came roaring towards us, i stepped in front of him and YELLED SLOW DOWN! THE BABY!! to protect the toddlers and the fawn, he veered around me with NO CONCERN FOR ANYONE or the BABY FAWN!! and roared away at top speed.

Lasso

Note: Horses and dogs are animals. If a dog (leashed or not) gets spoked and hurt someone, the owner of the animal is responsible. If a dog is not fully trained to be around people, then keep them fenced

Thanks for sharing... common sense isn't so common anymore...

@@SJR_Media_Group it never was....

@@Lazy_Fish_Keeper I have noticed a decline in common courtesy over the years... road rage... trail rage... playground rage... short tempers... intolerance... and a 'me' attitude... really sad how far Humans have de-evolved...

@@SJR_Media_Group it's a trauma response. People are worse off than just one generation back. Food insecurity has almost doubled in the last 15 years. Housing costs have skyrocketed. And then we had a pandemic, on top of "once in a lifetime climate disasters" almost every year. People are scared, and if we want people to stop acting like traumatized, terrified 2 year olds, those of us who recognize what is happening need to step up, speak out, and lead by example on a different way of living. Because the current system is working exactly as designed, and it really isn't sustainable. People in Albuquerque (and honestly, the rest of New Mexico) have finally begun to behave with the same fear of being exploited, fear of being taken advantage of, fear of "someone else getting mine" that has defined East Coast mentality since the inception of this country. It's like watching the water go down the drain, it picks up speed as the spiral gets tighter. The Internet has offered everyone the opportunity to gain so much knowledge....but not enough people chose to learn from the past. So we are seeing the resurrection of robber barons, of monopolies, and unchecked greed.... leaving a good 80% to 90% of the population terrified of what is going to happen next. We **could** work together with the resources the state already has, build stronger unions, stop people from having to work a full time job plus 2 side hustles, and stop out of state corporations from buying up our land and water rights..... Or we can keep electing the same half dozen families, and expect different results out of the same choices. Early 90's most of the construction workers were union, Intel was booming, Sandia National Labs was almost at capacity, and the Albuquerque economy was strong. People used Tipsy Tow instead of driving drunk, bringing our fatalities down, and a single parent could work one job, pay the rent, and afford food. Yes, 30% of our students were on food stamps, because we are not a rich state, but we didn't have 40% of our students homeless at some point between kindergarten and graduation. We **can** do better. The question is, are we willing to work together to actually **do** better?

@@Lazy_Fish_Keeper Thank you for comment

And there will be more idiots on bikes in the future. It's the risk we take when we ride horses. Most trail riders don't know how to control a spooked animal. They need riding lessons before going on trail rides. You can blame it on the bike rider but the truth probably is the trail rider didn't know how to control their animal. Horses get spooked and they always will here and there. Be prepared for the worst. If you ride long enough it will happen.

Agreed. In my local park, the riding/hiking trails are mostly maintained by the horse people. Money comes entirely from donations and occasionally grants, and the work is done by volunteers. There is a separate trail system for mountain bikes (peddle) on one side of the park. Earlier this year, it was made known that the mountain bikers are pushing to have access to more of the park trails, "sharing" with the hikers and equestrians. There is a very real safety issue here. There are some steep hills and blind curves throughout the trail they want to use. Even a MB who intends to be courteous may not be able to stop in time if they get to the bottom of one of those hills at speed.

No, it doesn't matter. Cars and bicycles must stop and wait for the ok to move forward. Common sense and the law says so.

@@buttercuptaylor7135 So you are saying that if cars are overtaking horses on a road, they must first completely stop on the road and wait for an ok to pass the horses. I live in an Amish area of Wisconsin and I have never witnessed anyone do this. Guess cops are sitting on a gold mine of tickets.

@@senob44 YES, READ YOUR DRIVER'S MANUAL.

No, it really doesn't. Passing anyone, whether on a road or trail, you must do so safely. If you are in Lancaster, PA and you get stuck behind an Amish buggy going up a hill, double yellow line, you can't just pass (it's not safe). Even when approaching a horse-drawn vehicle, especially on a narrow road, the law is generally clear that the driver of the mechanical vehicle MUST yield to the horse.

@@annaqaddams9108 There's a difference between safely passing and insisting someone come to a stop and wait for permission to proceed. I'm all for safely passing

And what law dictates these actions by the cyclist?

@@marcuslinton310 You can't be courteous without a law?

​@@maryso44 Wouldn't that apply to both cyclists and equestrians?

@@marcuslinton310 I saw nowhere in this particular story where the equestrians did anything to the cyclist. In this story the horses were spooked by a cyclist, people were injured, he didn't stop to help. Not everyone knows how to behave around horses. I'm merely pointing out to people who care about not causing harm to others why horses spook at bikes and what is helpful, courteous behavior. And yes, equestrians should also be courteous. Everyone should be kind and courteous. My husband is an avid cyclist, he has had people throw garbage from their cars at him, trucks blow exhaust at him, blare horns at him when he is minding his own business in the bike lane. He was sideswiped by a car that took off. Too many jerks in the world. We live in an equestrian community and when out on his bike he is always mindful of and courteous to those out riding horses. He knows a serious accident on a bike or horse is only one jerk, or ignorant person, away.

​@@maryso44 You still have no evidence that the cyclist did anything wrong. These horse riders can yell and complain and suggest the cyclist did something wrong, but prove it? They can't because he did nothing wrong. All they keep saying is that he passed them. So F'n what, passing is not against the law.

BS! The handler has no authority to tell people what to do.

@@marcuslinton310 Yeah, this advice isn't for anti-social people who can't cooperate. OF COURSE THE HANDLER HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER YOU. This is called advice. But you can choose to HELP the situation - leading to a safe resolution; or complicate it, leading injury of horse, rider, and possibly bystanders.

@@toomignon Explain one thing the cyclist did that was against the law and cite the law please. You are essentially telling a cyclist to kiss a horse riders posterior as if they deserve special treatment over what the law says.

Absolutely agree. Had horses much of my life. A bicycle is basic risk on urban trails. If it were a motorcycle - I'd be even more cautious. If you go out expecting others to "watch" for you - you are setting yourself up for higher risk. Train your horse better more exposure in controlled environments). Imagine if every Amish horse & buggy freaked out over a bicycle (or hat or bag). 🙄

Wow! Train your horse. Don't take your horse on the trail untrained, sounds like you are very unexperienced in horsemanship. Another thing Don't get on if you don't want to fall off. Gravity rules. Blaming someone for your f ing mistake.

I feel like any horse should be 100% traffic trained before taking it out anywhere. They can train the horse on property with their own vehicles, quads, etc. to not be reactive and stay put.

@@franklinpatterson3693 Well, aren’t you the rude dude. Instead of a horse what if that had been a small child or an older person. Left lying in the dirt. Manners are manners, and the trails aren’t just for the cyclists zooming by, everyone else jumping out of the way. Not to worry, what goes around comes around. Maybe you will graduate to a motorcycle…..see where you end up ….. 😢

Read your driver's manual, which is applicable to ANYONE using the roadways. What the cyclist did is illegal, reckless and selfish and he should be prosecuted to pay for the medical bills and be imprisoned untill he learns better.

Very true. Been riding 50 years. A broke horse is a broke horse. Had a skateboarder run into my quarter horse mare's shoulder while riding in a parade. She didn't move an inch. A trustworthy horse in the bridle is never out of control.

Exactly. Talking about how a different color hat or umbrella will spook a horse? Then that horse should NOT be walking in a populated area. The cyclist may have had poor etiquette, but something is weird about this.

It's so easy to sit in judgement, isn't it! Are you victim blaming? All animals are unreliable, no matter how well trained you may consider them to be, and should be treated as such .... In a kind, considerate and empathetic way.

@@deborahwylde1410 Thank you for telling me that you know nothing about horses without actually saying those words.

@@nathanadrian7797 Oh, get over yourself! There's nothing more irritating than know-it-all horsey people trying to lord it over other more humble, yet quietly more knowledgeable people. By the way, I've been with horses and riding longer than you have.

Truth is, we don't know the full truth in this situation. Of course they blame the biker, they want their medical bills paid, that's a very good motivation for lying about what really happened.

@@marcuslinton310 The other day I was at the ranch and my horse spooked because of a rattle snake. Everything was fine, but I don't blame the rattle snake. These people are saying that cyclists go too fast and many people in cars say that cyclists are too slow. I feel we all have to be more patient with each other. I am not certain that the cyclist even knew he was the cause. In New Mexico there is a law that states the horses is inherently dangerous and you take that risk when you are around horses.

Most hikers are too F'n witless to know what a bell even means and if you yell out "on your left" or "on your right" they typically have no F'n clue which way to go and usually end up stepping in the cyclists path. So much easier to just go around and by the time the hikers even acknowledge the cyclist, they are already past.

Same with horse riders, walkers, joggers, runners. Nobody cares about anyone else.

We do not know what the biker did or did not know. His behavior to speed up after the mess he voluntarily created, and then disappear speaks to his total lack of ethics, as well as having a penchant toward criminal negligence.

@@Doc5thMech The cyclist didn't break any laws. Not aware of any laws mandating anyone to stop. Stop for horses is not the law, yield to horses is the law. Yield allows for the option to continue on the trail while giving way, or yielding, to the horses by keeping to the right of the path and giving them plenty of room. You only have to stop if this option isn't viable. In the video scenario they were on a road and all the cyclist did was pass them, he didn't interfere with them, block them, or anything. No different then him passing slow moving traffic and some nitwit gets spooked and crashes their car, not his fault.

Note: Horses and dogs are animals. If a dog (leashed or not) gets spoked and hurt someone, the owner of the animal is responsible. If a dog is not fully trained to be around people, then keep them fenced

WHY wd you assume its a white guy? what happens if its a black guy? or a chinese guy? or a mexican guy?

Why does he have to be a white guy? Does that make him more villainous? 🙄

THIS! Neither one of them should be allowed on the road.

Neither of those things are remotely as hazardous as cars and trucks. Car drivers aren't the only taxpayers in town; learn to share the road safely with ALL who use it.

what a life it must be to complain about other people in the RU-vid comments of KOB4... do you know what they say about people who speak in absolutes?

Bullshit...You should see how the road trek bicyclists behave where I live.

Horses are prey animals. They are driven by fight or flight. How about you obey the law to not spur the flight?

@@snowflake2910 The cyclist didn't break any laws. Not aware of any laws mandating anyone to stop. Stop for horses is not the law, yield to horses is the law. Yield allows for the option to continue on the trail while giving way, or yielding, to the horses by keeping to the right of the path and giving them plenty of room. You only have to stop if this option isn't viable. In the video scenario they were on a road and all the cyclist did was pass them, he didn't interfere with them, block them, or anything. No different then him passing slow moving traffic and some nitwit gets spooked and crashes their car, not his fault.

@@marcuslinton310 Except this isn't traffic. These are horses on a horse trail. There are signs telling you to watch out for them for a reason. The fact he caused someone else an injury by not following the trail rules is literally breaking the law lol but okay buddy. I'm sure if some lunatic on a horse came negligently blasting through the trailhead and made you fall off your bike you'd keep this same energy, right?

​@@Oswald_Thatendswald Pretty sure horse trails don't have 25mph speed limits, it was a road they were on or some kind of multiuse path. If the path at 1:14 is the one they were on, there is plenty of room to yield to the horses while passing. If it's either one of the lanes shown at 1:45 then it's a full on road. If it's the road at 1:54, you cannot possibly claim that as a horse trail and there is certainly loads of room to yield while passing. Nice try, come again soon!

So, in other words, he should stop and admit he is guilty of something? Guilty of what? He didn't do anything wrong. The law says yield to horses. Yield means you don't have to stop unless it's necessary. He wasn't impeding their progress whatsoever, so he yielded enough room so he can pass and off he went. He was perfectly within the law, has nothing to apologize for as if he's guilty of something.

@@marcuslinton310 did you not read my message? I pretty much sided with the biker saying he likely didn’t know anything about horses as most don’t and I don’t think he should be charged with some misdemeanor or anything of that sort but he could’ve just simply checked on them…..what’s so wrong about that? I think they went a bit over board on the whole trying to charge him with something when he’s got the freedom to ride his bike on the trail.

​@@Katya.Shishkyl24 You literally said "However he should of been considerate and stopped to check on them or apologize" People only need to apologize when they are guilty of something. What exactly is the cyclist apologizing for then if you don't think they were at fault for this scenario?

@@marcuslinton310 Then maybe he shouldn’t apologize….😂 dude I forgot what my previous post even said.

Note: Horses and dogs are animals. If a dog (leashed or not) gets spoked and hurt someone, the owner of the animal is responsible. If a dog is not fully trained to be around people, then keep them fenced

They weren't on the road.

pagosa1040. -- A backfiring car or a rattlesnake are instances beyond anyone's control. When a cyclist rides fast approaching a group of horses, it is totally within that person's control whether or not he takes precautions to avoid an incident.

@@LLewis-vu9qf especially when he is approaching from behind them and they don't realize that he is there.

Please don't drive. You obviously don't know the law. Horses have every right to use the road. The cyclist broke the law by passing too closely and not slowing down. It is 100% the fault of the cyclist because there are laws on passing horses. The cyclist is probably butt hurt when cars don't give them the required space when passing. The laws are simple the cyclist was wrong and the police want to charge them BECAUSE they broke the law while operating their vehicle (a bike on the road is a vehicle).

They weren't on the road.

Maybe learn the law, buddy. Did you not see the horse road sign in the video? That indicates that there will likely be horses on the road in the area, so SLOW THE HELL DOWN. Which is what the videographer was SHOWING YOU. Horses have a right to use the road except on limited access expressways. And in many places you have no choice but to use roads at least part of the way to get to riding trails. Horses were, after all, there first. Somebody doesn't know what he's talking about, but it wasn't the videographer.

@@HughLlewellyn If a stupid horse can be scared by a different color hat, it should not be on a road at all.

Note: Horses and dogs are animals. If a dog (leashed or not) gets spoked and hurt someone, the owner of the animal is responsible. If a dog is not fully trained to be around people, then keep them fenced

Some. Not all.

nope. once they get on that bike and once that bike hits the pavement they're all douchebags and arrogant; you could be the nicest person off the bike but once you get on that bike you think you own that road and rules don't apply to you