A new video on YouTube is urging mountain bikers to ‘Stop, Stand, Speak’ when they meet horse riders out on forest trails.
With around 350km of woodland trails, in excess of 250,000 cyclists visit Wales each year, but many are unaware of the fact that horses are also legally permitted to use the paths. According to Dave Liddy from the Forestry Commission Wales, there is a real potential for conflict.
To keep the peace, the Commission has produced a two-minute video, called Respect: Share the Trail, in association with the British Horse Society (BHS). It shows cyclists how nervous many horses are of fast moving bikes, and how they can be more considerate, in order to make the trails safer for everyone.
“The ‘Stop, Stand, Speak’ message really ought to be at the forefront of any cyclist’s mind, “ said Liddy. “As a responsible land manager, we want to raise the awareness of mountain bikers using our trails, but the message is just as applicable anywhere in the countryside. It’s been great to deal with the BHS on this issue and sense the shared passion for the countryside that they have with mountain bikers.”
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