The British Horse Society (BHS) and Cycling UK have launched a joint initiative to improve horse riding and cycling safety on UK roads.
The ‘Be Nice, Say Hi’ includes a downloadable leaflet and two videos which inform cyclist how to pass horses safely both on and off road. The campaign encourages cyclist to pass horses at a slow pace, wide and slow, and call a greeting to make both the horse and rider aware that they are approaching and passing.
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Regarding the purpose of the campaign launch, Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK’s Head of Campaigns stated;
Generally, if a cyclist startles a horse, it is due to a simple lack of awareness that a horse needs more time to react, which is why Cycling UK is pleased to be helping the BHS promote the consideration and courtesy message of ’Be Nice, Say Hi’.”
Alan Hiscox, Head of Safety at the BHS, exclaimed that the BHS were “thrilled” to be working in partnership with Cycling UK, and the campaign should improve road safety for both groups of “vulnerable road users”.
Hiscox continued;
Horses are flight animals and may react to anything they are unsure of. By promoting the ‘Be nice, say hi’ message, we hope more cyclists will appreciate the potential risk they pose. If all road users are considerate and mindful of one another we can reduce the number of incidents between horses, cyclists and vehicles”.
The campaign collaboration follows just months after a viral video of a cyclist, taking part in the Windsor Triathlon, undertook and collided with a horse and rider at high speed, posing danger to all road users. The campaign launch also follows various reports of verbal abuse being exchanged between both road users.
The new campaign wants “riders to respond positively to cyclists who pass with consideration and reciprocate their courtesy”, aiming to “reduce the number of incidents between horses, cyclists and vehicles”.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.
