This petition is now closed, as its deadline has passed.
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Legislate to end discrimination on cycle paths. More details
Submitted by Mrs. Caroline Clayden of The Trails Trust – Deadline to sign up by: 06 June 2010 – Signatures: 2,222
Since 1968 all bridleways, irrespective of width, sightlines, surface, urban or rural, have been legally shared by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Yet legislation ensures access only to walkers and cyclists on cyclepaths. Bridleways are used as part of the Safe Routes to School network, yet horse riders, over 85% of whom are women and children, are forced onto dangerous roads instead of sharing safe, off road cyclepaths. There are well over 29 accidents between horse riders and vehicles per day, 10,658 per year, many of which result in death or serious injury. There is no justification at all for discriminating against this vulnerable user group. Please put right the wrongs of the last 40 years and save lives.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Access4All
Where a route is particularly useful for or suited to horse riders, and a local authority wishes to create a highway for horse riders, pedestrians and cyclists, the correct choice of facility would be a bridleway or a byway open to all traffic (but banning vehicular use).
Local authorities already have a wide range of powers to provide facilities for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders and should choose the type of highway which best fits the safety and needs of local users.
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