How to be a horse-friendly biker, SB25-149

Since the recent passage of Colorado Senate Bill 25-149, the “Local Government Duties Equestrian Protections”, or the Equestrian Bill of Rights, as it’s more familiarly called, Miss Mountain Manners has decided that it’s time to refresh this post on how to share the trail with equestrian visitors.

SB25-149 aims to enhance equestrian safety by:

• allowing municipalities and counties to create equestrian zones, which are defined as areas with public equestrian venues, residential neighborhoods with significant equestrian activity, or properties that serve the equestrian community;
• allowing municipalities to construct and maintain infrastructure like road crossings, trailer parking, and signage to facilitate equestrian use of trails and roadways;
• requiring the posting of “wide and slow” signs in equestrian zones;
• modifying traffic laws to require motorists to slow down to 10 mph and maintain 6 feet of clearance around equestrians when encountering them on roadways;
• allowing for public education programs to inform the public about equestrian safety and road use.

Remember, on park trails everywhere, horses always have the right of way over hikers or bikes, runners or dog walkers. Don’t get caught up in the confusing yield signs about who yields to whom: everyone stops for horses, to ensure the horse doesn’t spook and the rider can proceed safely.

If you’d like to read the entire bill, go to https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-149.

Miss Mountain Manners is pleased to bring you the correct way for a cyclist to approach an equestrian, whether on the road or on the trail in the Parks. Thanks to Mr. Goodman (on his recumbent bicycle) for showing us how to interact with both horse and rider.

“Did all the usual things (slowed right down and spoke to let the horses know we were human…) Still spooked quite badly. We stopped and stood up… Luckily there was nothing coming the other way and the riders did a good job of getting them under control.”

Video courtesy of Alan Goodman