Owen, on leaving the Belconnen Community Festival, was impressed by these horses and sent in the pic with this note:
Don’t think I have seen horses on the streets of Canberra, but as I rode away from the festivities at the Belconnen Centre these two horses came to a halt at the lights (Emu Bank and Benjamin Way).
When the lights changed, they turned right. Guess they knew the cops were watching 🙂
Davo111 said :
I think vg was more pointing out that part of the road rules that says every vehicle on the public road must abide by every law while on that road, except a police officer, who can exempt themselves from any law at any time.
Does anyone else remember that beautiful Victorian Police horse Gendarme? Should be more of them on the beat!
Canberra Times has an article about them today – http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/pure-horsepower-adds-muscle-to-afp-ranks/1997084.aspx
When I first saw the picture I thought “Wow, that horse has 2 arses” And then I realised it wasn’t a pair of arses.
Horses use to have right of way in traffic situations in Australia.
It seems that the current version of the Australian Road Rules no longer has that clause. Horse are defined as a vehicle, same as a motorcycle, except you can ride a horse on a nature strip and/or path. Otherwise, they need to obey the rules just like everyone else.
Any horsey people out there who can tell me whether horses have any ‘special’ right of way anymore?
UrbanAdventure.org said :
“cause its in the paper?
vg said :
Page 6 – http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/64478/Part_C1_-_Knowing_the_Road_Rules_2010.pdf
“Red circle means STOP. Wait at the stop line marked on the road until the signal changes to green.”
you’re welcome 🙂
Spideydog said :
Not at all. That’s how you learn.
UrbanAdventure.org said :
Cause you’ve had a taste?
The male horse is called Bacardi, like the rum.
Ask me how I know. 🙂
bitterness said :
There are some people feeling a little stupid about now I suggest. There are some that enjoy shooting from hip with little thought outside the box and then look pretty stupid when a valid reason presents itself.
BenMac said :
Benmac: nescius was 100% correct. Inductive coils (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_loop) are used, not pressure plates. As such, a horse is unlikely to trigger them. It’s the same reason some bicyclists have to hit crosswalk buttons to indicate their presence depending on the sensitivity of the induction loop and type of metal in their bike.
bd84 said :
One pace forwards, or one pace backwards would be sufficient.
nescius said :
Traffic lights are triggered by pressure plates in the ground. A horse is heavy enough. I’ve seen cyclists trigger lights, then ride off causing others to have to wait for no one, but that for another thread.
dvaey said :
Maybe the reason for that is the horses won’t be able to trigger the traffic light sensor so they have to move up further so the car behind them can trigger it?
Davo111 said :
Check out section 305 of the Australian Road Rules.
It might help you not looking like an idiot next time.
In your world please tell me exactly what evidence of the commission of any offence you see in the above picture?
Davo111 said :
You really didn’t put much thought into your comment did you?
The police horses would have likely been travelling at walking pace, what speed would you like them to ride at? The change of lights gives vehicles travelling at the speed limit enough time to exit the intersection, anything slower (like walking horses approaching an intersection) will get caught in the intersection. They did the right thing by stopping safely in that location rather than continuing through.
I don’t think horses are made of metal, so maybe they moved forward of the line to allow a car to trigger the lights rather that stand there for all eternity?
dvaey said :
Just add that to your list of pathetic gripes.
dvaey said :
Well, to be fair, I don’t think a horse rider can ever exercise complete control over a horse. As Jerry Seinfeld said, they are jittery, glassy-eyed dinosaurs.