Report - Section 6.3

6.3   Fragmentation effect

The network of 40,000-plus km of recorded routes for horse-riders (bridleways, RUPPs and byways) is not a continuous network enabling a variety of circular rides to be undertaken. Instead it is often very fragmented, and in many parts of the country, off road rides of more than two miles - less than a thirty minute ride - are few and far between. (BHS, 2001)

Some routes can be reached only by use of roads where the traffic levels make it dangerous to ride. There are least 3,000 accidents involving horses on the roads each year - 8 a day. Over 100 horses are killed on the roads every year. (BHS, 1998). It is known that there is under-reporting and recent reports suggest that this figure might be nearer 29.2 per day - 10,568 per year (BHS, 2001).

It is acknowledged that this situation exists, for example in the draft DEFRA guidance on rights of way improvement plans, but we have not found any publication that examines the effect of the discontinuity of the network on levels of horse-riding in a given area.

A BETA survey quoted in a report by L&R Consulting on the Pennine Bridleway and Cycleway found that about half the privately-owned horses not then being ridden on bridleways or byways would be ridden on such routes if more were available. It also found that more than 90% of those who already rode their own horses on bridleways or byways would make more use of them if more routes were available.

The fragmentation effect applies also to other users, though to a lesser extent than to horse-riders. It is likely to have a significant effect on the use of individual rights of way.