It’s often confusing who has the right of way when unusual modes of transportation are being utilized. One such incident took place on Independence Day in Montana, when a biker and a cowboy got into a heated argument over that exact question.
While the biker did admit to accidentally spooking one of the horses, the supposed leader of the horse-riding group wouldn’t let things go with a quick apology. Instead, he blocked the biker’s path, creating a fiery back-and-forth before finally letting the biker pass.
Many people seemed to think that, regardless of who may or may not have had the right of way, the cowboy blew the incident out of proportion. One person wrote, “Should have kept riding past, what a dweeb.” Another echoed, “I hope he realizes he could’ve just not done that and everything would’ve been fine.“
Others felt that the biker shouldn’t feel bad about scaring one of the horses. Rather, they expressed that it’s the cowboy’s job to ensure his horse is in control. As one person shared, “If he can’t control his vehicle, he shouldn’t be operating it in public.” Another agreed, writing, “If your horses spook that easily, they shouldn’t be on a public road. What would they do if a car passed them?“
The Government Says Both Montana Men Were in the Wrong
For what it’s worth, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), both men were in the wrong. The biker should have given the cowboy the right of way. However, the cowboy is responsible for his horse’s behavior – even if the animal was spooked by the bike.
The USDA website states, “Trail etiquette for multiple-use trails calls for horses to have the right-of-way. … Bicyclists should yield to horses and hikers. Horse riders are responsible for the control of their horse at all times.” However, as one Redditor points out, “Right-of-way does not mean the right to block the road.”
Given that the cowboy saw the biker, and the biker was clearly going faster than the horses, he could have easily let him pass through, and they all would have enjoyed their day. As one individual put it, “He spent more time cutting you off and being rude than if he had just stopped and let you ride by.“
All things considered, this incident appears to have been blown out of proportion. It seems perfectly reasonable that both men – and their preferred modes of transportation – could have shared the road without incident. Unfortunately, it seems that the road wasn’t big enough for these two and their egos.
