The grids are designed so cyclists do not have to get off their bikes when crossing.
Clever girls
And now I have an image in my head of moorassic Park, with cows as velociraptors.
They only eat grass, but for you they’d make an exception.
As someone who used to cycle Dartmoor a lot, I have a technique for normal cattle grids.
Speed up at much as possible, grip the top tube with your knees, cling onto your hoods with white knuckles, close your eyes and pray to any gods you can think of. It’s always worked so far.
In all honesty though, stop pedalling, hit them at 90⁰ and do not turn the handlebars and you’re fine.
Same technique for railway crossings.
I live in Manchester, so I have tram lines to contend with. With them you’re often going along the lines so it’s extra terrifying!
If you try crossing one on a Brompton you get about half way. That’s what I found.
Ooh. I’ve never ridden a Brompton but I could see how it would present extra difficulties!
This is the kind of news I like to read. Cows are so lovely.
My first reaction was “be free my lovelies!!!” 😂
Can’t say I’ve ever struggled with normal Cattle grids on my bike - I suppose in the rain they can be a bit sketchy, but go faster, and it’s more stable!
Yeah, just gotta hold straight and don’t slow down. If you are nervous and go slow, much more likely to end up getting stuck in it.
I guess for low-speed urban situations like the one pictured it might be a bit sketchy. Not sure you’d want to be barrelling into a park on a mixed-use cycle path…
I dunno for certain but it sure looks like the cows were happily interacting with the cyclists…
The pictured grids look like they could just walk around them? Am I missing something?
Found the cow
Looking at the image of the cattle grid it’s not surprising the cows got past it.
Uhh… not to be “that guy”, but I thought cattle grids were supposed to be bigger, and span the entire width of whatever gap they’re spanning. The whole point of them is to have a series of openings where the cattle would step, making them wary of it. If I were a cow, I’d be looking at the grids in OPs article as a free public dung receptacle on my way to the park.
Literally narrower than a cow…had the people making it never seen cattle before, they don’t even have to do the cow splits to cross it.
I love the picture of people otherwise nonchalantly chilling in the park with cows.
Me too! Something I definitely wouldn’t mind doing.
It’s such a surreal sight. Imagine minding my own business, reading a book or something and there’s a freaking cow right beside me. Nuts!
Depends on how healthy and friendly the cows are. I know some can basically be like big lazy dogs. Some unhealthy cows could drip snot all over the place though.
I love the wording of this, as if the cows were plotting their escape
I think the cows in the first photo are eyeing the stairs.
They’re coming for us guys.
Olly olly oxen free!
Haha they’re smart :D
