Hello!
I have to admit, though I do own a motorcycle, I very rarely ride it. I came here to ask something of the community, specifically those riding to, from, or near Alice's Restaurant, HWY-84, or Woodside.
I work at Wunderlich Park (4040 Woodside Rd) about a quarter mile east of the Portola/HWY-84 intersection, on that long straightaway. My job is to teach children to ride horses. The few people I've talked to so far have told me they didn't know about it, so maybe you won't either, but there is a riding arena about 20ft from the road on that straightaway. Yes, really. Look up the hill next time and wave at me, I'm in there most days all day.
Because it's a long straightaway and it looks safe, most motorists speed there. That's fine, I do too (speed limit is 35, almost everyone goes 45). What is NOT fine is the motorists who speed by as loudly as possible. Once again, I teach CHILDREN to ride HORSES. Horses are prey animals, and even though ours are the absolute best I've ever met, loud noises still scare them. So when people speed by revving their engines or forcing backfires, my horses spook. Many children have fallen off because of it. No one has been seriously hurt so far, but I have sent several clients away in ambulances. Horse accidents are not to be taken lightly - hitting the ground at the wrong angle can kill you.
I've been doing what I can to make our presence known. I won't believe that the people going by making noise do so with intent to get my students killed, which is why I'm writing this post.
I don't know you, you don't know me, that doesn't need to change. But if you, or someone you know, or a friend of someone you know, ever drives through Woodside to or from Alice's, please let them know that they are putting children in mortal danger by showing off their engines on that straightaway. Please.
Thank you! And let me know if there is anywhere else (on this forum or elsewhere) I could post this message to reach more people. I am willing to stand in the Alice's parking lot with a megaphone if I have to.
Much love,
vix
P.S. There's one motorist who goes by every Sunday toward Alice's and comes back a few hours later whose engine backfires so much it sounds like they're firing a gun. The rest of this post was not personal, but this is. If any of you know this person, refer them to me. I need to speak with them.
I have to admit, though I do own a motorcycle, I very rarely ride it. I came here to ask something of the community, specifically those riding to, from, or near Alice's Restaurant, HWY-84, or Woodside.
I work at Wunderlich Park (4040 Woodside Rd) about a quarter mile east of the Portola/HWY-84 intersection, on that long straightaway. My job is to teach children to ride horses. The few people I've talked to so far have told me they didn't know about it, so maybe you won't either, but there is a riding arena about 20ft from the road on that straightaway. Yes, really. Look up the hill next time and wave at me, I'm in there most days all day.
Because it's a long straightaway and it looks safe, most motorists speed there. That's fine, I do too (speed limit is 35, almost everyone goes 45). What is NOT fine is the motorists who speed by as loudly as possible. Once again, I teach CHILDREN to ride HORSES. Horses are prey animals, and even though ours are the absolute best I've ever met, loud noises still scare them. So when people speed by revving their engines or forcing backfires, my horses spook. Many children have fallen off because of it. No one has been seriously hurt so far, but I have sent several clients away in ambulances. Horse accidents are not to be taken lightly - hitting the ground at the wrong angle can kill you.
I've been doing what I can to make our presence known. I won't believe that the people going by making noise do so with intent to get my students killed, which is why I'm writing this post.
I don't know you, you don't know me, that doesn't need to change. But if you, or someone you know, or a friend of someone you know, ever drives through Woodside to or from Alice's, please let them know that they are putting children in mortal danger by showing off their engines on that straightaway. Please.
Thank you! And let me know if there is anywhere else (on this forum or elsewhere) I could post this message to reach more people. I am willing to stand in the Alice's parking lot with a megaphone if I have to.
Much love,
vix
P.S. There's one motorist who goes by every Sunday toward Alice's and comes back a few hours later whose engine backfires so much it sounds like they're firing a gun. The rest of this post was not personal, but this is. If any of you know this person, refer them to me. I need to speak with them.
