Visually Impaired Rider - Halina’s Story

My name is Halina and I am a vulnerable road user every time I leave my rural property on the city fringe of New Plymouth. Road safety is important to me on so many levels. 

PWAS 2024 Worldwide Rides

Halina did not feel it safe enough to join the PWAS worldwide rides for awareness, but she never waivered in her support for the message.

So, read on if you want to find out why I support the formal recognition of Horse Riders as Vulnerable Road Users and the Pass Wide & Slow road safety message. 

I have been visually impaired my entire life and unable to get a driver’s license.  I face many different challenges and barriers when I leave home as well as putting my life at risk. 

Riding is essential…

The only way I can be independent without relying on others for transport is to cycle or walk.

This means I must cycle, walk, bus or run to work, the supermarket, doctors and if I want to visit my horsey friends I cycle many kilometres out into the country.  Additionally, I have driven my kids to Playcentre by horse and cart when living in a small Taranaki town. 

My parents bought me a pony when I was in high school and as teenagers, we rode all over Wellington City and beyond.  No one had a float back then and road riding was what we did. Looking back, we never felt unsafe as there seemed to be less traffic and everyone drove with way more consideration and care for others.

As an adult, I would love to fully participate and lead a ‘normal’ horsey life. This would be a life where I could attend clinics, ride trails, gain instruction, and have fun out and about with my horse and my friends.  But most of the time this is impossible without a driver's license, so, 99% of my riding is hacking out alone around my neighbourhood using both rural and urban roads.

“I have had many near misses whilst walking, running, cycling and riding or driving my horse. Fast-moving vehicles passing way too close have forced me onto the verge resulting in me being catapulted over the handlebars of my bike.  ”

Ngā mihi Halina

It means so much to PWASNZ that Halina shared her story with te ao / the world, we hope it inspires you to connect and share too.

While out running I have stumbled and fallen on my face numerous times when trying to escape traffic. I have also had the worst-case scenario happen when driving my pony who when spooked by a fast-moving milk tanker spun and bolted tipping me out and wrecking the cart. We both survived with only scrapes and bruises but the two of us held the fear and trauma inside our minds and bodies for a very long time.  

“The thing that upsets me most of all my road riding experiences, is the continual verbal abuse and lack of respect shown by drivers to a middle-aged lady quietly and considerately doing ‘her thing’.  It really hurts when I am constantly told to ‘f**king get off the road’ or ridiculed by people in passing cars when I am minding my own business and not doing anything wrong.”

Life is hard enough as a visually impaired person without being abused for doing the thing I love the most and brings me the most joy.