Latest news with #buggy
Globe and Mail
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- Globe and Mail
What should I do when there's a horse-drawn vehicle on the road?
What are drivers supposed to do when they encounter horses or horse-drawn buggies on the road? Few people, especially if they're from cities, understand how deadly collisions between horses and cars can be. – Mike, Ontario If you come up on a horse and buggy on the road while you're driving, just hold your horses. 'You're going to approach them very cautiously and you're only going to pass when it is completely safe to do so,' said Constable Randi Crawford, with the Oxford County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). 'It's very similar to what you're supposed to do when you see slow-moving farm equipment [or any other slow-moving vehicle].' It's 'not uncommon' to see horse-drawn vehicles in Oxford County, about 50 kilometres southwest of Kitchener, Ont., and other parts of Ontario with Amish and Mennonite communities, Crawford said. Is it legal and safe to drive barefoot? Can I legally drive with just a photo of my licence? Some in those communities reject modern technology, including cars – and use horses instead. 'They can be found not only in the rural communities but also in towns,' she said. 'Several businesses still provide hitching stations for the horses in their parking lots or on their properties.' Because horse-drawn vehicles don't count as motor vehicles under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act (HTA), they don't need licence plates or registration – and drivers don't need a driver's licence, Ontario's Ministry of Transportation (MTO) said in an e-mail. But they do need either a slow-moving vehicle sign or reflective tape on the back of the buggy that is visible from at least 150 metres away, MTO said. In Ontario, horses and horse-drawn vehicles are allowed on all roads except the 400-series highways, Crawford said. 'I would say mostly they stick to the less-travelled roads as much as they can,' she said. 'And the average speed, from what I've gathered from talking to different people in the community, is about 14 kilometres an hour.' Horse-drawn vehicles have to keep to the right, just like all slow-moving vehicles. While they're not required to ride on the shoulder – if there is one – it's usually the safest place for them to be, Crawford said. 'We all know that some of these roads can be quite narrow, so a shoulder maybe wouldn't always be the safest place because of a deep ditch, a bridge or a mailbox coming up ahead,' she said. 'It's really just them using their best judgment.' Horse-drawn vehicles also need to follow 'the same rules of the road as everyone else,' including stopping at stop signs, she said. Just say whoa? But, the law also has specific rules for how drivers behave around horses on the road. For instance, section 167 of the HTA states you have to 'exercise every reasonable precaution to prevent the frightening of the horse.' Horses can get spooked by loud noises – including engine revving, horns, loud music or a dog barking through an open car window – cars following too closely and even bright lights. 'Horses have a flight response – so they're not going to take on a tractor, they're going to turn around and run away,' said Margot Vilvang, a riding coach in Vancouver. 'You have to be vigilant as a rider – think a little bit like a horse, who think everything is out to get them.' Even a car riding slowly alongside to take pictures of the horse and buggy – something that happens a lot in Amish country – can be unsettling, OPP's Crawford said. 'Imagine trying to walk in someone else's shoes or ride in someone else's buggy,' she said, adding that it's best to pass slowly, as far away from the horse as you can, without honking or lingering beside the horse. 'When I'm out on the road and I've pulled someone over and I'm standing at a car, the amount of discomfort that I feel when a car zips by me is just unsettling. So just be cautious, mindful and courteous.' That also means giving horses or horse-drawn vehicles plenty of space instead of tailgating them, she said. While the rules vary by province, horses and horse-drawn vehicles are generally allowed on public roads. Some provinces have exceptions for certain types of roads – in Quebec, for instance, horses are not allowed on freeways. Also, cities and towns may have their own bylaws about whether – and where – horses and buggies are allowed. Toronto, for instance, bans riding horses and horse-drawn vehicles on streets and sidewalks. There are exceptions for the police and the military – and for special events including parades, Toronto police said in an e-mail. Calgary allows horses on roads, but commercial horse-drawn vehicles need a permit, Calgary police said in an e-mail. Dangerous encounters When cars hit horses or horse-drawn vehicles, horses, riders and passengers can face serious – and even fatal – injuries, Crawford said. 'The risk of injury or death to the buggy drivers or the horses are high,' she said. 'They don't have that big steel frame around them to help keep them safe.' Crawford said there have been no fatal collisions involving a horse so far this year in her district, although there were two with serious injuries. Last December, two passengers in a horse-drawn buggy were seriously injured and the horse was killed in a collision in Norwich township, between Hamilton and London. In January 2022, a 27-year-old driver of a horse-drawn buggy was killed near Wingham, about 90 kilometres northwest of Kitchener when the horse veered into oncoming traffic. It's not clear how many collisions there are involving horse-drawn vehicles in Ontario each year. That's because collision reports don't specifically identify whether a horse-drawn vehicle was involved, the MTO said. In these communities, most local drivers expect to see horse-drawn vehicles on the road, Crawford said. 'Often, [the danger] is maybe people who are travelling through the area that might not know it too well,' she said. 'If you are visiting an area that you are not familiar with, do a quick search on your computer so you can understand what kind of communities you'll be going through … It can help you predict traffic challenges such as horse-drawn vehicles and slow-moving farm equipment." Have a driving question? Send it to globedrive@ and put 'Driving Concerns' in your subject line. Emails without the correct subject line may not be answered. Canada's a big place, so let us know where you are so we can find the answer for your city and province.
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Independent
This pushchair is a genuine breakthrough for city-dwelling families
I didn't realise what a boon having swivelling back wheels would be until I started testing this buggy. I initially thought I'd find myself rolling all over the place along the Thames Path, and feared the buggy may end up swivelling sideways like an unruly shopping trolley. Thankfully, though, the designers at Nuna have incorporated an on/off button to activate the swivel when needed. You depress the button on the handlebar, and it smoothly allows the back wheels to unlock and rotate – simple, practical, genius. Beyond the swivel feature, it has all the bougie credentials I have come to expect from Nuna – a chic brand popular with influencers and celebrities alike. The buggy comes in a variety of classy neutral colourways and is complete with a range of extras (a cup holder, a rain cover, a carry bag, and an adjustable tilt post adapter, making it travel-system-ready). Meanwhile, a zip pocket on the back of the seat and a secret one in the storage basket (ideal for stashing valuables) add to the buggy's practicality. These extras are often a significant expense with other brands, so, as a package, the swiv offers excellent value. That said, there is also an array of add-ons you can buy to pair with it, including chic footmuffs and nappy bags. The design of the swiv is distinct. It's somewhat between a travel buggy and a travel system in size, meaning you could get away with not having a smaller buggy. At 9.5kg, it's also very light – so in many ways it reminded me of Silver Cross's tide (£895, but that lacks the swivelling back wheels. For a compact model, it performs very well on rougher terrain but really comes into its own in shops and on public transport – I was able to get onto a bus without the usual dread of having to cajole the buggy sideways into an awkward gap around other passengers. The smaller footprint also doesn't compromise on practicality. You don't feel like you are pushing the QE2, but there is still ample room, a sturdy wheelbase and a basket that carries up to 10kg. The distance between the basket and the seat allows for lots to be carried underneath, and you are able you unload it without potentially disturbing a sleeping child – another key difference between the swiv and a travel buggy or smaller compact. The fold is pretty straightforward and works in the same way as most buggies in this class – you push the seat over and twist the handle and it then folds down one-handed to a very tidy 54cm x 78cm x 30cm. It really has made navigating the city with a child in tow a lot easier.
CNET
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answer and Help for May 29 #452
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles. Today's NYT Strands puzzle has a mix of long and short answers, so some of the unscrambling might take you a minute. But once you learn the topic, you'll recognize the words. If you need hints and answers, read on. I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story. If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET's NYT puzzle hints page. Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far Hint for today's Strands puzzle Today's Strands theme is: It's a little buggy. If that doesn't help you, here's a clue: Bzzzzz! Clue words to unlock in-game hints Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle's theme. If you're stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work: FRAP, TUNA, TORE, ROTE, LEAF, TINE, MATE, MEAT, MOTEL, PAWS, SWAP, RASP, HORN, GOLF, SNIT, BASE, DRAG. Answers for today's Strands puzzle These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you've got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the non-spangram answers: FLEA, MOTH, WASP, HORNET, MANTIS, DRAGONFLY, BUTTERFLY Today's Strands spangram The completed NYT Strands puzzle for May 29, 2025, #452. NYT/Screenshot by CNET Today's Strands spangram is INSECT. To find it, start with the I that's five letters down on the furthest row to the left, and wind across.
