In the UK bridleways are open to horses, bicycles and
pedestrians.* The biking community is already entitled to ride on the
trails being discussed here.

What is being mooted are new tracks that would therefore take
cyclists off the existing trails being used by equestrians.* I thought that
was your preferred solution ?

I would prefer that equestrians have their own trails separate
from hikers, but at least they are both doing the same thing ... appreciating
nature. It is cyclists who need to be banned from MY trails as they are doing
something different from what equestrians and hikers are doing.

These are not YOUR trails Ed. They are historic rights of way open to all non-motorised traffic and they were instituted for travel.

Do get your facts straight before you wade in and make yourself look foolish.