Before motorcars, most people had to walk unless they had the use of a horse and only the wealthy could afford to own one. The provision of fodder, stabling and riding equipment all contributed to the cost of their upkeep. Riding was made more hazardous by the poor road conditions. Sir Richard Choke of Stanton Drew and later of Ashton Court would have been familiar with the poor state of the roads in and around Bristol. Appointed Sergeant-at-Law to King Henry VI in 1453 following legal training in London, he spent much of his time travelling by horseback on legal business for the King, including several errands to Bristol and Somerset. Having settled at Ashton Court in 1454 just two miles out of Bristol he also spent a good deal of time on the road between his estate and the city This experience was sufficiently wearisome for him to have left £20 (about £6000 today) in his will for the 'the amending of feeble ways and bridges".

It wasn't until the 1700s that significant improvements to roads were made when turnpike roads were constructed. Payment of a toll was required from all vehicles using these roads but this was not always popular with travellers.