I was on train last night and pal came on at Haymarket also with his bike. We alighted at currie hill and pushed our bikes to the path, we carefully avoided pedestrians on the section heading west and when we turned to head south all was well until a chap with puppies came towards us, he was shouting at his puppies, to heel, they were ignoring him, my pal cruised past and I took the situation even slower. Dog walker then says you shouldn't be on this path, I asked why not he said it was a footpath. I said he had a point I had some sympathy with but could I also venture another view, he said go ahead, I said, why don't you keep your dogs on a lead? He then said F you you effin B. He was still at it when we reached the hairpins that you use to take your bike up to currie castle drive. Pedestrians use the stairs at this bit.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Dog walker goes raj
(12 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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I had a similar experience last year cycling east on the path crossing Murrayfield Golf Course. What looked like an old lady's mastiff charged at me. Luckily I had time to detach from my clipless pedals and put my bike between me and the "overly friendly" dog (old lady definition). I calmly explained that if I didn't had time to unclip I could have injured myself on the rocky trail and that she should keep him on a lead. Unbelievable how a polite British lady could turn in a foul-mouthed yob in such a short time.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I think Why don't you keep your dog on a lead is to dog walkers as Why don't you cycle in the cycle lane / wear hi-viz etc is to cyclists? But with more swearing.?
Posted 11 years ago # -
I've found pretending not to notice the dog can sometimes be quite effective in terms of getting the owner to stop it being out of control - won't make you popular though. You'd hope it would quickly sink in but so many owners just don't seem to give a s___.
I often compliment people on their lead when they don't have one. If I actually want to annoy them, I shout "can't you afford a lead?"
Interestingly, when I'm pulling the Carry Freedom it's amazing how many owners suddenly find it easy to get their mutt under control. I'd take no pleasure from running one down but I suppose it's because they know I'm not at any risk from a trailer impact, so it makes me more like a driver?
Posted 11 years ago # -
If I see a dog I always slow down. I know that folk should have a dog on a lead on a cycle path but it's not the mutt's fault if the owner is a bampot.
Posted 11 years ago # -
" it's not the mutt's fault if the owner is a bampot. "
Which is why, when approaching said combo, often on opposite sides of the path, I make a very clear point of aiming at the inconsiderate owner rather than the mutt.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I was told today to get a bell since it's very dangerous not to have one, by a woman walking a ratlike animal on an extender and an actual dog off the lead.
I didn't have the heart to tell her that my disc brakes had been squealing so loud, as I slowed to a crawl behind her, that I had been considering offering an apology for the noise rather than my usual strategy; a request to pass after a polite interval for pedestrians to notice me of their own accord, that habit being the reason I don't have a bell.
She was evincing grandmotherly concern rather than disapproval, so I didn't argue the point that if I need a bell, so do joggers, since even a plodder would be going faster than I had been for the ten seconds previous to her noticing me.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Amazing how many people think of keeping one dog on a lead and another one (or more) off a lead!
Occasionally, it tends to be a very old dog off the lead, leading (sorry!) me to think they believe that dog is too old to do anything stupid. It's also likely too old to see properly, hear properly, or bother to turn it's head before ambling in front of a bike!
Posted 11 years ago # -
Maybe the owners are hopeful of avoiding the vet's bill for putting the very old dogs down with such behaviour?
I don't think I would forgive myself easily for cycling into most dogs that I encounter, but I wouldn't feel all that much guilt for cycling into a typical owner instead.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Just as a car or bike user can decide to either be responsible or be a muppet, canal regulars will recognise all sorts of dog walkers. I personally would feel really bad if I hurt a dog.
Wednesday morning I had a very aware lady easily control her 3 small terriers, all on the lead, and as I went past slowly pleasantries were exchanged. A hundred yards later a (gorgeous+bonkers) collie very nearly took me off the bike by darting a meter in front of my wheel from the undergrowth - didn't even have time to touch my brake levers before the owner 20 metres away started mouthing off along the lines of 'f*****g mind my dog' and other things I didn't quite catch. Sheesh.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Sounds a bit like the guy I encountered on the Seafield - Easter Road path once whose unleashed dog had ran up to me, darted in amongst the wheels and chased me for about 50m, trying to bite my ankles the whole time. When I suggested he should have it on a lead he, in the loudest and most Anglo Saxon of possible terms, invited me to come back so he could take the chance to prematurely terminate my existence in this life.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I ran down a dog on NEPN ages ago. The owner had one on the lead and one off, and it darted right across the path in typically worst-possible-timing style.
I shouted at him to get a lead and rode off. Subsequently seen many times doing exactly the same thing.
At least I have it all on video, should anyone else actually be injured by him.
Posted 11 years ago #
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