Despite the presence of large amount of grass either side of the path, the middle of the path was apparently the best place to stand to brush this dog:
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
today's rubbish dog-handling
(217 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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Yesterday, heading west along Cramond foreshore, small, curly white-haired terrier, belonging to small, curly white-haired woman, sees me and proceeds to charge up and around me. It's all I can do to stop it getting under my wheels as the woman shouts at the dog, to no avail. I sprint off and it continues alongside until I've got up to speed.
Meh.
Posted 10 years ago # -
This is the best (worst) of the bunch (of 3 video-captured incidents). Note the dog owner very dutifully commands her dog to stay, right up until 1 second before I pass, at which point the dog is released by the owner, and it runs straight into my path. In the split second I had to make a decision, I decided to keep going so the dog would run into me, rather than brake and run over the dog (and thus me go over the handlebars). Thankfully, the dog and I also swerved just enough to avoid contact.
I was still shaking when I arrived at my office. Please excuse the quiet swearies you might be able to detect.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Many years of cycling where there are dogs and owners around have led me to slowing down to walking pace whenever I see them up ahead. They're too unpredictable to risk passing any faster.
I'm also constantly checking to see if the lone pedestrian on the path ahead has a dog lead in their hand, or is carrying a filled poo bag - as you can guarantee that any hidden dog off sniffing in the weeds and undergrowth at the side of the path will dart out and run across in front of you when you least expect it.
Posted 10 years ago # -
It's either cars, carbon monoxide and fear of death on the roads, or uncontrolled dogs, dog poo and feral children on the paths.
I dream of a bicycle highway for bicycles only!
Posted 10 years ago # -
@nevelbell - you forgot the glass on the paths, potholes on the roads and road rage
Posted 10 years ago # -
"
reggie tricker (@reggietricker)
13/11/2014 19:49
main hazards today = dogs, 1 squirrel, 1 fox. plus getting used to a few Edinburgh traffic management idiosyncracies! #bybike #edcommute"
Posted 10 years ago # -
The guy who let their dog run loose on the towpath west of Wester Hailes Education Centre this evening. I started to hear some shouting as I cycled along in the dark, only to have a dog come hurtling out of the gloom straight at the bike. It somehow deflected off my front wheel, seemingly unhurt, and continued on its way... I merely had time to utter an expletive as I attempted to brake and half put a foot down in anticipation of falling off. As I passed the owner, who was still shouting, moments later I said "that really scared me". He seemed to find it all quite amusing.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@jdanielp
I too saw that dog. I repelled it with a peal of bells, which made it look quizzical.
I think the walker was the same guy who was driving a remote control speedboat down the canal on Monday night, closely followed by an exasperated small child.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@IWRATS I would have rung my bell (albeit my old 'ping' bell last night, which would no doubt have been somewhat ineffective) if I had actually had time to do so between spotting the dog and the collision. Of course I may have seen the dog sooner if my front light was not dipped for the courtesy of other towpath users or if my head torch had been switched on (it was off due to the rain, which it tends to illuminate right in front of my face in the wet). Disappointed to have missed the speedboat action.
Posted 10 years ago # -
The couple yesterday afternoon who had decided that the middle of the Balgreen tramline path, busy with cyclists, was an ideal spot to stand and teach their dog to sit up and beg for treats.
Posted 10 years ago # -
so, i'm coming down MMW. notice two people, chatting, with small dogs on long leads, right at the foot i.e. north side of junction. dogs are sniffing each other. owners very distracted.
i go very wide and slow, indicating all the while.
as i go around, the male owner moves across my path, but i have gone wide enough to avoid him, but then his dog runs in opposite direction on extendable lead. i take more evasive action, as does female cyclist coming from NMW and turning up MMW, who dog also runs in front of.
no one comes off, but dog owner very defensive 'its a junction'. me 'yes, thats why i was going so slow and went around to avoid you; that lead's lethal'.
argh.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Should we have a good dog handling thread? I was on NEPN around craigleith and heading south. Dog walker in hi viz pink signalled to her dog a retriever which immediately came to heel in front of her. Both waited until I passed by. I said Thank you very much. A bit further on person walking three dogs all off leash and all scooting across path in all directions. Has to slow to stop. No big deal but no Thank Yous.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Yes, I always say thank you when they do that too.
Posted 9 years ago # -
The Murrayfield & Ravelston Ladies Jogging, Sportswear and Dog-owning Association are back out in force with the nice weather.
4 of them this morning with 3 dogs on leash and 2 off, scattered all over the path in such a manner as to force anyone comign the other way (on foot or wheel) to take a convoluted avoiding action.
Posted 9 years ago # -
They own that stretch of path though.
Posted 9 years ago # -
3 people + chocolate labrador decide they can't be bothered to wait for a push chair coming the other way past a parked car. So step off the pavement around the parked car without so much as a glance behind them, down the middle of the road three abreast + dog with their back to the traffic (me). Davidson's Mains, Main Street in the middle of the afternoon. Great.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Posted 9 years ago #
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small dog that almost took a female cyclist out on the NEPN. owner acknowledged it was her dog when I called it to her attention but refused to engage.
the cyclist was on a heavy upright or hybrid with basket - was not moving fast and tried to avoid dog but eventually had to stop completely.
unimpressed
cyclist said it was the second time that dog had forced her to stop.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Forgot to post last Friday: an unleashed big grey dog on the bit of WoL by the bridge to the steps to the gallery made my smallest cry when it repeatedly approached us with a disgusting slaver-covered tennis ball as we ate some sandwiches on a bench. Its owner would have been shouted at considerably more loudly had there not been a wailing toddler on my shoulder when she eventually turned up.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Going along Middle Meadow Walk this morning there were cries of 'Fenton' (or similar) to one side and then a small terrier-type thing came snarling and yapping towards me at high speed.
I accelerated a bit (luckily it was quiet) but wasn't actually able to outrun the dog without going dangerously fast for the conditions. I knew it wasn't going to seriously injure me, but I didn't want my ankles nipped. The biggest risk was me coming off or colliding with something while trying to avoid this hairy ball of snarling teeth at my ankles.
The owner, of course, was miles behind by this time, continuing with their ineffectual cries.
Totally unacceptable.
Posted 9 years ago # -
don't mess with fenton
Posted 9 years ago # -
Fenton is the big chaser of herds of deer in Richmond park with original useless owner who just shouts Fenton over and over whilst the stampede ensues around him
Posted 9 years ago # -
@gembo - Imagine me as the herd of deer, then it was a bit like that this morning.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Person on the cycle path in Victoria Park today surrounded by 7 large dogs (labrador size) none on a leash or under control. Just stood in the middle of the path challenging me to try and get past. I had to thread my way through at crawling pace. Not a word of acknowledgement.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@ ih that person is a complete Fenton
@greenroofer, sorry about that, as morrisey nearly said You were the quarry
Posted 9 years ago # -
The couple with a small dog totally off the lead and wandering merrily away from them on the NEPN yesterday evening. I pass dead slow, watching the thing carefully. The people smile nicely at me. They appear to think that I'm admiring their dog, not watching it like a hawk in case it decides to run under my wheels...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Interesting experience this morning on the towpath. I was riding on the left (as you do). Chap with dog walking towards me with the dog on the opposite edge of the towpath. As I approached I would have expected the chap to move closer to his dog and to 'his' side of the path to let me through and share the space. I would have dropped my speed to pass them safely and be able to cope with any unexpected dog action.
In fact he did the opposite of what I expect: he made eye contact with me and moved across the path away from his dog and toward my side of the path, thereby taking up more space than he was before, with a combination of him, dog lead and dog taking up much of the width of the path.
I had to slow right down to pass him because he'd deliberately taken up so much of the path.
He definitely saw me: he made eye contact, and I have a bright light on the bike all the time.
Not a word was exchanged (I certainly wasn't going to thank him for his behaviour, when I normally do say 'thank you' to everyone I pass in either direction). It was a strange passive-aggressive experience.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I always think it is funny when people try to (unsuccessfully) call their dog to their side of the path, rather than moving over themselves. The funniest one I heard was a woman to her friendly, but dopey, labrador. 'For goodness sakes Fido. Either stand on the left of the path or the right of the path. Not in the middle! The gentleman is trying to get past you!' Needless to say, this fell on deaf ears :-)
Posted 9 years ago # -
A few days ago I watched as a woman grabbed hold of her spaniel at my approach, got it to sit on the side of the path, and then let go of its collar just as I was a few feet away. The spaniel, being a spaniel, immediately launched itself in front of my wheel. I was quite pleased to discover how effective my emergency braking was (the spaniel was completely oblivious to my presence). She was very apologetic, and said she'd thought the dog would stay where it was. How anyone who has any experience of spaniels though that might be the case I have no idea. Fortunately I had an inkling it would do something stupid and was watching it intently.
(Apologies to anyone who owns a non-idiotic spaniel, if such a beast exists)
Posted 9 years ago #
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