Dog control on off road cycleways

[Cush]

Ah,

And to the OP - a dog "dangerously out of control" does not mean wandering around a FOOTPATH - it means a viscous dog biting people .

Having kept dogs for over forty years I (and SWMBO) are still appalled by the number of people who will not keep Fido on a leash in public places. A dog does not think (regardless of what certain blinkered owners may say), it acts instinctively and will wonder round at will if allowed too. I believe but stand to be corrected by our "legal eagles" that a dog involved in an accident is deemed out of control if it is not on a close leash and the dog owner or the person in charge of it is responsible for it's behavior. As for speed; well we live and learn and some times make mistakes and most of us learn when we can and can not put the foot down.

 

[FindingMozart]

Having kept dogs for over forty years I (and SWMBO) are still appalled by the number of people who will not keep Fido on a leash in public places. A dog does not think (regardless of what certain blinkered owners may say), it acts instinctively and will wonder round at will if allowed too. I believe but stand to be corrected by our "legal eagles" that a dog involved in an accident is deemed out of control if it is not on a close leash and the dog owner or the person in charge of it is responsible for it's behavior. As for speed; well we live and learn and some times make mistakes and most of us learn when we can and can not put the foot down.

The way I control dogs on a shared path is in stark contrast with the way majority of people do, and they see nothing wrong with it because it's not dangerous at that moment, but not being aware whose on the path around you, or where your dog is dangerous because it's out of the owner's control, and in my opinion the dog is then out of control and that doesn't have to mean it's acting aggressively at all.

There's very few people that I pass that are actively aware of what's going on around them, just like we're expected to as cyclists/motorists when in control of anything that requires 'control', shared path, shared responsibility. Not everybody shares the same view, so it comes down to experience, it's usually pretty easy to spot a dog owner, and if there's any large groups or people who have stopped to have a chat, it's usually safe to assume there's a dog running around somewhere.

 

[400bhp]

Read as if the OP was a car driver. Now see how it looks.

Does anyone know what the law or guidance is here?
I was behind another car, when we both nearly hit a child.
I didn't see it until the last minute as it ambled out in front of us, from a group of people stood opposite.

There was a difference of opinion between me and the child's owner.
I politely pointed out that the child should be under control (there are laws about not walking in the road but they are not obvious). AFAIK a child should be under control in a public place, so if I'd have hit it, it would have been the owner's fault.

The owner disagreed. and stated if I'd have hit her child, I'd have been at fault as I was "going too fast".

In retrospect I probably was going a little fast for a child, but I didn't see the thing until the last second.

I normally slow right down when there are young kids of dogs. However I had no warning that the thing would dart out.

Anyone know what the law says? Some of our children can be a right nuisance on that stretch.

 

[markharry66]

i personally think all dogs in public spaces of this nature should be kept on leads.
I am unable to use the local park to play football with my son (its separate play area, fenced off) in our local park due to idiots with dogs.

Personally if you cant control a dog keep it on a lead, telling someone its friendly doesnt cut it with me nor the mess thoughtless owners leave behind. Owners on shared paths should be aware that they are shared with other users.

Having almost had my head taken off in the past when idiot with a retractable dog lead let his dog wonder across path if you cant control or keep your dog under control dont use the path. Consider other uses as you expect them to consider you.

 

[Schneil]

Keep digging, isn't there also a recommendation to travel at a maximum speed of 12mph on a shared use cycle path? Of course acknowledging that little gem would be inconvenient and rather weaken your case in the 'discussion' with the dogs owner. But never mind, you just keep on arguing with random pedestrians and make cyclists look like selfish, anti-social *rseholes.

I've just had a look at the highway code and I can't find that particular rule. Appropriate speed should always depend on the situation.

Read as if the OP was a car driver. Now see how it looks.

Does anyone know what the law or guidance is here?
I was behind another car, when we both nearly hit a child.
I didn't see it until the last minute as it ambled out in front of us, from a group of people stood opposite.

There was a difference of opinion between me and the child's owner.
I politely pointed out that the child should be under control (there are laws about not walking in the road but they are not obvious). AFAIK a child should be under control in a public place, so if I'd have hit it, it would have been the owner's fault.

The owner disagreed. and stated if I'd have hit her child, I'd have been at fault as I was "going too fast".

In retrospect I probably was going a little fast for a child, but I didn't see the thing until the last second.

I normally slow right down when there are young kids of dogs. However I had no warning that the thing would dart out.

Anyone know what the law says? Some of our children can be a right nuisance on that stretch.

Ok chaps. I'm not here to argue. I asked a question and after a bit of research I found out my answer.
Yes in retrospect I could have gone a bit slower. As I said before if I'd have known there was a dog off lead I would have dropped my speed right down to walking pace, but I didn't see the dog until the last second. Don't forget I wasn't the only cyclist that nearly got dog entangled! I'm seeing it as a learning experience and I saw the situation as a bit of a 50:50.
What miffed me off was the owners attitude. She felt it was all my fault, despite(as I've now confirmed) written guidance stating that dogs should be under control in a public place. In the end what "under control" means would be up to a court to decide. However there is definite guidance for the use of a lead, also there are signs on this path saying "please use a lead" (horses also use the path). In the end though it's much better not to have to be in a court in the first place and not get dog entangled, or hit by a lorry etc etc etc. Which is why we should all cycle defensively.

 

[Cyclopathic]

Shared path...Expect to share.

 

[campbellab]

My dogs a bike chaser if I'm not careful, much to my embarrassment

 

[User6179]

My dogs a bike chaser if I'm not careful, much to my embarrassment

My dogs a bike chaser as well , I don't let her of the lead until we are safely miles from civilisation , collie?

 

[Hip Priest]

When I'm on a shared path I just bimble along. I have had dogs run out into my path, but I the owner normally apologises and I cheerfully accept it because it's nice to be nice. I used to have a dog who wasn't arsed about bicycles but was crazy about motorbikes, so I had to keep her very secure when near roads.

 

[Fab Foodie]

.... it's nice to be nice.

It most certainly is.

 

[campbellab]

My dogs a bike chaser as well , I don't let her of the lead until we are safely miles from civilisation , collie?

Terrier. Normally get her on the lead beforehand but the other day she heard someone cycling up the path the other side of the hedgerow ran to the next opening and gave chase for a couple of metres.

 

[Sara_H]

My dog's just stupid, so if I see/hear a cyclist when we're out I usually haul him over to the side of the path so the rider can pass safely. Trouble is, a lot of cyclists seem to expect you to have psychic powers and expect their arrival with no warning.

When I'm passing through the park on my bike I tinkle away on my bell almost constantly, which means people are alert to my presence and have the opportunity to allow me space to pass, should they wish to.

 

[Profpointy]

Lucky we're not talking about a bridleway across a field: bloody cows, not one of them on a lead, running about all over the place, not even supervised..

 

[captain nemo1701]

This can be very annoying. Last week I was pootling home up the Bristol Railway Path when two dog walkers, both with pooches off leads, (one peeing in the verge), both stopped for a chat in the middle of the path!. I rang my bell, they called their dogs (both looking like they were about to have a sh*g at that point). They both came running over, but diverted to sniff bloke-on-a-bike who had to suddenly stop. Said owners then grabbed dogs and issued apologies. I just sighed and went on my way.

On another occasion, a crusty 1980's Glasto festival escapee with dreadlocks down to his ankles had the gross stupidity to chuck a ball down the path for his mutt as a group of cyclists (including me) were riding towards him. Everyone swerved as the ball hit a cobble and bounced off at a right angle across the path followed by mangy little critter running at full tilt.

And don't get me started on those bl**dy telescopic retractable leads. Dog on one side of path, owner on the other and an invisible cord between them.

 

[markharry66]

Please - try using some grammar and punctuation.

Please ignore my posts or comments if the content is anyway deemed offensive.
Or do not comment on them. I sure you have more important things to do in life.