dogs....do you slow down for them?

[united4ever]

I go down a canal towpath and a lot of dog walkers let their dogs off the lead. Sometimes the dogs walk/run erratically across the footpath. They don't seem to respond to my bell, sometimes the owner calls the dog which helps. Anyway, I wonder how much I need to anticipate them running under my wheel....maybe they would be able to jump out of the way in a split second unlike a person. Is it the dog owners responsibility to control them on a NCR towpath?

By the way I have the same problem with geese who just wander all over the path but don't move as i approach. part of me thinks they will move if I keep going bit I don't want to hurt one.

Can anticipate the answer is to slow down a bit but how much....down to walking pace?

 

[andyfraser]

I slow down when I see anyone or anything on the shared paths round here. It makes things so much easier for everyone.

 

[biggs682]

I slow down when I see anyone or anything on the shared paths round here. It makes things so much easier for everyone.

same here

 

[coffeejo]

Yes, dog owners should have their dogs under control but since pedestrians are the more vulnerable road/path user, you should be slowing down to pass anyway.

And good luck with the geese. I'd rather a whole pack of irresponsible dog owners than one grumpy goose.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Speed up, run them over. Chase them if you miss first time round.

 

[FastFlyer]

Last time I slowed down for a dog it tried to bite me.

 

[Hip Priest]

I love dogs and I'm happy to slow down for them on shared paths. I'd hate to think owners couldn't let them off the lead because of cyclists. The only time I've been annoyed by a dog owner is when a dog on one of those extended leads jumped up at me from the pavement when I was dicing with traffic on a busy road.

 

[slowmotion]

I slow down for everything on a shared path. Quite often I stop as well. Why perpetuate the reputation of cyclists being inconsiderate, arrogant prats?

 

[Hip Priest]

[QUOTE 3814761, member: 9609"]For the very same reasons we would object to Starva devices fitted to cars and trucks, they should also be banned for cyclists.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't go that far, but I think people who create or compete for Strava segments on shared paths are morons.

 

[Hip Priest]

Yes, dog owners should have their dogs under control but since pedestrians are the more vulnerable road/path user, you should be slowing down to pass anyway.

And good luck with the geese. I'd rather a whole pack of irresponsible dog owners than one grumpy goose.

Is it really 'irresponsible' to let your dog wander about on a shared path?

 

[PeteXXX]

Is it really 'irresponsible' to let your dog wander about on a shared path?

Irresponsible, possibly, depending on how well you can control Fido. Against local by-laws? Probably.

But yes, slow down for dogs, geese, people etc. unless you are prepared to clip one and end up doing the next third of a triathlon.

 

[coffeejo]

Is it really 'irresponsible' to let your dog wander about on a shared path?

If you don't have control over your dog, yes. And I say that as the owner of a Labrador with selective hearing. I live in the sticks so have never had to share an urban path with cyclists, but I do keep her on the lead in the village and on all but the quietest roads. She's mainly off the lead on footpaths and bridleways though that depends on livestock and other people we encounter. Not everyone likes dogs and I'm always prepared to put her on the lead when we're out in public.

 

[Saluki]

I slow down, or even stop for dogs on shared paths. Sometimes they are on those extending lead things and just rush across at you, sometimes they are loose and rush across at you. I unclip, just in case I need to put my food down, too.

Most dogs, and their owners are fine, but there are wobbly elderly types out there (dogs and owners) and it really does no harm to slow down and give them all a bit of space. If the dog is particularly lovely, I might stop and fuss them too.

Living near the Marriotts Way (shared bike/foot/bridle path) there are a lot of other users of NCN1. I know of 2 dog owners who have had their dogs run over by cyclists and it gives us all a bad name. We've had a near miss ourselves when a couple of men on MTBs rushed past like loons and just clipped our old dog, who was on her lead, walking at my side.

There are a lot of people in the world and it would be nice if we all treated each other with a bit of respect from time to time.

 

[theclaud]

a Labrador with selective hearing.

Is there another kind?

 

[slowmotion]

Is there another kind?

It's terriers than willfully remove the batteries from their hearing aids.