Dogs - stop or escape?

[jonny jeez]

What what WHAAAAT??!

Nice story there about Tara by the way.

yep...that's pretty much the reaction I got whenever my sister recalls the story to friends...which is a lot.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I rarely hear these crazy dog rants on other forums that are outdoor orientated yet they appear frequently on cycling forums.

I don't for one minute believe that dogs are a problem for the vast majority of cyclists yet we I have read of repeat victims, entire families being attacked and the need for extreme violence.

What gives?

If canine anti-cyclism was true one reason could be that dogs take exception to people in twattish clothes, reeking of sweat and spinning their legs too fast spoiling their walk. Who knows.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

yep...that's pretty much the reaction I got whenever my sister recalls the story to friends...which is a lot.

I bet it tickled though!

 

[Fab Foodie]

It took years befor the wife agreed to have sex with me doggy fashion. One day she finally relented on the one condition that we did it in a street where nobody knew us ....

 

[Fab Foodie]

S

I rarely hear these crazy dog rants on other forums that are outdoor orientated yet they appear frequently on cycling forums.

I don't for one minute believe that dogs are a problem for the vast majority of cyclists yet we I have read of repeat victims, entire families being attacked and the need for extreme violence.

What gives?

If canine anti-cyclism was true one reason could be that dogs take exception to people in twattish clothes, reeking of sweat and spinning their legs too fast spoiling their walk. Who knows.

In 30 years regular cycling I've never had a dog related incident.
Since becoming a dog-owner of some 6 months I'm constantly 'surprised' (literarally and figuratively) by cyclists blatting up sliently behind me on SHARED PATHS (which are often narrow) without any warning or consideration of children, dogs etc.
There's no chance to grab or call the dog under these circumstances, just pray they don't get mown down ...

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Bloody cyclists!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Bloody cyclists!

They are a PITA - I think you can get pepper spray, nail studded baseball bats and long sharp knives to fend them off though. And if one of them came near my child well I'd 'have the *astard before he could so much as dismount. They ought to be banned - continually gobbing and snotting on the paths that my poor dog and daughter has to walk on. Disgusting..

 

[jonny jeez]

S


In 30 years regular cycling I've never had a dog related incident.
Since becoming a dog-owner of some 6 months I'm constantly 'surprised' (literarally and figuratively) by cyclists blatting up sliently behind me on SHARED PATHS (which are often narrow) without any warning or consideration of children, dogs etc.
There's no chance to grab or call the dog under these circumstances, just pray they don't get mown down ...

This is an interesting problem.

I dont come across this much (dogs and kids that is) but when I'm in Hyde park or on a shared path I'd genuinely like to ask...

what is the *right* noise to make to let people politely know you are there. A call or shout of "excuse me" or "hello"comes across as pushy or rude, as does "look out behind"...or "mind your dog/kid". A cough is too subservient, a whistle and a bell too easy to misconstrue.

Even if you are riding with due caution and consideration, people don't do rear obs when they walk (nor should they have too)...so what should I consider as a proper warning.

please...no zounds!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

This is an interesting problem.

I dont come across this much (dogs and kids that is) but when I'm in Hyde park or on a shared path I'd genuinely like to ask...

what is the *right* noise to make to let people politely know you are there. A call or shout of "excuse me" or "hello"comes across as pushy or rude, as does "look out behind"...or "mind your dog/kid". A cough is too subservient, a whistle and a bell too easy to misconstrue.

Even if you are riding with due caution and consideration, people don't do rear obs when they walk (nor should they have too)...so what should I consider as a proper warning.

please...no zounds!

I won't claim this is the perfect solution but it works for me (most of the time).

I use one of these which gives a loud old fashioned "ding-dong" which people seem to like. Adults thank me for ringing the bell at them and youngsters tell me it's cool. I rang it at a group of hoodies the other week and they not only let me by politely but asked me to ring it again.

There are occasions when it doesn't work, for example: coming up behind a group of hikers I dinged the bell and they all looked at each other and asked "whose phone was that?".

Given what happened earlier in this thread I'd like to point out that it does not work on chickens, tigers, certain varieties of sheep, completely deaf people or the terminally ignorant. Apart from that it's good.

 

[jonny jeez]

There are occasions when it doesn't work, for example: coming up behind a group of hikers I dinged the bell and they all looked at each other and asked "whose phone was that?".

Brilliant!!

 

[Fab Foodie]

This is an interesting problem.

I dont come across this much (dogs and kids that is) but when I'm in Hyde park or on a shared path I'd genuinely like to ask...

what is the *right* noise to make to let people politely know you are there. A call or shout of "excuse me" or "hello"comes across as pushy or rude, as does "look out behind"...or "mind your dog/kid". A cough is too subservient, a whistle and a bell too easy to misconstrue.

Even if you are riding with due caution and consideration, people don't do rear obs when they walk (nor should they have too)...so what should I consider as a proper warning.

please...no zounds!

I find this is pretty easy as I possess vocal chords and know how to use them....

But even before then, I slow right down to their pace, sometimes I'll make a ding-ding sound, sometimes I'll sing to myself, or a polite 'excuse me' or 'good afternoon' ... whatever, it's not rocket science to be honest. On shared paths I assume peds have priority and then un-common decency follows.

 

[Scuddy]

I, being a Dog owner (German model, very athletic - Dobermann) and a cyclist / motorcycle rider / car driver, can understand the frustration, on my pedal bike, I tend to stop and allow the dog to notice me, rather than sneak up and scare the living crap out of it, in my experience, dogs only really chase / attack, if taken by suprise / or are scared, and do the defending thing.

I thank Dog owners / child owners / Grand Parent owners, for getting control of said beast, and cycle on

 

[jonny jeez]

I find this is pretty easy as I possess vocal chords and know how to use them....

But even before then, I slow right down to their pace, sometimes I'll make a ding-ding sound, sometimes I'll sing to myself, or a polite 'excuse me' or 'good afternoon' ... whatever, it's not rocket science to be honest. On shared paths I assume peds have priority and then un-common decency follows.

I did mention I'm happy to call out or speak...but I also mentioned that this is so often misconstued and I also mentioned that I would ride consideration. This isn't a facetious question about them and us. I am genuinely trying to find a good way to let people who don't realise (of all languages) that they are on a *shared* path

The politest of "good mornings" is met (in London) by often quirte rude responses as people seem to assume you are somehow telling them off or trying to assert yourself.

unfortunately I've not found "excuse me" to work for this reason. Very often , especially in the beautiful and well used parks in town you will be find large groups enjoying the park who are being oblivious to the fact that they are completely blocking the cycle path section of the path. Eventually they will move out of the way (after I make a suitable noise) but will almost immediately fall back into rank after you pass. I cant help but think, later when they are in their hotel or home, that they will recall how delightful the park was but how it was almost spoilt by the constant buzzing of over assertive cyclists.

I do get a little more success with the straight "hello" (its recognisable in many languages) but it still doesn't translate the fact that it is they who are in the wrong

but most just don't get it I'm afraid...as I no doubt wouldn't if I weren't a cyclist myself

 

[jonny jeez]

I find this is pretty easy as I possess vocal chords and know how to use them....

But even before then, I slow right down to their pace, sometimes I'll make a ding-ding sound, sometimes I'll sing to myself, or a polite 'excuse me' or 'good afternoon' ... whatever, it's not rocket science to be honest. On shared paths I assume peds have priority and then un-common decency follows.

Oh and PS...someone asked this a while ago on another thread and I gave almost the exact same reply as you did to me. However I've noticed with the wonderful weather and increased used of common parts, that the issue is growing and my advice just doesn't seem to cut it.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

The politest of "good mornings" is met (in London) by often quirte rude responses as people seem to assume you are somehow telling them off or trying to assert yourself.

Funny lot Londoners: I was born there and only learn't how to talk to complete strangers on walks etc when I moved to the Lake District.

Up here people generally like dogs too - the only ones that don't tend to be holidaymakers from the big cities. You find them getting all disrespectful because your dog has had the temerity to sniff their designer clad sprog as the whole family clearly owns the route that I use 300+ times a year and that they are using once in a lifetime.

And the next day when I walk said route I have to pick up their bleedin' crisp bags and drinks cans that they have left there. Or, as I did last month, when 4 MTB'ers had had a ride and scoff session on NT land where bikes are banned (heavily signed) I had to clear up tin foil, Red Bull cans and Pepperami wrappers.

I think I'll buy a Mace spray and squirt the sods next time - or maybe I'll just write a book about how to despatch errant cyclists with walking poles and compass needles.

Dogs, cyclists - who knows which are worst!