THe other option is what one of our riders does... tosses chunks of PowerBars out for the critters. THey love him.
It so doesn't address the real problem here, though. I would go for the pepper spray *and* police reports.
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THe other option is what one of our riders does... tosses chunks of PowerBars out for the critters. THey love him.
It so doesn't address the real problem here, though. I would go for the pepper spray *and* police reports.
My experience won't give you much advice, but this is what I did after a dog chased me (seemed like about a mile). He was a mean sounding blue heeler. I kept thinking he was giving up the chase, but in reality was just catching his breath sucking behind my wheel to make a new attack. After the incident I called the owner to restrain her dog before riding. The 4th time I called she was apathetic and asked why I didn't ride the bike path the city spent so much money on.:mad: The path only goes 1 mile, and does not even get me passed her house. I quit calling her and the dog has came out for a short chase, but no extended chases. I haven't been riding that way since the road work. There is not many choices for good roads to ride. Looking forward to dogs on the route definitely dampened my enthusiasm to get on my bike. Glad your able to ride again and hope you receive a just reimbursment.
Dampening my enthusiasm is right... I really wanted to ride yesterday. But I just couldn't get up the desire/courage/heart to go. Chances are the dogs will be out again. And I don't feel like fighting every time I ride, you know? If it was just those two dogs at that one corner then it wouldn't be such a big deal (but it would still be a big deal). But three more one way, two more the opposite direction and they are both only 16 mile routes!!!!!!! I might have another way I can go. Need to check it out first. And hopefully it would only be a two dog route. The emotional side of this is more than I figured. Ack.
So sorry liberty ~ I know I would be feeling the same as you, which is why I made the semi-serious suggestion to move. Doing so would probably feel like letting "them" win; otoh, it's also taking your life back to remove yourself from an untenable situation. There just have to be better, more bike-friendly places to ride. Other than that, you're pretty much limiting yourself to driving and parking to ride in safer areas. I wouldn't want to ride in your 'hood either! :mad:Quote:
Originally Posted by liberty
It's just not right -- and as someone who had her entire life changed by a dog-induced accident (my pelvis will never be 100% the same, I have a large numb spot on my upper right thigh from where they cut nerves to do my surgery, I get achy and tight in that area, get SI joint pain on longer rides, etc) -- I am supremely empathetic to your situation. :(
(((((((((((((((((( liberty ))))))))))))))))))))))
Have you tried the Air Zound 2 air horn? I've got that on my road bike now. It may not work on all the dogs you encounter, but it will probably work on most of them. A small price to pay for piece of mind; but no matter how "well-armed" you are, with horn, Halt, etc, just knowing that dogs may or probably will come running out at you is enough to take most of the fun out of a ride and/or provide enough motivation not to ride, just like you experienced. Been there. :(
Keep us posted, okay?
Emily
So I deliberated this morning for several hours on whether I was gonna ride or not. And I made myself go. After all, most times you are afraid of something it turns out to be a non-issue. So I went. Got up to the house, and the owner was outside. Told me to wait a minute because the dog was out. So he went to put the dog away. I asked him if I could call him before I left the house on future rides and then he would know to lock up the dogs. He was great with that. I just hope after this whole thing is over that we are still on speaking terms, as it would be wonderful to think those dogs are over and done with... (We didn't speak at all of finances) Rest of the ride was dogless. Yippee! And you know what, I feel like me again. Not fearful anymore. I'm sure on future rides I'll have to keep confronting this to some degree, but for now I feel invincible and in love with biking again. Did 15 miles of hills and my legs are tired but happy. My lungs did better than I thought. So maybe the body is adjusting quickly! Only quirk today was the stop sign at the top of a hill. Gonna have to practice clipping in and starting uphill from a standstill...
Most herding-type dogs can't resist a moving target unless they are very well trained. If that was the only route I could go and I had to go that way, I would get off my bike and start walking it prior to entering the "dog's territory" which is probably the start of the yard, not the gate or area it runs out of. It might bark and come out to greet you but walking shouldn't incite its herding/prey instincts.
Meanwhile, I would definitly be pursuing having the dog owners contacted by the police or sheriff or animal control so you wouldnt have to be walking your bike. Who is the elected official in your county or precinct? A letter with carbon copy to dog's owner might get some attention.
If your are a really patient, tranquil type you might be able to acclimate the dogs to your movement past them but this could take weeks and is really not your job.
I have had success with yelling "No. Bad dog" but then again I'm training a rottweiller/shephard cross pup and am at the top of my authoritarian dog-voice at the moment.
Good luck and get those letters flying! My the dimwits with the dogs don't know your officials are lame in this area and will do something on their own.
Thank God I have not encountered dog problems. (There is one house that lets it's dogs outside and they lay in the road, but I haven't been chased ... yet.) I take exception to the statement that some dogs are dense ... they are not dense, they have not been taught to be good neighbors by their dense owners! Dogs are not born understanding language and human expectations, they must be taught.
And, for that reason, I would circle back in my car if necessary, get their address and report them to the dog warden. If your animal control stinks, then I'd call the police. And if the police appeared sluggish, I'd tell them that I bike that route frequently, and if a bicyclist ever gets hurt because of the dog and the town had failed to address the problem, there could be legal problems for both the dog owner AND the town. Using a form of the phrase "legal action" usually gets things rolling.
I live in a neighborhood with more than our share of inconsiderate a**hole dog owners (let the dog out at 5:30 am to bark, let the dog run across the street and kill the neighbor's lawn, etc.). It's an amazing thing.
Liberty, it is great that you got out and rode and that the dog owner seems to be "trying". I wouldn't want to have to call someone every time I went out on a ride, but it's better than the alternative. Glad you had a good ride!
Emily
Well, Ladies, I totally have dropped the ball on keeping you up-to-date on what happened with this. Sorry. I was replying to a different dog thread and remembered. So, here is the scoop: my arm and shoulder are fine now. I have been back on the bike and everything is working normally. I am still dog-shy and don't go on my back roads as often. Feel like I lost a lot of freedom, as while on the roads I am more attentive to the possibility of a dog behind every bush and not on enjoying the ride...
The dog owners WOULD NOT BUDGE in paying for more than the initial medical bills. It was getting to be an issue of whether to sue or not. And since I had far too many other things hanging over my head at the time and was stressing out big time, I let it go. They wrote a check for $750, and I ate the rest. What do I wish I had done differently? I wish I had been riding with someone, as a witness would have made a huge difference legally speaking. I wish I had gotten their home owner's insurance information while there with the cop. What am I thankful for in all of this? Falling isn't such a big deal. The dogs didn't bite me. I can bike past that house, knowing the dogs are tied up (since I have to call before I ride now... ack... But hey, a peaceful solution) And it gave me the opportunity to join a wonderful cycling forum and hang out at my bike shop. War stories. Thanks for being there, gals. I appreciate it.