Quote Originally Posted by blueskies View Post
At this point, I was shaking from the combination of the near wreck & the feeling of being attacked. I couldn't get my wits about me to communicate in any way that would be effective, and so I just got back on my bike & rode away.

Anyway, I mainly wish that I could have thought more clearly in the moment, so that I could have talked to him a little more effectively. I wish that I would have talked to him, not angrily, but just to explain that having the leash strung across the path like that created a hazard for anyone that came by. I wish I would have asked him to think about staying on the same side of the path that his dog is on, so he won't clothesline anyone else in the future. I mean it's pretty unlikely that he was going to say "Oh, you're right! My bad!" But maybe he would think about it in the future when he's out walking his dog.

I was almost in tears when I rode away, from the combination of near wreck & frustration at how I was treated. I wish I could have just had the clarity in the moment to represent myself more effectively.

Oh, well. I'm ok, the bike's ok, the dog's ok, and even the cranky man is ok.
He is the sort of person that needs a reminder to stay on same side as dog. Just chalk it up to experience.

I had something similar happen to me..when I was riding a multi-use path..but 1 side was for cyclists. It was in the highly popular Stanley park here, several years ago where I was commuting homeward from work. It was abit twilight and the dog walker had his leashed dog carelessly across the path, the leash loose while he yaaked on cell phone. A clear indication he didn't care...or whatever. Wasn't going fast but I did go down abit on bike since I barely could see the leash.

My cycling partner who was with me...yelled at him. The guy got the message.

Now, I do yell out of my incoming presence or use the bell with dog walkers..if there's enough time.

Since I'm not a dog owner nor grew up in a dog/any pet household, I often wonder if my irritation at some dog-owners is reflective of not being a dog-owner. But my partner had various dogs at home for over 4 decades of his life and so if he gets really pissed off at some thoughtless dog owners on the path,...I use him as my benchmark.

I appreciate the dogs with reflective collars, little jackets, etc. Important for nightlifers on bikes.