an unfortunate incident

[uforgot]

Too bad someone doesn't invent a James Bond-like retractable leash cutter for bikes that can razor-cut a leash as we ride through it.

And they would be so busy trying to recover their dog that they would have no time to rant at you! A clean getaway.

[teigyr]

Last week I did a training ride then immediately went for a run. While I was on my ride, I noticed a woman with a dog NOT on a leash. The woman was talking on a cell phone and the dog was running free. When I went out for my run, I was on the street (my ride was on a MUT by the house) and the woman was walking toward me NOT on the phone carrying an empty leash. She asked if I had seen a dog.

I almost had to laugh at her but I feel bad for the dog.

Maybe the people around our MUT are more irresponsible than most but if they do bag up dog poop, they leave the baggies on or beside the trail! (Some of them, not all.) The trail used to be gravel and was paved about 5 years ago or so. The neighbors along the trail, especially since it got paved, have taken to putting up "pick up after your dog, it's the law" signs because I guess it gets pretty nasty.

I don't get it. It's just more cases of people thinking that their actions are what's important (and they disregard cyclists and neighbors) and don't really think beyond their own little scope of existence.

Oh and regarding the good dogs (whether not on leash or on retractable leash) how do we know? It's ok when I run but when I'm on my bike I have to act as if any uncontrolled dog could dart in front of me. I love dogs, I just don't love falling.

[OakLeaf]

Oh and regarding the good dogs (whether not on leash or on retractable leash) how do we know?

With a dog on a retractable leash, you know the same way that you know with a dog on a non-retractable leash. That is, you trust the owner to not drop the freakin' leash. Or you don't trust them, but there's no difference there whether the leash is retractable, or a 4 foot non-retractable, or a 12 foot non-retractable.

[GLC1968]

I hate irresponsible dog owners as much as I hate irresponsible bikers. It's the same thing. People have issues with retractable leashes because many people don't use them correctly. People have issues with cyclists because there are those out there who don't use them correctly (following the rules).


I'm glad no one got hurt! I know exactly what you mean about not being able to get the right words out when it matters. I do the same thing and it's so frustrating!!

[BethG]

I know exactly what you mean about not being able to get the right words out when it matters. I do the same thing and it's so frustrating!!

FWIW, it doesn't sound like anything she said would have mattered - because it doesn't sound like grumpasaurus was interested in being reasonable. blueskies could have quoted her favorite soup recipe for all the difference it would have made to this guy

Happy to her neither you, nor the dog was hurt

(aside: as a dog owner, my personal suspicion is that retractable leashes were invented by the Devil. They're too easy to drop, prone to giving people around you rope burns, and give people a false sense of security about how well they're controlling their dogs - if you can't trust your dog to behave 10 feet way from you if it's off leash, you can't count on it being safe and under control when it's 10 feet away from you on a retractable. /rant /soapbox)

[blueskies]

I guess sharing the MUPs is just like sharing the road-- lots of food for thought & discussion.

I wanted to add that I've ridden this path a couple times per week over the last couple years, and only had one other negative experience in all that time. Mostly, I enjoy this path a lot. It's lovely & it's a busy park. That's part of the charm for me, and I ride there specifically when my intention is to do a slow, easy recovery spin. All the people & dogs actually make it easier for me to glo slow, which is my goal.

I've had so many small moments there that put a smile on my face...

Last year, I came upon a group of young boys that had stopped in the middle of the path. I stopped to give them a moment to move, and they asked me if I happened to have binoculars with me. I didn't. They pointed to a big tree in the distance & told me that they thought there was a spy in that tree. They went on to say that once I passed a certain point, I'd be entering the ghetto, and did I have a weapon. I admitted that I did not have a weapon & they started an earnest conversation amongst themselves about whether or not I could proceed, deciding eventually that because I was a grown-up it was probably all right. It was comic.

The other day, I passed (very slowly) a small girl on a bike with training wheels. She grinned & pointed at me & said "Look, mom, a racer girl!" I'm 49.

Another time, I saw a couple people looking up at a tree, very intently. I slowed & looked but didn't see anything. The next week, I saw another group, looking at this same tree again. I stopped and asked what they were looking at, and it was a baby owl, who nested in that tree all last summer.

I love the mix of people there-- mom's with jogging strollers, the local cross country team, kids on bikes, families at the playgrounds, elderly people who are just shuffling along... It just puts a smile on my face when I ride.

I like the green space & the birds & the ducks & nearly all of the dogs.

I've learned to expect people to behave unpredictably, when I come up behind them. I do call out. And 99.99% of the time, it all goes well. Maybe that's why I felt so bad getting yelled at in such a pleasant place, it was just so unexpected.