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.

[colby]

I actually selected a retractable leash for my dog that was fat, like a full leash (NOT invisible), and I usually use it either REALLY short (right next to my body) or about 3 feet locked. The only time my dog gets out farther than that is if we're walking, she stops, and I keep walking while she pees (this is a frequent occurrence, apparently it is her job to mark every X feet), at which point she might get to about 6 feet.

A well exercised and well mannered dog won't wander regardless of leash, but it's usually not the dog's problem, it's the owner's. Don't train your dog? Don't walk them regularly? Don't give a crap? They aren't the ones that suffer. I've heard tales from the trail where people have been attacked by dogs at the end of the retractable leash while their owners don't pay attention (or worse, dogs off-leash). The only time we run off-leash is in winter when nobody else is using the trail, and only on segments of the trail where that's true. Once I invest in one of those leashes you can wear around your waist or whatever, that'll come to an end entirely.

[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!!

[Mr. Bloom]

Mr. Silver, sorry, but under the law, bicycles are considered vehicles, NOT pedestrians. We have to follow the same rules that cars do, and give right of way to pedestrians.

While bikes are very common on sidewalks in this college town (much to my irritation), I asked the question and I have to accept the answer...the sign says "Pedestrians Only - No Vehicles" ...and I do consider a bike a vehicle...so, I'll adjust my route accordingly (and gain 2 miles on each ride)


As to retractable leashes, I can admit that their use has saved me a couple of times from a renegade dog coming after me as I passed by on my bike.

[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.

[Andrea]

I haven't read the other posts, but next time you see him, tell him you aren't gonna stop riding on the MUT, and that you'll still be riding on the MUT when he's dead.

[Eden]

While bikes are very common on sidewalks in this college town (much to my irritation), I asked the question and I have to accept the answer...the sign says "Pedestrians Only - No Vehicles" ...and I do consider a bike a vehicle...so, I'll adjust my route accordingly (and gain 2 miles on each ride)


As to retractable leashes, I can admit that their use has saved me a couple of times from a renegade dog coming after me as I passed by on my bike.

Check your local rules. Different places - different laws. In Washington state bicycles are vehicles with all the same rights and responsibilities of any other road users when on the road *but* it is also legal to ride on the sidewalk unless it is specifically signed that you may not. Not only that - when you are on the sidewalk you are legally a pedestrian.... (so cars at crosswalks have to treat you like any other sidewalk user)

I'm not going to claim that this is the best idea.... it does lead to conflicts and a lot of motorists know so little about the laws in the first place that it only confuses them *more* (and frustrates them - many think it is illegal) that bicycles can act both as vehicles and pedestrians. Nonetheless it is the law around here until and unless someone acts to change it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

As long as you have narrow paths being shared by joggers, bikers, rollerbladers, children, babystrollers, and dog walkers....you will always have plenty of 'unfortunate incidents'.
We don't have multi-use or bike paths where I live, but after riding on them during a couple of vacation experiences, I must say I really prefer just riding the roads with the cars.

[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.

[blueskies]

Here are a couple pictures from the path that I ride. Worth the occasional cranky old man, I think.

[sb-gal]

We have a "great" MUP path near the beach in Santa Barbara. I used to go there with my son to ride bikes but I would get so nervous he would hit someone that we stopped.

Technically it's the bike/skate/skateboard path and then the sidewalk runs parallel to it. Well what we end up with is people on rented bikes, rented bicycle carriage things that hold 4-8 people, tourists on skates, local skateboard rats going to the skatepark, joggers, dog's, every manner of pedestrian you can imagine walking 6-8 abreast, covering both lanes. It's an accident waiting to happen. Personally I think the pedestrians should stay on the sidewalk (which is always less crowded) and allow the cyclist to use the bike lane.

[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)