Cyclist Wins Compensation From Dog Owner
A cyclist has been awarded £14,000 in compensation after he was injured when a dog ran under the wheel of his bicycle.

Ken MacLennan, 65, was cycling though a park when a spaniel that had been let off its lead ran into his path. Mr MacLennan was thrown over the handlebars and suffered a fractured pelvis.

Pet owners have a legal responsibility to safeguard others from the potential dangers posed by their animals. If pets cause an accident, their owners may be liable for any resulting damages

http://www.conscious.co.uk/site/library/legalnews/accidentsinpublicplacesnews/cycleist_wins_compensation_form_dog_owner.html

As I have indicated, each case turns on its own facts. As a solicitor specialising in cycle
accidents, I regularly pursue claims against dog owners whose dogs have come into
collision with cyclists. A common scenario is that a dog may escape from a property onto
a road or alternatively a dog may run out from a park onto a road. In most of the cases
that I have pursued, I have been able to establish on the facts that the owner was in breach
of their duty of care to the cyclist. On occasions it is necessary to obtain expert evidence
to prove that the dog owner knew or ought to have known that their particular breed of
dog has a particular characteristic e.g. a propensity to chase cyclists or runners. This can
commonly be the case if the dog is behaving territorially around the house or farm where
it lives.
Paul Kitson

http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/Magazine/200911052.pdf

Trail centres are definitely for bikes not dogs! went to Dalby a few Saturdays ago and there was a dumb dog with dumber owner on the other side of some wood work – dog could not decide if it wanted to run round the owner or greet me on said raised platform – owner was not in control. Would have mowed down the fukin thing if it had not moved…

Taking dogs to trail centres is completely selfish and dangerous – they just get in the way and shit everywhere…

Dog owners never see it’s a problem and that their dog is somehow special…

well stated tinkerbell, exactly the points I have been making all along! Tandem Jermey – you really are quite stubborn, do you actually ride trails often, ahve you ever encountered an annoying dog jumping on your bikes while your trying to enjoy a ride?? Doubt it, as if you had you would admitt to being very wrong in this instance.

Mimi – you miss the point. I have ridden on these trails and yes – “an annoying dog jumping on your bikes while your trying to enjoy a ride” is wrong and should not be there. the dog owner has s responsibility to ensure the dog does not bother anyone.

However a well trained dog at a trail centre is no issue. it doesn’t jump up at you, it doesn’t run around annoying folk, it just follows its owner down the trail. I have met a couple of dogs that do this – properly trained.

Its a crucial difference that neither side seems to be able to grasp. The well trained dog will not bother anyone or create any sort of hazard. it is welcome. Dog owners have a responsibility to ensure their dog does not bother anyone and if they cannot ensure this then they are not welcome.

It is the owners legal responsibility to ensure their dog is under control and does not bother folk or create a hazard. If the dog is safe under control then what is the issue?

I dislike dogs very much but you have to see what is right here

These posts come up regularly and have never persuaded me that I shouldn’t take my dog to a trail centre. She’s well behaved, knows her way round the bike, where to run to not get in the way and is well trained enough not to run off without me.

People stating that trail centres are no place for dogs seems similar to those people 10-15 years ago sayng that forests are no place for MTBs as they get in the way of walkers/horse riders.

I’ve been to most of the Mid/North Wales centres amongst others with her and only ever had positive comments from other riders. To my face anyway.

So Ner :P!

Does you dog bother anyone else? Or is it properly trained? Thats the key

**** me is this still going?

Does TJ bother anybody ? should he be on a lead? 😆

Mrs TJ fitted me with one of these – but I can still type

Ah, time for the dogs on trails thread again, do they follow the lunar cycle?

Only joking TJ I have a dog that is a pain in the ass off the lead and I try to run him in the woods when there is no one else about ,usually at night.

TandemJeremy “However a well trained dog at a trail centre is no issue. it doesn’t jump up at you, it doesn’t run around annoying folk, it just follows its owner down the trail. I have met a couple of dogs that do this – properly trained.”

Does the well trained dog clear up its own shit?

I THINK NOT!!!! 👿

Foxes,badgers and bears shit in the woods as well who clears up theirs?

Hmm you should see me and my birds uber fit and silly well trained collie.. The dog loves running with us or in a group and has never casued a problem. It wont cross a trail without permission and is not even bothered by sheep. Farmers have even complemented us about her ! It is the dogs training that makes the difference. Heel means being glued to your ankle….

She has been to the top of most of the bikeable peaks in lakes / wales and most of the trail centres in wales. No problem. We pack her crap out in her back pack so no issue there. Contrast that to all the chavs leaving their rubbish at the trailside – so far this year I have removed tubes / tyres / gels / bottes etc from trails in shropshire / somerset and peaks. go figure !!

I would rather have the dog along for a ride than a lot of humans i know !

paul

snowpaul
We pack her crap out in her back pack so no issue there

You’re more than likely in the minority there though, plenty of dog owners visiting Cannock Chase don’t bother picking up their pooches poop at all, those that do usually have a strange habit of tying it to a tree like a Christmas tree decoration. 😯

Out of interest, is it legal requirement for dog owners to pick up their pets poop in these beauty spots?

Is it also a legal requirement for dogs to be on a lead, no matter where they are in the street or beauty spots?

I only ask the last question as I’m fed up with some dogs attacking me then the owner telling me all matter fact that…”yeah, he don’t like bikers” 🙄 If they knew that then why ain’t it on a lead then?!!!

I was bit on the hip by a Greyhound in the summer that was well trained and hadnt ever done it before and was very obedient !

My argument was that if it bit me there at that hight what was stopping it from taking a lump out of my sons face who was riding in front of me !

As we approached the dog the owner assured us that it was OK and was just being friendly 8 stitches later i wasnt so sure !

As far as i,m concerned dogs should be on a lead in a Public Place or forestry block / Trail centre, If the responsible owner wants to prove to the world that he has an obedient dog then join a dog club and get it to run through hoops and sticks……….
Also if it is deemed acceptable to have a Dog off the lead where members of the General Public go to be safe away from streets, Walkers, Dogs, Dog crap, Cars etc then approach the Land owner and get permission to have a dog off the lead stating that you THE OWNER take full responsibility for the actions of the dog !

See if they give it to you !

My son wont get on his bike now outside the estate where we live as he is scared that he is going to have to go to hospital for stitches !

i was riding the bottom section of the dh over cwmcarn last week when some dog walker thought it would be ok for his two dogs to run out on me!! rite p1ss taker!!

As far as i,m concerned dogs should be on a lead in a Public Place or forestry block / Trail centre, If the responsible owner wants to prove to the world that he has an obedient dog then join a dog club and get it to run through hoops and sticks……….

+1000

Is it also a legal requirement for dogs to be on a lead, no matter where they are in the street or beauty spots?

Teh legal requirement is for the dog to be under control in a public place and under close control where livestock is present.

A dog that runs at you, jumps up or bothers you in any way is not under control

Dog owners are liable for any damage their dogs cause, a dog that bites can and should be destroyed

I agree that dogs should be on a lead in a public place.

The bonus is it makes owners more inclined to pick up their dogs mess instead of ‘pretending’ they didn’t notice the dog having a dump.

To be fair though the only issues I’ve personally had with dogs have been dog walkers who either can’t control their dog off the lead or think their dog is under control when it’s 15m away on an extending lead running all over the place. Had a couple of near misses with dogs at Hamsterley where people were walking them on cycle designated single track.

A mate saw a couple of huge Rotweilers at GT recently though who he felt were dangerous. They were with a rider and the dogs were flying down some of the descents – if someone slower got in their way or stopped they’d get flattened.

A dog that runs at you, jumps up or bothers you in any way is not under control

It is if it being told to run at you and jump! 😈 😉

Does the well trained dog clear up its own shit?

I THINK NOT!!!!

Are you sure it’s dog 5h1t your complaining about? A number of people have posted on here that they have been caught short on a ride and always carry some toilet paper. Do mountainbikers pick up their own 5h1t and take it home? I THINK NOT!!!!

Never had a trailside pi55? I love putting my hand on pi55 stained grass before picking up my sanwiches. 🙄

edit – misread

I,m not sure trying to justify SH!T & P!SS are valid enough reasons to allow Animals on trails !
I think a modicum of common sense should be applied and the owner should respect other countryside users by abiding to the countryside code for a start !

My gripe is having a Dog OFF a lead in a place where members of the public frequent, I,m not interested in how cool a dog looks with a Pirate bandana round its neck or with ickle booties on its feet !

If its a trail centre specifically maintained for Cycle use WHY take a dog on there ? I just dont get it ?