Malvern rider that's funny and so very true .
Some pretty sad opinions in this thread.
I have a dog and I ride a bike too!
I'm aware of bikes when walking the dog but it really does help if you ding your bell round blind corners etc.
Equally if I'm riding I'll ring my bell and slow down accordingly. Even more so if I'm not convinced they are aware of me.
It's amazing how many people can be completely oblivious to a furiously back peddled Hope hub in conjunction with loads of bell rings.
In which case you just slow the hell down accordingly.
Don't be dicks people.
I know this happened in Englandshire but ASSUMING this wasn't on a dedicated bike trail
Be considerate to other users of the outdoors such as
walkers and horse riders; slow down and alert them to
your presence. On narrow paths give way or dismount if
necessary
Bike rider would appear to be wrong according to the Scottish outdoor access code.
plus bike going downhill possibly at speed (too fast to stop in time) plus not all dogs are the most intelligent and would regularly stand sideways on a path (mine do)
My thinking that it’s been instilled is by a parent of the terrified child stating “I’m a dog/dog owner hater”
But I’m not sure why you’d think that, given that I’ve seen various kids instinctively fearful of dogs in spite of their parents telling them it’s all fine (including both my own kids, me as a kid and—albeit anecdotally rather than observed—my wife as a kid). I’ve never once seen an example of your thinking.
Sure, “horseshit” is a confrontational phrasing, but come on, you were essentially accusing parents of being the sole cause of any childhood fear of dogs 😉
I mean, to me it seems odd to say
9.9million dogs in the UK, they’re a fact of life. Children need to be taught how to safely interact with them because they aren’t going away any time soon.
because if you swap “dogs” with “children” you get your own counter-argument. Except with a bigger number.
The Durham County Council visitor charter for the use of rail paths (miles of them round here, all shared use) sums it up quite well I think - basically, everyone should be civil to other users (or put another way: shared use, shared responsibility).
Extracted from the link above:
Walkers
Do
Keep your dogs under close control when cyclists or horse riders are nearby, remember horses may be spooked by loud or sudden noises
Listen for cyclists and horse riders who may be approaching you from behind
Be prepared to let cyclists or horse riders pass you, step out of the way if you can
Take extra care in areas with poor visibility
Do not
Obstruct the passageway for other users by taking up the full width of the path
Cyclists
Do
Give an audible warning and slow down when overtaking other users
Take extra care when approaching children, horses and dogs
Take care in areas with poor visibility
Limit party size to ten cycles
Do not
Ride too quickly, the paths are not racetracks and should not be used as if they were
Brake hard,deliberately skid or do anything else that is likely to damage the surface of the path
Ride on the embankment or other rough areas off the surfaced path
I've left out the sections for other users.
Now, I’ve been doing this MTB thing for a few decades, travelling widely and often on a bike. One thing I can tell you is dogs will chase bikes and bark/bite as that’s what instinct tells them to do.
My children have been harrassed by dogs on many occasions, with dog owners doing little to effectively prevent this, or stop it when it happens. They often say, “it’s fine, they won’t hurt you” but it’s not fine. Not fine at all. I teach my children to be very wary of dogs.
I’ve been chased and bitten by dogs when on my bike too, with much the same approach in response from dog owners. Not fine.
One thing I’m sure of, is that this was not the first time these dogs have chased/barked/bitten people. They'll do it again too, as the owners don’t really seem willing to prevent it by keeping them on a lead, or training them better where possible. Whilst I appreciate people have a right to keep dogs, they don’t have any right to allow them to threaten and harrass other users of the outdoors.
There are of course good dog owners. But IMHO the numbers are testament to a majority being less than responsible. I even see friends of mine with dogs, who are cyclists, losing their sense of proportion when they have their pooch and not a bike with them.
When riding off road with my children, I now keep a little water pistol in a holster on my handlebars, full of grapefruit juice as when squirted at the offending pooch, this acts like tear gas to them and sends them packing pretty quickly.
I’ve yet to use it on a dog owner, but I'm sure it won’t be long before someone from this group of entitled and self interested tw*nts take umbridge at my approach. Just like hanging poo bags in trees, or putting them on the floor next to a full bin, this sort of behaviour is not ok. Dog owners need to compelled to behave better, as I can’t see them doing any form of self policing, some sort of mandated control needs to be implemented.
And yes, I do know dog owners who are responsible for their dogs. Even they are concerned with the quantity of people who own dogs and are not attempting to be responsible for them at all.
Maybe this is more of an issue in the UK, or at least certain areas of the country, as i've really not had many issues with other trail users. Certainly seen far more issues with other humans than with any animals.
Maybe this is more of an issue in the UK, or at least certain areas of the country
100%, the Lakes being a perfect example. I love the place, but it's choc full of folk who have moved there and have their own ideas about what the place is.
And as we know from this thread a dog can never do anything wrong in the eyes of most owners
Statistics or it didn’t happen
Maybe this is more of an issue in the UK, or at least certain areas of the country,
Could be true, but it's also possible some people take their issues with them wherever they go ?
I do think the problem is exacerbated in the more populated south of the country, where access to outdoor spaces is more limited and busier.
Emptying your dog is easier at the local woods, as there's fewer people to see you/fine you for fouling.
Interestingly the forestry commission now advise dog owners to adopt the ‘stick and flick’ method of dog egg clearing. I think the theory is it’s one less plastic bag being used and it breaks down quickly in the under growth. I don’t adopt that as the woods I walk the dogs in are where I build trails so there is only one way that will end!
One dog stays on lead as he is a ****. Other runs around chasing squirrels as she is stupid. I have only ever seen one of my mates on the trails I walk though. Not high traffic!
Could be true, but it’s also possible some people take their issues with them wherever they go?
Could well be.
Let's be civil shall we?
Ok great, let's stop the keeping of predatory carnivorous animals as pets. Shows how insane society is that this is 'normal'.
How would you like to be completely domesticated and reliant on an owner for your own existence? Yeah, you wouldn't.
How would you like to be completely domesticated and reliant on an owner for your own existence?
Beats working.
Ooh this could go off topic fast!
Interestingly the forestry commission now advise dog owners to adopt the ‘stick and flick’ method of dog egg clearing.
They can **** right off with that nonsense as well, just pick the thing up ya lazy bastards!.
Like I said I do. Although we are all the same no good shit chucking idiots that make their fighting dogs attack small children apparently so what do I know!
And if you are wondering why dog presents should be picked up:
https://www.kingdom.co.uk/articles/issues-and-dangers-surrounding-dog-fouling/
"The parasites lay eggs, which are released via the infected dog’s faeces. The eggs can remain active in the soil for many years, long after the dog mess has been washed away by the rain. If the eggs are then ingested by someone, for example a small child, they may hatch into larvae and thus lead to toxocariasis. So, the child doesn’t necessarily have to pick up dog faeces in order to become infected – they could just be playing with soil which had dog faeces on it years ago and still contains active eggs. "
How would you like to be completely domesticated and reliant on an owner for your own existence?
I'm married, no difference really 😉
What if it was shown scientifically that the outdoor-scent of dog-poo deters vegans and that walkers deter cyclists, but that vegan cyclists effectively deter walkers, wives and dog-owners whilst simultaneously making bacon free for e-bikers?
Peak Daily Heil?
Hang on a minute I’m a vegan cyclist dog walker! I don’t know who I am anymore!
Basically everyone hates you, probably even your dog.
Sorry.
Tough times! To be fair to the dogs there are no left over meat pieces anymore, I bet they can’t believe there is another cauliflower in the house! I would hate me if I wasn’t so righteous 😂
The thing is this.....
If your a Self opinionated, angry, selfish, sorry excuse for a human being then you are a....
Self opinionated, angry, selfish, sorry excuse for a human being on a bike or a
Self opinionated, angry, selfish, sorry excuse for a human being walking a dog or
Driving a car , walking a footpath , sitting on a train , taking your children out for the day , in the pub .............
If you feel that this cap fits you then perhaps you should try and change, the world would be better if there were less people like this.
Its the individual thats the problem - not the thing they happen to be doing when they briefly and unpleasantly collide with your life !
So basically if you're a dog owner you should be ashamed of yourself.
andy10011 So basically if you’re a dog owner you should be ashamed of yourself.
NO
The answer OP judging by the degeneration in this thread is NO.
Some dog owners are complete twits just as riders can be & many dogs (my 2 puppies included) are thick as mince. Folk going down shared trails too fast is a definite problem though. It was reported on a facebook group Just the other week that two riders took out a guy in his late 80s on a shared trail up Ballater way. Neither stopping to check on him or apparently stopping when challenged by others.
I’ve been chased and bitten by dogs when on my bike too, with much the same approach in response from dog owners. Not fine.
One thing I’m sure of, is that this was not the first time these dogs have chased/barked/bitten people.
I was bitten by an Alsatian earlier in the year. I saw a couple up ahead and rang my bell, which was a trigger for the dog (which I hadn't seen at that point). It ran past them (they were unable to catch it) and bit me on the shin (broke the skin). I asked them for their contact details and rang the police when I got home. Durham police were great - took it seriously and visited the home of the couple to see the dog within a couple of hours. They asked me what I wanted to do and I was clear that I didn't want the dog destroyed. In the end the police took it off them to train as a police dog. The couple admitted that they had trouble controlling the dog. Given that they still let the dog off the lead anyway in public spaces, I took the view that to not report it would have been irresponsible as who knows who would have been next.
@ Malvern Rider
Like you I prefer a more abstract and qualitative approach. Loving the GIFs BTW! I'm slowly working my way back from video toward hand painted in shit flick books.
Besides I blame it on Punk Rock and a "do as I say, not as I do" attitude adopted later in life.
I'm very , very civil to those who are civil to me.
Not so much the folk whose two dogs attacked me. I needed bite wounds treated and tetanus etc...
They had a near full house in the dog owner lingo bingo, said "there was nothing wrong with me" , "I must have frightened the dogs" & "the bulldog always goes crazy for bikes" - wtaf!?.
They wouldn't give me their details so i photographed them and passed it on the the Polis.
The result was a community resolution order something or other...( didn't want the dogs hurt just the owners on "record") Nice one Herts Police.
andy10011 So andy10011 So basically if you’re a dog owner you should be ashamed of yourself.
NO
The dog walkers in Cardiff who petitioned the local council to be allowed to walk their dogs on sports playing fields should probably feel ashamed.
We have two sports playing fields near us.
The closest has now been fenced and gated (belongs to a school and is not used much because they have all-weather pitched onsite) because it had problem with dog fouling. We used to play here as kids but can no longer get access.
The other one is completely unusable because it has so many loose dogs on it.
I don't think that dogs should be allowed on playing-fields, this is not why they are provided.
I agree that areas should be provided where dogs can run free but not on sports facilities.
I've never been knocked off bike by a dog. I have however recently been in hospital after being knocked off by another cyclist. At No point did I scream and shout at him. He apologised, I accepted it. Sure I was pissed of about it and I still am, but that's no reason to shout at someone.
Your mate sounds like a knob I'm afraid
More importantly..Was the dog ok?
I don’t think that dogs should be allowed on playing-fields, this is not why they are provided.
As a dog-owner, I agree. Some playing fields could possibly be recommissioned as dog-training-exercise areas, as many former playing fields have long since been abandoned to GTA/Fortnite/Youtube etc.
Some could be made into pump-tracks...
I crossed paths on my ride to work this morning with a woman walking two collies. I slowed right down as I should. She told the dogs to sit and they did, as they should do. No need to grab the dogs' collars. That's proper training.
Reading that Wales online article, I think the walkers kind of have a point about actually enforcing the bylaws relating to dog fouling (and would add that some proactive enforcement of behaviour would be good).
I've been frightened and bitten by more than one dog. The most recent said he'd had an incident with bikes and had bitten before, it took a fair while for them to accept that they therefore needed to keep the dog on a lead in public. Had it been more than a nip I may have
A) booted it
B) reported them to the police.
For balance, I have nearly run over one dog when it burst out of bushes next to a shared path and slammed into the side of my front wheel. It got oil marks on its fur.
I was going to post how some idiots ride bikes and some idiots walk dogs and some idiots are walked by their owners, some of which are idiots, but it seems that STW is largely in agreement over this.
Keep in mind that when having a crash or even a near miss, there is a surge of adrenaline that adds some unpredictability to the behaviour of even the most civil person. I am not the most civil person and I usually see red and become incapable of understanding the consequences when it happens to me. I avoid putting myself in these situations as much as I can, but it is a numbers game. The next human or animal I collide with will hear the full repertoire of my swear words.
I'm just amazed TJ has managed to avoid biting on this thread....🙈🤣
