"My dog may chase you, but he's friendly" today's ride

[Tiggertoo]

To say that dogs “always” need to be on a short lead on a shared-use path is, IMO, needlessly categorical. I ride past dogs that are under control with no lead, or a long lead, day-in-day-out, and most owners are sensible about it all. But, once in a while things don’t go so well and a dog does a crazy.

Where I live it is the law, should be everywhere - particularly when the dog is under the 'control' of a nitwit!

Oddly enough, I’ve never actually heard of anyone locally being knocked off their bike by a dog

I have often and when I spoke to the local law enforcement about the problem and what to do about it, I was told that in most cases the person being chased and injured by the dog just shot it. Not a bad solution.

[Nearholmer]

I guess the Wild West is different from a city of a quarter of a million, mostly unarmed, people.

[pwa]

Just back from a five mile walk down to the coast with the dog and she was off the lead for maybe a third of that. Those off-lead bits were the opportunity for the frisbee to come out. She loves chasing a frisbee.

Loads of people have dogs around here but I can't remember ever seeing one chase a person, on a bike or otherwise. We don't have cycle tracks though, just green spaces, public footpaths over fields, and lanes. And few dogs are off lead on the lanes. Just the hyper-disciplined ones.

And I saw nobody with a gun I'd have called the police if I had.

[simonhill]

I'm surprised no one has quoted the Highway Code (old one as I don't have new one yet).

"Rule 56

Dogs. Do not let a dog out on the road on its own. Keep it on a short lead when walking on the pavement, road or path shared with cyclists or horse riders"

Some hope.

[Barrowman]

Highway Code is only a guide. No real clout in law I fear.

[Jdsk]

I'm surprised no one has quoted the Highway Code (old one as I don't have new one yet).

"Rule 56

Dogs. Do not let a dog out on the road on its own. Keep it on a short lead when walking on the pavement, road or path shared with cyclists or horse riders"

It hasn't been changed:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway ... s-47-to-58

Jonathan

[Tompsk]

Highway Code is only a guide. No real clout in law I fear.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong... but I think not observing the guidance* in the Highway code, whilst not an offence in itself, can lead you to being seen, in law as liable or negligent.

* AFAIK some of what is in the Highway Code _is_ law. e.g. if it says you 'must' then not following it is an offence.

Edit. Clarification, maybe...

[Jdsk]

Highway Code is only a guide. No real clout in law I fear.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong... but I think not observing the guidance* in the Highway code, whilst not an offence, can lead you to being seen as liable or negligent.

* AFAIK some of what is in the Highway Code _is_ law. e.g. if it says you 'must' then that is a requirement not a recommendation.

First it's essential to separate criminal and civil law.

Once that's done...

Wording of The Highway Code

Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’. In addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence. See an explanation of the abbreviations.

Although failure to comply with the other rules of the Code will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted, The Highway Code may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts (see The road user and the law) to establish liability. This includes rules which use advisory wording such as ‘should/should not’ or ‘do/do not’.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway ... troduction

Jonathan

[Tompsk]

Highway Code is only a guide. No real clout in law I fear.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong... but I think not observing the guidance* in the Highway code, whilst not an offence, can lead you to being seen as liable or negligent.

* AFAIK some of what is in the Highway Code _is_ law. e.g. if it says you 'must' then that is a requirement not a recommendation.

First it's essential to separate criminal and civil law.

Once that's done...

Wording of The Highway Code

Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’. In addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence. See an explanation of the abbreviations.

Although failure to comply with the other rules of the Code will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted, The Highway Code may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts (see The road user and the law) to establish liability. This includes rules which use advisory wording such as ‘should/should not’ or ‘do/do not’.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway ... troduction

Jonathan

Thank you for the quotes from the H.C., it sounds like my understanding was there or thereabouts

[fastpedaller]

FRankly it is not ok for a dog to chase a cyclist no matter how 'friendly' the dog might be..... and it should be under control. I was terrified as a child of dogs, my daily walk to school was often a nightmare, we had a large estate built near the school where dogs were often left to roam outside during the day... there was one dog in particular I never wanted to walk past and if I could see it in the distance would cross to the other side of the road if it was on my side....
I am less afraid these days, but it still gives quite an adrenaline surge if a dog starts to chase after me regardless of my mode of transport.

When she was about 4 years old our daughter was walking to school across the park with my Wife. An alsation approached at great speed, daughter leapt into Mum's arms. It took a long while for her to 'get over' it........ We had to be very alert because she could try to jump off the pavement into the road if she saw a dog 50 yards away on the pavement! When we moved there was a local village store and the proprietor was selling 'puppy in my pocket' 1.5 inch cubes that had a little resin dog inside - breed unknown until the box was opened
She had one of these every week, and of course could add to the collection or 'build a family' if she got multiples of the same breed. Strangely this built her confidence near dogs and the fear faded (but I doubt will ever go completely). She now works as a specialist dealing with patients' mental health issues.

[eileithyia]

FRankly it is not ok for a dog to chase a cyclist no matter how 'friendly' the dog might be..... and it should be under control. I was terrified as a child of dogs, my daily walk to school was often a nightmare, we had a large estate built near the school where dogs were often left to roam outside during the day... there was one dog in particular I never wanted to walk past and if I could see it in the distance would cross to the other side of the road if it was on my side....
I am less afraid these days, but it still gives quite an adrenaline surge if a dog starts to chase after me regardless of my mode of transport.

I had a similar experience as a child. In Bradshaw, not all that far from you. So I am always conscious of how our (harmless) dog might seem to a child. And I manage encounters accordingly.

For anyone with a deep seated fear of dogs, firstly, you have a right to expect those of us with dogs will manage them properly, and if we don't, then we are in the wrong. But secondly, for your own peace of mind, it is worth taking the opportunity, if it arises, to get to know dog behaviour a little better, so that you can more easily distinguish between an aggressive dog and one that is not. My wife used to fear all dogs, in any situation, but now she feels okay with most dogs. One of her sisters still flinches when she sees a dog running nearby, even if the dog is just happily running after a ball and is showing no interest in her. This isn't an alternative to people managing their dogs properly, but it is something you will find good to have, and that will save stress where it serves no purpose.

Thanks I am nowhere near as fearful now and can usually distinguish between breeds and those that are being friendly or are likely to be chasing out of aggression..... I am still wary though. Not helped by being on cycle path a few years ago near some industrial units. Came across someone more interested in his phone while his Alsation roamed free... which then chased me and had me cornered by a gate. Some angry words were exchanged and once I was in a safer place I reported it to the police for various reasons; 1. he wasn't in control 2. I suspected he was a security guard recently finished work. 3. It could just have easily been a woman walking her own dog with a young child in pushchair etc., that this dog took upon itself to chase. 4, What a way of cornering someone to hold them up and potentially rob them.. or worse...

[fastpedaller]

Just back from a five mile walk down to the coast with the dog and she was off the lead for maybe a third of that. Those off-lead bits were the opportunity for the frisbee to come out. She loves chasing a frisbee.

Loads of people have dogs around here but I can't remember ever seeing one chase a person, on a bike or otherwise. We don't have cycle tracks though, just green spaces, public footpaths over fields, and lanes. And few dogs are off lead on the lanes. Just the hyper-disciplined ones.

And I saw nobody with a gun I'd have called the police if I had.

Frisbee's are a huge danger on the coast around here if people lose them in the sea - they get caught around the necks of the young seals, and it's a slow and agonising death unless humans are fortunate enough to be able to intervene.

[simonhill]

I used to be very scared of dogs. Can't say I like them now, but my near phobia was chased away by the fear of magpies.

During months of touring in Oz, I was attacked hundreds of times by maggies and bloodied 3 times. Incredibly dangerous if attacked on a busy road.

After the maggies, most dogs seemed a much lesser threat.

I agree with understanding their reason why (dogs or magpies). I often encounter dogs in places like Thailand, but if you understand why they are barking, chasing, etc it is easier to deal. Most are just guarding their property and or bored.

As an aside, why is it considered acceptable to let your dog pee anywhere and everywhere, including my gate, my wall, my van tyres, my rubbish box,, etc, etc?

[Jdsk]

Frisbee's are a huge danger on the coast around here if people lose them in the sea - they get caught around the necks of the young seals, and it's a slow and agonising death unless humans are fortunate enough to be able to intervene.

But that isn't a Frisbee... Frisbees are discs and don't have a hole. It's some sort of flying ring.

Jonathan

[Paulatic]

[

But that isn't a Frisbee... Frisbees are discs and don't have a hole. It's some sort of flying ring.

Jonathan

It might not be your understanding of a Frisbee but it is.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aerobie-Ring-F ... B007VZKTDK