Dogs "off the lead" on unsegregated cycle routes

[TJ]

I have a standard reply to dog owners who don't exercise proper control, and then shout abuse at me as a cyclist.
" At least my bike doesn't cr@p all over the place "

[DMG]

The Highway Code say this:

42: 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.

It doesn't say "must keep" so it probably isn't illegal.

[drossall]

I was going to make DMG's point, not that that is much of a response to a charge of assault. You might ask your solicitor if he knows of any comparable cases in which a motorist was charged with assault after narrowly avoiding a pedestrian on a road with no separate pavement. If not, it is hard to see how there can be a basis for a charge against a cyclist.

[gar]

I think our worthy correspondent was baited by a copper looking foir something to do and was upset by it.

Reasonably so. I would have given the copper a bollocking if he had stopped me like that.

You must always "Make a complaint to the Chief constable" in such circumstances; it works wonders with idiots such as that one. It helps them to realise what fools they are, at the bottom of the dung heap like that.

Your complaint is proper procedure.
His allegation is not.