Advocacy & Safety - Double posted in Commuting: letter to the editor

I'm working on a letter to the editor of a local paper (AZ Daily Star, if you're interested) about leashing animals on the MUP.

I almost hit a pug on my way in to work the other day, and realized that I'd have some problems if I had to run it over to avoid getting injured. The letter was inspired by this event, not as a warning, but as a precautionary prediction of events which could aspire...or something like that with some alliteration.

I would very much appreciate some criticism on the letter, encouragement, discouragement, etc. Saying "stay off the MUP and ride on the road" won't fly, though. Peds and dogs or not, the MUP is the quickest, nicest, safest, least polluted, most pleasant, lovliest way to work for me.

Thanks for your time!

And now the letter!

Leash your beast

Have you ever fallen, hard, off a bicycle? It hurts quite a bit. You should have seen the look on my girlfriend’s face when I came home with my elbow red and white with bits of road debris stuck in it. It was a bloody, gross, painful mess.
Thankfully, I haven’t had another bike accident since that one in August, but I’ve come close while dodging animals on the Rillito River Trail.
The Rillito River Trail is a wonderful multiple use path. Many people walk their dogs, run, ride their bikes, and do various other forms of activity on it. This is what gives it the “multiple use pathway” designation.
In that theme, please make sure your dogs are leashed at all times while walking them. I don’t want to fall off by dodging a dog nor do I want to smoosh a smaller one with my front tire (but will sadly do so if I have to choose between the pooch and my well-being).
I’ll keep ringing my bell and announcing my presence if you keep your dogs leashed.
Deal?

Eddie A.
Cyclocommuter

Stay off the MUP. It's a glorified sidewalk. If you do chose to use it, ride at a reduced speed and be prepared to stop.

Boulder Colorado has an interesting Leave No Trace Frontcountry program. They took the leave no trace principles of back country ethics and adopted them to their frontcountry mountain parks. I should think something like that could be modified a little more for a city program. Anyway, out of the original 7 principles, they came up with 6 for the front country, two of which were about dogs: keeping them on leashes and picking up their poop.

As far as your letter, perhaps it would appeal more to people if your main concern wasn't crashing and hurting yourself, but the incredible psychological pain you would feel were you to harm someone else's precious little puppy dog.

I prefer to see dogs unleashed on the paths. People with headphones may not hear your warnings. Dogs usually hear and get out of the way. If they have are leashed they may move to the opposite side of the path from their owner.

I prefer to see dogs unleashed on the paths. People with headphones may not hear your warnings. Dogs usually hear and get out of the way. If they have are leashed they may move to the opposite side of the path from their owner.

Clearly you have never been attacked by a dog. Dogs can be very dangerous and belong on leashes.

you almost hit a pug? AHAHAHAHAHAHA, kick that pug's ass next time

I have 2 wonderful fair sized dogs. At this point I spend much more time with them than I do on the bike.

Thinking only as a dog owner.

In general MUPs are not the place for dogs. It is not a relaxing fun time for a responsible owner. Bikes and runners are something that dogs naturally chase. It is a major pain to keep a dog on a short enough leash to be safe.

I can think of exceptions, often a MUP is a nice connecting point and in some cases it is the only way to get to a nice trail. But for the bulk of a walk they are really a poor choice.

The only MUP I use is 1/2mi long and goes thru two playgrounds and I often find kids with parents watching playing, sitting on path with toys, etc. Its a marked posted bike route with a lane dividing stripe. It is a strong point as part of the latest bike friendly city award.
Unleashed dogs are common too, but never cause a problem - leashed dogs are a problem when owner is on one side of path and dog is on opposite side off path in grass. Lots of kids use it for skateboarding up and down the ramps, they are the ones I come closest to accidentally hitting as they are often on wrong side and moving.
I was bit badly by an unleashed dog once while running.
Al

Clearly you have never been attacked by a dog. Dogs can be very dangerous and belong on leashes.
Some dogs can be very dangerous. Owners should know, and should be held liable for any consequences. But why punish all dogs?

Growing up in the 60s and 70s being chased by dogs was pretty normal. I can't remember the last time I was chased by a dog. 15 years, at least.

But you're taking your chances on MUPs, and should be riding very slowly for a multitude of reasons, particularly if it's not an empty MUP.

In my town we have a dog law that specifies that the dog must be under "effective voice control". There were some growing pains when if first went into effect, but it seems to work now.

Part of my commute is along a MUP that has a lot of people walking their dogs in the morning. I've been pleasantly surprised that I haven't had any dog problems. None of the dogs is on a leash, but most of the dog owners are proactive in insuring that their dogs don't come after me. In the case of the dog owner that does nothing, it seems that that dog has no interest in me as I go by; it's just not a chaser.

I'm not a dog person, so I would have thought that leashes would be required. My experience now is that concientious dog owners can leave their dogs off the leash, but still keep them from being a nuisance or a danger.

So, as to the original poster's issue. I suggest that you soften your request to just keeping dogs under control.

I can see where you're coming from but I can't really see them publishing it. Isn't it usually a bylaw to keep your dog on leash in most public areas anyways?

Some dogs can be very dangerous. Owners should know, and should be held liable for any consequences. But why punish all dogs?



One reason is owners whose little poopsie is not dangerous, but it will come up yapping at mine who are on a leash and then somehow when they get sick of that insult to dogdom it is my fault that little poopsie is dinner.

Oh sorry more like a light snack.

Clearly you have never been attacked by a dog. Dogs can be very dangerous and belong on leashes.
it is nearly 50 yrs since I was chased on my bike by a dog. I sprinted till it nearly caught up with me, put on my brakes, them rammed my foot between its rear legs as it overshot me. The word was passed around the canine world because I havent been chased by a dog since.
I pass people with dogs on the Lachine canal path, most are on leashes but well off the bike path. It is the ones on leashes on the path that worry me.

As far as your letter, perhaps it would appeal more to people if your main concern wasn't crashing and hurting yourself, but the incredible psychological pain you would feel were you to harm someone else's precious little puppy dog.

+1 on that

Right-of-way and wrongs aside, I think you'll get flamed by the pet owners for even mentioning smooshing their pooches. Little poochy woochy can do no wrong. At my local bar, the only customers allowed to walk on the bar are two pugs.

In my case I was bit by an 18lbs terrier. I was running in the street past a yard, family was out front painting shutters of house, kids playing. As I passed house dog shot out from yard, crossed sidewalk and road, jumped up behind me and took chunk of flesh from my rear upper thigh. Didn't even have sightlines or time to see it comming. Hadn't even seen dog before it bit me.
Saw Dr., got vet papers on dog from owners, got shots, antibac pills. $10 dr. visit, $7 perscirption co-pay.
Returned papers to dog owner and asked them to pay the $17. They refused saying dog was friendly, never bothered anyone, etc.
I should have reported to police, should have pushed harder for $17, but was lazy I admit (and relatively new to neighborhood and didn't want to get on 'bad' list)

For a year or two later I had an unshakable fear of unleashed dogs, no matter what size or disposition. If I saw one in the distance I'd go the other way. (but didn't retreat if they dog was close and saw me, then I held ground and went past as if they didn't exist)

Whole point of my rambling is I don't care if owner says dog is nice or never bites, owners can often be wrong.

Al

Stay off the MUP. It's a glorified sidewalk. If you do chose to use it, ride at a reduced speed and be prepared to stop.

Read my post. Crimony, you're useless.


I prefer to see dogs unleashed on the paths. People with headphones may not hear your warnings. Dogs usually hear and get out of the way. If they have are leashed they may move to the opposite side of the path from their owner.

Owners I've seen gather up their dogs' leashes when I approach. They scramble to catch their dog if it's not leashed. Hazards galore.

AZ, or at least Tucson, has a mandatory leash law.


So, as to the original poster's issue. I suggest that you soften your request to just keeping dogs under control.

Perhaps. There are posted signs about the leash law, though, all over the trail.


SomeBut you're taking your chances on MUPs, and should be riding very slowly for a multitude of reasons, particularly if it's not an empty MUP.

I didn't want this to become a debate about MUP's, hence my comments at the beginning of my post.

I ride to the conditions. Dodging yapping drool factories is dangerous at any speed.


Boulder Colorado has an interesting Leave No Trace Frontcountry program. They took the leave no trace principles of back country ethics and adopted them to their frontcountry mountain parks. I should think something like that could be modified a little more for a city program. Anyway, out of the original 7 principles, they came up with 6 for the front country, two of which were about dogs: keeping them on leashes and picking up their poop.

As far as your letter, perhaps it would appeal more to people if your main concern wasn't crashing and hurting yourself, but the incredible psychological pain you would feel were you to harm someone else's precious little puppy dog.

That sounds like an awesome program!

I was trying to convey the idea that they would be responsible for my injuries if their dog made me crash. It is a good idea, though. Make them responsible for my therapy. :)

EDIT: Thanks everyone for the constructive feedback. Poo on everyone who scolded me for enjoying the MUP

Noisebeam, I was chased by a dobermann in my neighborhood when I was 10. I didn't find out if he was friendly or hungry, and I don't ever want to find out about any dog who's owner I don't know!

+1 on that

Right-of-way and wrongs aside, I think you'll get flamed by the pet owners for even mentioning smooshing their pooches. Little poochy woochy can do no wrong. At my local bar, the only customers allowed to walk on the bar are two pugs.

What about eating them? Puggies are tasty!

Remind them that rattlesnakes and other pet killing beasts like coyotes lurk in the shady parts of MUPs ;)

Al

Remind them that rattlesnakes and other pet killing beasts like coyotes lurk in the shady parts of MUPs ;)

Al

Good thing for you the dogs can't read (I think). Otherwise they would keep bothering me for a walk along the MUP now. they think coyotes are fun to chase.

Good thing for you the dogs can't read (I think). Otherwise they would keep bothering me for a walk along the MUP now. they think coyotes are fun to chase.
I was talking about "little poopsie", not your "little poopsie" eating dog.

Al

I was talking about "little poopsie", not your "little poopsie" eating dog.

Al

Oh. A little poopsie free zone would be attractive to the puppies, but almost anyplace just a bit wild seems to fit that.

Remind them that rattlesnakes and other pet killing beasts like coyotes lurk in the shady parts of MUPs ;)

Al

Haha, indeed. I ran over one of them on the MUP late this summer. Called the fire dept and was on the phone with them for about 15 mins, getting my information. Then they told me it would cost me $350 to have said snake removed from the trail.
"Um, I can't pay that."
"Then we won't remove it."
"Fair enough. Have a nice day," I said.
"Oh, well, if you could, it would be nice if you could hang around and make sure people know the snake is there."
"What? I don't have that kind of time," I replied.
"Alright. Have a nice day," he said, and then hung up.

It was a big, and now angry rattler. The best part is that he was still there on my way back! He followed my pedaling but was far out of range...I went FAR around him.

I'm working on a letter to the editor of a local paper (AZ Daily Star, if you're interested) about leashing animals on the MUP.

I like it. Your writing is clever, snappy, and to the point. It would be nice if you could include something about keeping leashes under control. (flexi-leash tangle nightmare!) It's not essential, though. I'm also wondering if your paper has a word limit on letters. The Oregonian has a 150 word limit and your letter is 181 words. Wouldn't want to see your cleverness not get published just because of something silly like that.

Donna, I do need to trim it down, unfortunatly. The paper in question also has a 150 word limit.

Revamped and at 150 words exactly.

Thoughts?

Thanks!


Have you ever fallen, hard, off a bicycle? It hurts. You should have seen the look on my girlfriend’s face when I came home with my elbow red and white with bits of road debris stuck in it. It was a bloody, gross, painful mess.
I haven’t had another bike accident since that one in August, but I’ve come close while dodging dogs on the Rillito River Trail.
The Rillito is a wonderful multiple use pathway. People walk their dogs, run, cycle, etc. on it. This is what gives it the “multiple use pathway” designation.
In that theme, please make sure your dogs are leashed while out with them. I don’t want to crash from dodging a dog, nor do I want to smoosh one in my path (but will sadly do so if I have to choose between the pooch and my well-being).
Keep it safe for multiple users.

Yep, it's a sender.

There was a lot of hubbub about unleashed dogs as South Mountain park (with MUP in the sense they are open for and used by horseback, mountain bike, walkers and runners)

I recall a number of letters to the editor about it a few months ago.

http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/doghike.html

and

http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/0929ar-offleash0929Z14.html
"Dog leashes required at preserve

Amanda Anderson
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 29, 2006 12:00 AM

Dog owners are being reminded to keep their pets on a leash when they go walking or hiking at South Mountain Park Preserve.

Under Arizona leash laws, dogs are not allowed to roam free outside of the owners' enclosed property. Otherwise, dogs are to be restrained by a leash not to exceed 6 feet in length.

Failure to do so could result in fines up to $2,500 and a court appearance.

Rangers are reminding dog owners as part of the "Keep Your Dog Leashed" campaign in the South Mountain Park Preserve.

Complaints about dogs off leash have increased as more people - dog owners, mountain bikers, horseback riders and hikers - use the Pima Canyon area.

Last fall, Phoenix Parks and Recreation began surveying dog owners to gauge their impact on other trail users.

Most of the 130 people surveyed said they were familiar with the Arizona leash laws, but half said they let their dog off leash on the trails.

"The majority of them indicated that they only do so when they think no one else is around," said David Urbitano, spokesman for the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department.

Urbinato said that although the area may look vacant, there is a good chance someone may be coming around the next corner on the trail.

"The conditions don't exist anymore that you are the only one using the preserves," he said.

Park rangers patrol areas around the trailhead, but with 60 miles of trails, it is hard for them to be everywhere all the time.

Tammy Sunvold, a Mesa resident and dog owner, has been coming to the South Mountain trails for 10 years. She said she hasn't noticed a lot of dogs being off leash, but added, "People who have their dogs off leash know that they can keep them in control."

The campaign also is designed to remind dog owners that hiking isn't just a walk in the park. In addition to other users, the area contains wildlife, including rattlesnakes and coyotes, that could be a threat to an off-leash dog.

Carol Moore, a Maricopa resident, came to the trail recently with her dog. Even as the morning began getting warm, owners and their leashed dogs eagerly made their way up the path. Busy days can be hazardous for unleashed dogs, even if it is unintentional.

"My dog got loose one time and ran down the trail," Moore said of her border collie, Sadie. "It can happen so easily.""
Al

Thought some people might find this amusing, so I'm posting it here.

I wrote this (http://tucson.craigslist.org/mis/225655150.html) for CL.

Cute, but still send in the letter. They just might print it, you never know.

I did send in the letter. I got no calls from the paper, so I doubt it's being printed. I'll send it again in a few weeks, after the election hubris is over.

Have you ever fallen, hard, off a bicycle? It hurts. You should have seen the look on my girlfriend’s face when I came home with my elbow red and white with bits of road debris stuck in it. It was a bloody, gross, painful mess.
I haven’t had another bike accident since that one in August, but I’ve come close while dodging dogs on the Rillito River Trail.
The Rillito is a wonderful multiple use pathway. People walk their dogs, run, cycle, etc. on it. This is what gives it the “multiple use pathway” designation.
In that theme, please make sure your dogs are leashed while out with them. I don’t want to crash from dodging a dog, nor do I want to smoosh one in my path (but will sadly do so if I have to choose between the pooch and my well-being).
Keep it safe for multiple users.

Revamped and at 150 words exactly.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

I think it still needs some work, since it's unclear whether you fell because of a dog last August. That part is confusing. It detracts from the impact of the piece because instead of thinking "that writer makes a good point", readers will be trying to understand the connection between the August fall and the dogs.