Around 1970 I delivered papers around Carmel, NY.
I had a red Columbia with a big basket on the front.
I had a near death experience with a big black NewFoundland. (I thought at the time-I was 12-and they look like bears when you see one coming at you)
Put a pencil size puncture in my arm, just the one hole so I guess I was lucky.
One time cranking the Columbia up a hill the stem snapped, but the basket held the handle bars to the bike, plus I was doing 3 mph maybe, so lucky for me.

Pete