Here is my only real Atlanta share the road story - 1-Uped by a local poodle.

I was in Atlanta for a conference and staying at my parent's house to save the company on hotel costs. After the conference at the Cobb Galleria center, I took off from my parents house and went riding around the Chastain Park area. I was over by Peachtree Battle, crossing it in fact. I do not recall the exact street, but I approached PB on a downhill, so I had a pretty big gear.

I crossed PB slowly, but not completely stopping, as there was no traffic. I then started up the hill after crossing PB. There was an older woman (65 maybe) walking her dog on the other side of the road. The hill was very steep (10% or higher for probably 60 ft). I didnt shift out of the big ring, as I was just going to push up the short hill. As I start to slowly grind up, the dog and older woman are more or less directly across the road from me. The dog takes off and runs right in front of me and the leash cord (one of those Flexi leashes) is probably 3 ft in front of my tire.

I hit the brakes and come to an immediate stop (thanks to the grade). I was out of my saddle and all of a sudden stopped with the leash nearly touching my front tire. I didnt have time to unclip as I was about to be clothes-lined by the leash. A split second later, I am still clipped in, lying flat on my back with my bike directly above me.

It was a combination of embarrasment and mild anger, but the poodle came up and said hello, wagging its tail. The lady asked if I was OK. I said I was and went off on my way.