For reference, I live in downtown Kansas City, MO and while I wouldn't say that I live in a particularly dangerous part of town by any means, I do drive by a building sporting "Black Panther" graffiti on my commute to work. I think that gives many people, myself included an uneasy feeling as they drive or ride past it.

I asked because when I take my longer rides out past suburbia and into the dog-ridden rural areas (where the street signs sport swastikas and "WP" [White Power]), I want to know that should something go terribly wrong, I'll have at least some sort of protection.

I understand what people were saying pepper spraying someone would only piss them off and give them more reason to become violent, I'd like to think that the extra couple of seconds it would give me would be all it takes to hop back on the bike and take off.

In all honesty, I'm more concerned about the dogs than the people. I don't want to hurt a dog more than in necessary to get it off my heels, as I see chasing bikers as something instinctual to them. Maybe I'm too soft-hearted, but I don't want to hurt an animal for doing something that it doesn't do with bad intent.