Hask12

The owners of the dogs didn't give a damn. The fact that they argue about a leash law while your wife is lying on the ground bleeding pretty much says it all. Next time call the cops. At least EMS could have checked your wife out to make sure her injuries weren't serious. You could always then take her to the hospital yourself. Plus you could have filed a report with the police. Does the whole country have a leash law?

JamieElenbaas

OP, I am very sorry to hear about your wife's crash and your encounter with the irresponsible, insensitive dog owners. Loose / long lead dogs are indeed a menace that we all worry about.

To Hwycruiser,

Are your serious?

If you have time to get the can out, aim and spray any dog within 20 feet of the side of the road you certainly have time to avoid the mutt. Yes, with a dog coming after you, ears down and teeth snapping, spray away. If you are spraying at any loose dog it because you find it,
you are the kind of self righteous SOB that really makes it tough for the rest of us out there. You're not one of those fellows who swings a U Lock at every car that cuts you off are you?

Pamestique 

First and foremost - I hope your wife is feeling better soon.

The whole dog thing - is well, a problem everywhere I guess. When I ride on bike paths or mountain bike on trails I have to deal with errant dogs. Owners apparently are absolutely clueless. Several years back a good friend and I were riding on a bike path... we saw the older lady to our left and slowed down... at the last minute we saw the lease pulled across the trail and a small dog in the easement on the right. My buddy hit the lease and well, it seriously injured the dog (jerking it out of the bushes). The owner was angry but not as angry as me... my friend could have been hurt and as an animal lover, the owner was irresponsible; the dog could have been killed. There is no reason for those zip lines leases and I think they should be outlawed.

Having trained dogs for almost 20 years, there is no reason to have one's dog run willy nilly on a bike path. They don't learn the meaning of "walking" and there is no physical reason to allow them to pee and poop everywhere. Oh well, just keeps me off bike paths during busy times as you can't knock sense into everyone's head.

Again I hope your wife is OK.

DnvrFox

UPDATE

1. Wife is feeling good. She was pretty sore yesterday. She went for a bike ride today - just a couple of miles, but she wanted to prove to herself that she could do it.

2. I contacted the Parker/Jordan Metro District and asked that they post leash law signs on this section of trail which they built and control. We will see.

DnvrFox

And a note from the Parker/Jordam Metro District - I never noticed this, not having a dog:

Dear Mr. Fox:

I am sorry to hear about the accident. I have attached pictures of the signs at the North and South entrance of the trail which specifically states that dogs must be on a short leash (forth bullet down). I hope that everything is ok and please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Mat

NOS88

Perhaps an act of civil vandalism is in order. I might just take a permanent marker and underline that 4th bullet! Having broadsided a dog under similar circumstances this summer, I get really leery around dogs off lead. Lately, I've been stopping and talking to owners about the importance of keep their dogs safe. I point out that they don't want over 200 lbs moving at 17+mph hitting their dogs with 23mm tires. I mean they could risk getting their dog cut almost in half. Most are very uncomfortable with the conversation, but I try to be nice and maintain a smile. (Despite the fact that on the inside I feel like shaking/smacking the owners silly.)

AzTallRider

Am I the only one that worries more about dogs ON leash than dogs OFF leash? I've found loose dogs to be much more adept at avoiding being hit than a dog trying to be controlled by its owner. I know there are the rare bike chasers, where the restraint of the leash is required. But to me, having a leash stretched across the path, or having an owner react to my approach by pulling the dog INTO my way, are a bigger concern.

On early weekend mornings, I will let me dog off leash to chase rabbits in a canyon adjacent to the same bike path I use for my commute. But then, he has no interest in cyclists, and will also "wait" in place when anyone will be coming by. I do that with him so the pedestrian or cyclist -knows- he won't be getting in the way. In Phoenix, there is a leash law, and also a provision that a dog which passes a "Canine Good Citizen" test can be off leash. The test includes maintaining control when people and other dogs pass. I guess I'm saying that there is more than one way to be a responsible dog owner. Leashes are a necessity, but they are really no substitute for proper training. It's the control of the handler that matters.

Glad she is doing well!

Bud Bent

If it works like traffic crashes (I don't call them accidents) here, calling the cops wouldn't have done any good, because you didn't actually hit the dogs. I once fishtailed my boat trailer into a guardrail while trying to avoid the drunks in front of me who became sideways on the road after hitting the guardrail, and the state troopers who showed up treated it as two completely separate crashes, because I hadn't actually hit the other car.

gcottay

If it were me who suffered the injuries, I would have accepted them as my responsibility for not being aware enough of conditions to safely stop. If it were my wife my response would have been much less rational and much more like Denver's.

Best wishes for Nora's smooth and complete recovery followed by great rides.

hwycruiser

JE:

Dogs must be slower in Chicago than here in Texas. I have rode past dogs doing over 20 mph and have them catch up with me when they were starting from laying down position. It is not uncommon during my frequent dog encounters when I ride rural country roads for them to come at me full blast from the side. Considering the possible harm that could happen from these encounters to me, or my wife who rides with me, I have no problem using the spray. I said it is "kinda fun" because it puts me on an equal playing field with the dog. Halt! shoots a stream not a spray so you can reach the 20 feet before they get near.It does not hurt the dog and it actually helps teach them to stay away from bikes, just like we know to avoid skunks. I like dogs and don't think I am a "self righteous SOB" to protect myself on a road where I should not have to be in a position to defend myself. I find it is typically the same dogs, which means it is the same owners, causing the problem. I do not spray a dog that is not in pursuit. You should also know that I heard recently that a cyclist had to spend $1800 for rabies treatment after a dog bite. Makes that $6 can of pepper spray worth having.

BikeArkansas

Along the same line as hwycruiser, this past spring I passed by a dog that was crouched and waiting along the side of the road. The dog then chased me and bit my foot. What a surpise! I thought I was well past when there was a pain in my left foot. The pooch had my Sidi clad foot in his mouth. I was able to kick away with no major injury, but I felt the sting of his bite for the rest of the morning.

I would have no problem spraying a dog with some type of pepper or whatever, and I have carried a spray container in the past. I find the effort not worth the very few times a spray is necessary.

I do worry about the dogs on extendable leashes, but mostly these dogs are being walked along paths where my speed is reduced anyway, so it is not as dangeous as out on a country lane where my speed is probably elevated.

AzTallRider

Very likely true. The state dog of Texas (Lacy Dog) can run down almost anything, including any cyclist not a pro-caliber sprinter. Mine has chased down and caught a jackrabbit.

If you need to spray a dog, then, in my opinion, the dog's owner should be tracked down and sprayed as well. Irresponsibility: the plague of society.

Bud Bent

I used to always joke that you don't have to be faster than the dog, just faster than the slowest rider in your group. Since I had lung surgery and became the slowest rider in the group, that joke isn't nearly as funny.