billmc40

Went for a bike ride yesterday and today. Yesterday I was chased by a dog, owner was pissed I kicked his dog in the face, my calf was not. Was told he wanted the bike not the rider. Told the young man you need to restrain the dog. Was nearly hit twice on Centennial, both times at the entrance of the new walamrt, drivers literaly just pulled out and didnt care. I know one gentle didnt even see me with a strobe light hitting hime in the face. Today on my 10 mile ride same thing today only no dog chases. It is not that they dont see the bike rider, THEY DONT LOOK UP FROM THE DAMN PHONES. I think they should make all phones go dead in the cock pit at 5 miles per hour! Lets look up folks!
BillMc

GeoKrpan

Happens on the sidewalk too with walkers. I saw an article last night about the rising death toll on the roads. I think the police have given up trying to stop it.

John33702

Been there on many occasions, but on a motorcycle, not a bike. Been there once on a bike. In the experienced motorcycle rider ed classes we were taught to slow down as the dog approaches, then hit the throttle to outrun the dog. Obviously that won't work with a bike. Dogs can be a nuisance, but some of their owners even more so when they let their dogs run loose on a public road. Perhaps the guy who was pissed at you will think about keeping his dog on his property, now. I believe it's illegal, everywhere, to let dogs run loose on the streets.


Treat all drivers as though they're idiots, and expect them to do something stupid, and you won't be disappointed. I still ride a motorcycle as well as a bike, and it bothers me when cars are waiting to pull out from a side road. You make eye contact with that driver but it doesn't mean they're not going to pull out. And when they're illegally using a phone while driving, they are a total menace, a potential killer. What we cyclists need is a suit like the Michelin man wears (in case of a crash) and a ray gun to neutralize dogs that are loose.

Stucky

Heh, all that other stuff serves you right for abusing the poor dog!

Yeah, the owner should have restrained it- if for nothing else, for the dog's own safety- but the poor dog can't help it that his owner is a jerk.

If you don't want to get bitten/chased by dogs, simply talk to them. I don't even mean that you have to yell- Just say something like "Oh, hi there, poochie" or "You be a good boy" in a normal voice. It'll stop 98% of them in their tracks. For the other 2%, just STOP, and talk to them. Once in a rare while, you may encounter a real tenacious/mean one whom you will have to lunge at or squirt with your water bottle- but really, there's no reason to use violence on a poor animal- and believe me, if you don't talk to them or stop when necessary, you will be bitten or crash because of one of 'em sooner or later.

Try what I said, you'll never have a problem with dogs again. Really, there's no need to let a dog out-smart you.

exmechanic89

I had a lady almost hit me today on my ride as well, almost hit me yet never saw me even as she drove away. She wasnt looking at a phone, was just completely oblivious to her surroundings. Scary that there people on the road that are so unaware of what's around them.

SnowCYYCling

I'm a dog person and never had an issue with dogs. If you don't make eye contact or look at their general direction, they lose interest really quickly. I've had dogs run towards me when I'm riding, I didn't slow down, speed up, hesitate or anything that wasn't what I was already doing and they just stop running towards me even if the owner didn't call out

Miele Man

Do NOT depend on eye cotact to tell you if a driver sees you. Watch the WHEELS for movement! A small air-powered boat horn zip tied or taped to your handlebar near the brake lever is ready to hand if you need to get a driver's atention quickly. Also works for pedestrians about to step in front of you. I had a guy about to step off tthe curb and he jumped back when I sounded my horn. As I rode past him I heard his say, "**** it was only a bicycle". I think he thought it was a BIG truck acoming when he heard that horn.

Cheers

canklecat

If I routinely encountered a tricky intersection or parking lot with indifferent or inattentive drivers I'd get an air horn and start blasting it preemptively just to get drivers' attention. Or avoid that area completely, or ride around it. There are a couple of tricky traffic merges on one of my occasional routes and I'll avoid it near rush hour or on days when my legs feel mushy.

With dogs, there's no one size fits all solution. Some dogs don't care about the dog whisperer guidelines. In my experience unrestrained dogs mirror their owners' personalities. The dog has no incentive not to behave aggressively because they're picking up on cues from their owners that the owners don't care or actually enjoy an aggressive, intimidating dog. I've tried talking with owners of aggressive unrestrained dogs. It never helps. If they actually gave a damn they wouldn't let their dogs roam wild. Sometimes all you can do is call law enforcement, but in some rural areas there is no authority for unrestrained pets.

Again, an air horn might work. But if I encountered the same aggressive dog more than once on my usual routes I'd carry strong pepper spray, dismount and use it the first time the dog approached. May sound cruel but the dog needs to associate the discomfort with seeing, hearing and smelling you. I haven't needed to do that in many years, but it worked on the last couple of dogs that chased and nipped at me while I was jogging or bicycling. Fortunately the rural route I ride most days for exercise have very considerate dog people who use training collars and fences, or simply fence their dogs. Most I see walking are on leashes. I've been chased only twice, by two different dogs, and never saw the same dogs again so it wasn't a recurring danger.

billmc40

I am a dog lover. I have had a friend badly bitten by a dog. I am not responible for someone else's animal. If I was cruel, I would of used bear spray, quite common here.
BillMc

10 Wheels

Also works for DOGS..Let the dog get close then blast the horn.

BobbyG

AirZound air horn. (Or Delta)

Stucky

I understand- but really, if you don't want to get bitten, learn how to deal properly with dogs, and they won't be an issue. I live in a very rural area, where all sorts of dogs run loose- and instead of battling the dogs I encounter on my riding routes, I've made friends with them all. The ones whom I pass regularly, who chased me at first, now just come out and sit on the edge of their lawns as I ride by. Try what I said in my post above; believe me, it makes riding a lot more pleasant- and it's much safer for you and the dogs. (You could kick a few of the owners in the face....I wouldn't complain! )

There's this one dog I often pass- a humongous german shepherd- must weigh 150 lbs (I know, because i have a dog that weighs 100 lbs. and this GSD makes him look small by comparison!)- He's never gotten friendly, but he gave up on trying to chase me, because when he tries to, I just stop...so it's no fun for him. (It's funny actually- you see him come tearing out of a driveway; I stop and talk to him; he just stands there looking foolish, and turns around and goes home. Now he doesn't even bother anymore, because he's used to that routine. I'm not scared of dogs, but the first time I saw this dog come flying out after me, I nearly had a heart attack- but talking, and stopping if necessary works like a charm.)

Maelochs

Even though those "dog whisperer" techniques frequently work, to say that they will never fail is not correct. Also, idf the person who is being threatened is startled and afraid of being bitten, it can be hard to muster the right attitude to "outsmart" the dog in the limited time before the dog does something painful to the rider.

I am an animal lover who has successfully dealt with dogs in countless thousands of miles of walking and riding, but I will not put down a person who uses a water bottle, a frame pump, or pepper spray. I am not on the scene, and I am not going to suffer if the animal attacks and bites. Absolutely, it is sad that a dog has to get whacked in the face when the owner is the one who deserves it ... but it would be sadder still if the cyclist got bit, or even just crashed because the dog clumsily ran under the wheel.

I have a friend who broke his collarbone when a dog ran under his wheel and he hit the pavement at speed. Maybe the dog didn't plan to bite; likely it also didn't plan to get run over. I know for sure the guy didn't plan to hit the dog and break his collarbone. But when the dust had settled the guy was sitting on the pavement in great pain and the dog was fine---pretty much the way the dog would be fine after a kick in the face or a blast from pepper spray, and in those cases my friend probably would have ridden on unscathed---and knowing the guy, would have felt bad about spraying or kicking the dog, because he has a big heart like Stucky and I do.

rumrunn6

the problems with legal pot are just starting

Crewchief911

Where I rode in Texas there were 2 places where I had issues with dogs. Large, very aggressive dogs. I tried all that stuff...One dog bit the heel of my shoe twice, and the other dog nearly got my ankle. They were not going after the bike, and they did not lose interest quickly. I don't call it "abusing the poor dog", it's self defense.

Maelochs

So ... are you saying the dog who wanted to steal the OP's bike was going to sell it to feed his pot habit? or the owner was too stoned to tell the dog not to try to steal bikes?

Considering the incidents took place in Kansas ... I am not sure they even allow alcohol there. I am pretty sure they have outlawed fact-based education.

exmechanic89

I agree. I'm a big dog and cat lover - even a vegetarian because I care about animals, but if you're being attacked by a dog on a mission I dont have any qualms about kicking it hard if I have to. I'd rather kick the owner hard of course, but if it's just a dog you have to defend yourself.

rumrunn6

I quoted the reply that I was commenting on

Senrab62 

And legal alcohol doesn't count right?

my $.02; just be aware of your surroundings. My ulock is handy for dogs that don't respond to talking to them. And my head is on a swivel around any motor vehicle, or mode of transportation for that matter.

Everyone try try to be safe! Being hit by a car or bitten by a dog is no fun.

rumrunn6

of course it does, good point. my point is the legal pot will add to it and in a new scary way, ppl will be driving and spacing out

Stucky

I don't use alcohol or drugs- but the thing is, people who use pot or other drugs, will do so whether it's legal or not. Making stuff illegal when it doesn't affect others, is just a recipe to further ruin people's lives and finances. I live in a dry county- you can't even buy a beer here- but yet there are still plenty of drunk drivers. Same with pot or other drugs- it should only be a crime when it affects the innocent- like when driving under it's influence.