Beware the dog walker

Scary moment last week - trying to improve my wet road riding so out and about in the rain, my obs is good so I've spotted the woman walking her dog and although the dog is lively I've sussed that it's on a lead so I've written off any serious danger, I'm not riding near the kerb so I'm not concerned with spooking the dog and feeling safe I've moved obs further up the road.

Big mistake - at about 20 feet away the dog runs straight out into the middle of the road, it's a F$#KING extending lead and the woman was walking the dog with it unlocked???

There's no route to the left 'cos of the lead and no route to the right 'cos of an oncoming car - I went for the full emergency stop and within seconds the front locked up and I can feel the front end sliding away to the left, at that moment I decide that I stand more chance of staying upright by hitting the dog than by trying to controll the skid so I let off the brakes, fortunately because of my reactions and the woman pulling the dog back by its lead I just miss it.

Myself and the driver of the oncoming car (who also locked up reacting to the dog) ask the woman what the hell she's playing at walking a dog on an unlocked lead - she just said its never done anything like that before and that it was the noise of the motorbike that upset her dog and they shouldn't be alowed on the road then she made off as fast as she could. (my bike has original exhaust ect.)

I was fortunate that I wasn't doing much over 30 at the time but I will be more aware of dogs from now on, even if they are on a lead!

Originally Posted by hutchy

Myself and the driver of the oncoming car (who also locked up reacting to the dog) ask the woman what the hell she's playing at walking a dog on an unlocked lead - she just said its never done anything like that before and that it was the noise of the motorbike that upset her dog and they shouldn't be alowed on the road then she made off as fast as she could. (my bike has original exhaust ect.)

Glad you're ok!

To be honest, I would probably have the lead on unlocked if it's a quiet road with not alot of traffic and only with a trained animal that I'm fairly sure won't do something like that. It's the whole point of having one of those leads. What's galling though is how she instantly blames the bike. I think I'd have gone ballistic at her at that point.

With any luck the incident scared her (she could've lost her dog and been responsible for you coming off your bike and also getting hurt). I suspect she'll have the lead on lock from now on...

If I ever have a dog again I'll remember what happened to you. It seems you can never be too sure.

wow, well done for getting out of that one!!

I have a dog and an extendable lead - admittedly he (the dog - not sure about the lead ) is quite barmy so always keep the lead locked when faced with two wheels (motorised or not) as Otis has a particular passion for cylists - he says it's called playing but I'm not sure.

You did extremely well not to hit the dog, drop the bike, or give her a mouthful. Her response is known as guilt. In my experience dogs (at least Airedales) are like children - you never know when they'll do something quite (barking?) mad; unfortunately putting children on leads is generally regarded as extreme...

I'm nominating you for Save of the Month on that one.

Animals and traffic just don't mix well. As i found out the hard way....

See, I view this one as being your fault - if you'd had a noisy can on the bike then the dog would probably have disappeared rapidly into a nearby garden and cr*pped itself .


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Originally Posted by jonboy

See, I view this one as being your fault - if you'd had a noisy can on the bike then the dog would probably have disappeared rapidly into a nearby garden and cr*pped itself .


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I've given up taking the dog out on a lead he just can't keep pace with the bike

Rack up the lesson to never assume anything, especially anyone be it cager or dog walking ped to have any common sense and do what you would automatically do ie lock the extending lead. I never assume its on a lead and even it it is, I wont assume the dog wont try chasing me and dragging owner with it....

mind you I did laugh when I saw that in my mirror once....

Glad youre ok and bike stayed upright.

I've run over two dogs on cycle paths while on a bicycle. Once when I was little and once 2 years ago (on a folding bicycle. Fun.) So long as you pull the front wheel up, you'll go over the top of them and stay upright. Same might work on a motorbike.

Needless to say, I'm a cat person.