11 January 2009

Cycling hazards in Canberra

| squashee
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As a new year’s resolution I have decided to buy a push bike in the hope of actually getting fit one day.

On my first attempt at cycling in ten years I happened to ride past a bunch of tiny kids playing with a Pit-Bull or similar. The dog gave chase and luckily my legs were not as dead as I had thought. I managed to get away from this little dog (with a BIG head), but it chased me for a fair distance.

It brought me to consider – what can a cyclist do to prevent attack from a dog who is intent on eating you? (Would it be criminal to carry a cattle prod like we had to do on the farm?)

As a secondary thought, would have thought the tiny children would be under tighter supervision playing with terrier dogs considering the events of Whitton in the past week.

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la mente torbida11:23 am 12 Jan 09

I have a problem with one of my dogs….she loves to put the fangs into wheels. There is nothing I haven’t tried to deter her….it’s in her nature.

Anyhoos, when we are out for walks both the dogs are running lead free in the authorised areas but I need to be vigilant for approaching bikes (a ring of the bell or a call of ‘bike’ would be appreciated) to allow me enough time to re-call her and get hold of her collar.

Likewise, when using the pathways (on lead), I would still appreciate a call of ‘bike’ or a ring of the bell from bike riders coming from behind to allow me to shorten her lead so she doesn’t take out the front wheel.

I am in no way condoning unsupervised dogs, but would ask consideration from bike riders so we can happily share the pathways and roadways that make exercise so pleasurable in this fair city (BTW I occasionally ride a bike and know how much a prat I feel like in calling out ‘bike’, but would rather feel like a prat than end up skidding along the pathway and using my skin as a braking medium).

I agree with the title, yes, they are hazards!

TheScientist10:36 am 12 Jan 09

yep, what i got taught waaaay back at primary school was similar to what johnny the knife said:

get off your bike and keep it between you and the dog.

if you’re a kid, proceed to call for help. they didn’t really cover what to do if you’re an adult. could maybe try issuing commands, some dogs will actually obey. a lot of the ones in this situation wont, so wait for the owner and report to animal control.

point out to the owner that if the dog repeatedly does this they are likely to lose the dog, most likely including destruction.

I’ll usually ride away just fast enough so that the dog still follows for about a K, then I’ll pick up the pace to drop the bugger. Then the owner has to chase, find and recapture their disobedient mutt. (altho this does require some bike fitness, and doesn’t work so well with greyhounds and other fast dogs)

Gerry-Built said :

…although a dog especially breed as a pig-hunting (or other big game) dog is a little more daunting/threatening than a bichon fraise, fox terrier or poodle, yes?

and if it is trained to be a pig dog, running or cycling away only encourages it to “bring you down” – pigs sometimes run away, so therefore, you must be a pig in a dog’s eyes…

johnny_the_knife9:02 am 12 Jan 09

There are a couple of options if you are chased by a dog while riding a bike:

1. If the owner of the animal is near by, you can stop, get off the bike and put the bike between you and the dog. This will prevent you from being injured by the dog while the owner brings it under control. Feel free to abuse the owner once the dog is on the lead

2. As above, spraying the dog with water will work well, but if the dog is a persistant problem, you could mix a small amount of amonia with some cayenne pepper and water in an old bottle you would never consider drinking from. When the dog gives chase, stop and get off the bike as per point one, then spray it in the face with this concoction. Chances are, the dog will think twice before it chases you again.

Outriding a dog is almost never successful, and may even encourage the dog to chase you. Also, if a dog is a persistant problem, reporting the matter to domestic animal services is a good idea.

As a previous poster said….

My only experience was being chase by some mutt, who aggressively bit at my ankle, while the owner watched in amusement. His amusement slipped when I kicked it in the head a few times and peddled away, albeit with blood coming from my ankle. What I wanted to do, had there not been a vicious dog present, was take the “D” lock from my bike and beat the owner to death with it…

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy8:54 am 12 Jan 09

I’ve never had a problem with a dog while riding, although I once had a couple of greyhounds chase me when I was running around an oval (many years ago). The owners let them off the leads on the far side of the oval and they sprinted across to me. Man those things were fast.

I’ve been pulled off my bike when a white Bull Terrier grabbed my leg. I was yelling at the dog to let go and managed to bash its head against my bike frame enough to encourage it to do so. The owner came out of their house and accused me of provoking the attack by riding my bike past. I rang the ranger and was told that I was one of several complaints about this particular animal / owner and they would be following it up. I didn’t see the dog out on the street again.

black_rattism8:38 am 12 Jan 09

Actually, the American Pit Bull Terrier (which I assume the OP is referring to, since “Pit Bull” is not a breed) was originally bred for dog fighting. They can be aggressive towards other dogs because of this without proper training and socialization but there is no reason for them to be more aggressive to humans than any other dog.

The reason I say this is irrelevant is that these dogs are easily misidentified and often blamed for dog attacks even when the dog involved is of questionable lineage. See http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html , you may be surprised.

Aurelius you can’t knock the Belgians. Anyone who can make the most heavenly chocolate and 12% beer can’t be that bad.

As for protection against dogs, remember the VW in ‘The cars that ate Paris’? (A Peter Weir gem) Do your shoes up like it and you’ll be fine……………….or fined.

Pepper Spray/Mace is your best defence.

Personally I don’t use it – am able to out sprint them or I un-clip and kick them on the nose/head. Obviously waving your foot around isn’t ideal if you haven’t been riding for 10 years.

Pandy, you are right on with the choccies!!! I just picked the first few lap dogs that came to mind (sorry, no offence intended anyone)

…and I only know the bichon frais because of Shrek 2 LOL

Firstly, It is vertualy never the dog’s fault – humans who own muscle dogs are a breed of their own. If someone owns an animal that is as easily described as a weapon as a pet they’re presenting us all with a (violent) problem.

I was riding a couple of metres behind my (then) eight year old daughter on a bike path when a Rottweiler ran past me to attack her. I jumped off the back of my bike and threw it between her and the dog , baulking it for enough time for me to run betw4een the dog and her. When the owner of the dog got a chain on it it was doimg the grisley bear thing – on hind legs – as tall as me – wanting to “go” us. The owner said “I had him off the lead trying to teach him obedience and he got away”.

BullS**t.

If we had adult-sized animals free to attack adults on the streets there would be a public outcry. Kids have got to learn to grow up in a world that includes adults of all IQs. BUT, if the small penis… woops… “adults” for who it seems muscle dogs are a valuable addition to their lives!!??? may-be they should be confronted by a bear sized animal in the Canberra wilds themselves. It might scare their their tatoos off.

Well, the dog should have been on a lead and supervised by an adult in the first place.

Where were you riding? Dob the bastards in.

Holierthanthou11:25 pm 11 Jan 09

Pit bulls are restricted in some states, meaning you cannot breed, buy (or otherwise acquire) or sell them; as well as other restrictions if you happen to own one (eg signs on gate). They is bad doggies.

Why pick on the Belgians? They make lovely chocolates. It is the French we should whip.

…although a dog especially breed as a pig-hunting (or other big game) dog is a little more daunting/threatening than a bichon fraise, fox terrier or poodle, yes?

black_rattism10:23 pm 11 Jan 09

Okay, now for some sensible advice…running (or riding) away is not a sensible idea since it only encourages the dog to chase. The safest thing you can do if you can’t avoid the dog is to dismount and walk past, with the bike between you and the dog.

Your assessment of the dog as a “Pit-Bull or similar” is irrelevant, as all dogs can bite and all dogs can do you damage.

Vic Bitterman10:04 pm 11 Jan 09

Just kick the dog that’s attacking you. Kick really hard. Most times you swing and miss. But the times you connect…. the mutt isn’t going to go you again.

Works for me when I’m on my deadly treadly.

Not sure about the pepper… we tried to deter our dogs from eating the heads off the sprinkler system (pre-water restrictions) by placing huge amounts of Wasabi on them (I know wasabi isn’t from the same family, but *is* WAY hot)… that just encouraged the dogs. Apparently dogs don’t taste “hot”. Not sure about in the eyes, though I know my dogs don’t like being sprayed with water (super soaker is a great training/deterrent tool)…

barking toad10:01 pm 11 Jan 09

Lucky it wasn’t one of those killer rabbits (Holy Grail type)

I once had a pit bull chase me on the bike…

well, not really a ‘pit bull’. Ok, it was a chihuahua. But it had teeth like a pit bull.

Pit Bull Terriers are big dogs. Methinks you are confused.

methinks you haven’t seen a pitbull standing next to a big boy rottweiler, or a great dane!

i always rekkun the roman/gladiator idea of blade rotating with the axle is a brilliant one – requires a little skilled riding, so mebbe you’ll need some more practice, but the l’il f*ucker won’t come near you again – nor will the dog!

ok, a lochaber axe in that case

Pit Bull Terriers are big dogs. Methinks you are confused.

Mix a bit of chilli and pepper in the water. Also put chilli on the business end of the bohemian ear spoon (though I much prefer the guisarme-volgue).

If you have a water bottle mounted to your frame squirting some water at the dog would certainly deter it.

The dog was probably protecting the children from you! One dog with some kids is part of their pack, it would be very odd for the dog to go crazy and attack them all. The only issue in this case is that the kids evidently did not control the dog.

As a secondary thought, would have thought the tiny children would be under tighter supervision playing with terrier dogs considering the events of Whitton in the past week.

It’s never “my dog” that’s the dangerous one – that only happens to “other people”.

Holierthanthou4:25 pm 11 Jan 09

or a bohemian earspoon

Legally speaking, you’re entitled to self-defence, the same as if the dog was a teenager with a skateboard, or a Belgian. You can do whatever is required, using reasonable force, to protect yourself.
So a stick might be appropriate.

Buy a cattle prod. Universally useful item.

Holierthanthou4:18 pm 11 Jan 09

Get a book on firearms and look up “velo dog”.

The ol’ ninja trick of a blown egg filled with pepper is good. But i just go for the big stick (up for magpies, down for dogs)

barking toad3:55 pm 11 Jan 09

You just ran away? (or pedalled). Wimp.

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