commuting?Is it worth the hassle?

lvquestpaddler

I used to commute to my work hail or shine, all year round (8mile RT). I chose a route which is 90% on a designated Sustrans route, which avoids traffic and is pleasant even in the harshest conditions running alongside the river. I've been taking the van the last year or so, but after gaining some weight decided before Xmas to buy a turbo trainer which I've been using for two months and (boring as it may seem to some) has allowed my base fitness to rise to the point where today I thought, "i'll have a blast on the old commute and see how it goes with a view to starting commuting again on Monday". 40mins later and after 3 run-ins with dog owners I realised partly why I'd given up the commute. Rather than a 17-20min intensive blast, get the heart pumping etc I ended up in heated exchanges with these thickos who don't seem to realise that on a shared path like that their dogs should be on a leash according to the highway code. I wasn't stealth bombing them passing with no warning, I was shouting "coming through" from a good distance and looking for them acknowledging me.
There are signs advising cyclists to give way to pedestrians, and that's all fair and acceptable. But dogs? Lets face it a lot of these people I see never pick up the crap the dogs drop either, and I've got to slow down to a walk so their dumb hound won't run in front of me?
God, maybe it's me I just don't know anymore. The road commute will never happen, we are seen as a nuisance by everyone, it is true, and shown nothing but contempt.
Maybe I need to just go at 10mph thus getting nothing out of it fitness wise and taking longer, stop half way for a can of beer and a rest, watch the birds on the river?

secretsam

I f*cking hate dogs, so am with you 100%. Filthy, stupid animals (the owners, that is). Get a sharpened stake and stab them, I say (the dogs).

I nip round a path on my way to the station, admittedly it's "no cycling" but if there's anyone coming I off-road onto the adjacent park. It's happened at least, ooh, 6 times in 18 months...The only people who use the park are dog-muppets taking their brain-dead pets for a dump.

Occasionally I see kids playing football there, and think "yuck".

If any of the dog-muppets ever challenges me they'd better be ready for some venomous exchanges.

Feel free to moderate this. Am not going to contain my distaste for all things mutt-related. :evil: :evil: :evil:

alfablue

Yes the run-ins with dog owners are a real pain. It is when they let their dogs wander up ahead unleashed and they suddenly change direction across the path. I just don't get the owners, do they not care if the dogs get hit? On the path I use (Bristol to Bath Railway Path) the rules are that dogs must be kept under control, so it is a reasonable expectation that they should be reliable in walking in a straight line without turning broadside on the path (I think some are) or be on a lead. The owners of the "unreliable" type dog are clearly not dog lovers in my view if they take no steps to protect them. I haven't yet had a collision, but have had near misses, I think (in theory at least) a dog owner could be liable for damages I might sustain, though that is little consolation, and I bet in practice there would be little legal sympathy for the cyclist.

The answer - I don't know really, but I am not giving up because of this problem. I just hope the more "interactions" dog owners have with cyclists, the more chance there is that the penny will drop...hmmm.

PrettyBoyTim

To be honest I don't think that cycle paths are well suited for going fast - for that you need a road.

Also, be aware that keeping dogs on a leash is a reccommendation, rather than the law.

Live and let live, eh?

alfablue

Yes, I think keeping the dog "under control" rather than on a lead in particular, is the issue.

As for paths versus the road, generally I agree, but the Bristol and Bath Railway path is a very heavily used commuter route of 13+ miles (combined with the ring road path I do 20 miles), and with the 2.4 million cycle journeys along it per year, it should not be a big surprise to find the odd cyclist on it!

lvquestpaddler

There should really be a re-introduction of dog licencing, with compulsory chipping of the lot of them so council wardens can spot scan them. I think wardens should be allowed to ask any dog owner to turn out their pockets and if there is no "sh*t bags" present, either empty or full they should be prosecuted. If they licenced all dogs then they could DNA test them then test any crap found in playing fields etc and fine the owners. The route I take has rugby/cricket pitches and a municipal golf course and you see them sh**ting everywhere. Utter nuisances and if we were any sort of society we would not allow dogs on playing fields, likewise beaches, where billions have been spent trying to keep human faecal matter out of the water in sewage discharges etc but any numpty with a dog can let it crap and swish about the tidal zone.
If dogs were also licenced they could post out guidelines etc for walking dogs on shared paths, advise that people keep to the left while walking(instead of ambling aimlessly) and other useful snippets to allow an easier time for all.

fossyant

Stick to the road to get fit - come on...going on the bike is far better than sitting in traffic...

Drfabulous0

I have learned by experience that most dogs really dislike air-zounds.

Cunobelin

DfT guidelines - 18 mph + is unsuitable for shared use paths...

Personally I think 10 -12 mph is fast enough!

If this was a motor vehicle on a quiet road it would be referred to as "rat-running"

Recognise your responsibilities and use the road for these speeds.

Babbsy

I used to drive to my work hail or shine, all year round (8mile RT). I chose a route which is 90% on a designated A road, which avoids traffic and is pleasant even in the harshest conditions running alongside the river. I've been taking the train the last year or so, but today I thought, "i'll have a blast on the old drive and see how it goes with a view to starting driving again on Monday". 40mins later and after 3 run-ins with cyclists I realised partly why I'd given up the drive. Rather than a 17-20min intensive blast, get the gas pumping etc I ended up in heated exchanges with these thickos who don't seem to realise that on a shared road like that their cyclists should not get in my way. I wasn't bombing along, passing with no warning, I was honking the horn "coming through" from a good distance and looking for them acknowledging me.
There are signs advising motorists to give way to cyclists, and that's all fair and acceptable. But lets face it a lot of these people I see never stopping at red lights or obeying the highway code, and I've got to slow down to 20mph so these dumb bikes don't wobble in front of me?
God, maybe it's me I just don't know anymore. The motorway commute will never happen, we are seen as a nuisance by everyone, it is true, and shown nothing but contempt.
Maybe I need to just go at 10mph thus getting nothing out of it and taking longer, stop half way for a can of beer and a rest, watch the birds on the river?

Cunobelin

Maybe I need to just go at 10mph thus getting nothing out of it and taking longer, stop half way for a can of beer and a rest, watch the birds on the river?

Actually that is not a bad idea..............

I can think of one waterside pub on my Commute where that has been done on a hot summer day!

mercurykev

About 6 months ago I was cycling home along a shared path, frequented by many dog walkers. I came up to a group of people who had about 5 dogs between them and slowed down to about 5mph to navigate past them safely. As I passed the group a tiny dog shot out from behind a wall and went straight under my front wheel. I slammed on the brakes and virtually went over my bars and onto the snarling wee beast.

Luckily the dog was OK, I think it skinned its paw and got a scare. However, from the owners reaction it was all my fault!

You know what I hate? The fact that any open public space or off road path, just becomes the domain of dog walkers. Dirty beasts - I'd put the lot of them down (and the dogs would get put into kennels).

cntl

When my dog was alive I ALWAYS walked him on park paths on a leash. I let him run freely, but ONLY away from public paths and ONLY where there were no other people or dogs around. NO EXCEPTION.

EDIT: An also he was a "proper" dog , not some ugly and dangerous breeds that make me avoid parks nowadays.

Alibran

I've only just started cycling to work, but I've already learned to stay clear of the shared path by the sea at any time during the day (I still use it early morning and late evening because it's a pretty good route). It's too much hassle to deal with the small minority of people who don't pay attention to what's going on around them, and refuse to control their dogs. During the day, I take a longer route round the back roads instead.

lvquestpaddler

The route is part of the NCN east coast route so the walkers should be aware that there will be bikes passing, and as I said if everyone even kept left and had alittle bit more awareness of what's about them half the problems would be solved. I don't use the road because in 3 miles it has loads of traffic lights and a newly "improved" major roundabout(A9 at Inveralmond -traffic light controlled abomination, I would not want to be stuck stationary in the middle of it while an HGV tries to pass me to get off it, it's lethal even in cars and the council/road planners will nnot accept they have made a complete mess of it!) which obviously are not geared to notice bikes so I get stopped continuously. Hardly a decent commute. Not so much stuck "between a rock and a hard place", more "between a white van man and a stupid dog/owner...

Black Keith

mix it up, ride both.

cars are for mugs, just relax and concentrate on your ride.

secretsam

lvquestpaddler wrote:

There should really be a re-introduction of dog licencing, with compulsory chipping of the lot of them so council wardens can spot scan them. I think wardens should be allowed to ask any dog owner to turn out their pockets and if there is no "sh*t bags" present, either empty or full they should be prosecuted. If they licenced all dogs then they could DNA test them then test any crap found in playing fields etc and fine the owners. The route I take has rugby/cricket pitches and a municipal golf course and you see them sh**ting everywhere. Utter nuisances and if we were any sort of society we would not allow dogs on playing fields, likewise beaches, where billions have been spent trying to keep human faecal matter out of the water in sewage discharges etc but any numpty with a dog can let it crap and swish about the tidal zone.
If dogs were also licenced they could post out guidelines etc for walking dogs on shared paths, advise that people keep to the left while walking(instead of ambling aimlessly) and other useful snippets to allow an easier time for all.

Good effort, a fellow dog-lover it seems :twisted:

Babbsy

There should really be a re-introduction of bicycle licencing, with compulsory chipping of the lot of them so council wardens can spot scan them. I think wardens should be allowed to stop any cycle ...........................................................

Come On!?

jedster

I think shared paths are basically unsuitable for pushing the speed and therefore for aerobic exercise. If you want the commute to deliver real fitness beneifts then you need to be on the road.

niblue

If I were commuting into Edinburgh from where I live I'd be using two shared paths - the Water of Leith Walkway and the Union Canal towpath. On both there can be problems with inconsiderate walkers and inconsiderate cyclists and recently a change has been made to the regulations on the canal towpath such that it now has a 6mph speed limit (which, if anyone actually paid any attention to, would make it useless for cycling).

Fortunately my actual commute takes a different route (all on quiet tarmac) which means it's considerably faster and with less stress.

chewa

Take a chill pill!


Shared use paths are just that and as the vehicle which can cause the damage I think it's up to us to be safe, so I slow down for dogs off leads, or toddlers walking beside their parents or kids on bikes wobbling from side to side.

If you want to go fast, get on the road.

As an aside, in business I NEVER trust anyone who doesn't like dogs. Not liking some of the owners I can understand.

Gussio

I once saw a dog for sale in a Vietnamese market. It was skinned and gutted but otherwise completely intact. It did not look appetising. The tail looked particularly boney and a dog with no lips is in a permanent snarl.

alfablue

chewa wrote:

As an aside, in business I NEVER trust anyone who doesn't like dogs.

A good objective test.

chewa

alfablue wrote:

chewa wrote:

As an aside, in business I NEVER trust anyone who doesn't like dogs.

A good objective test.

Works for me

fossyant

chewa wrote:

alfablue wrote:

chewa wrote:

As an aside, in business I NEVER trust anyone who doesn't like CYCLISTS.

A good objective test.

Works for me

Heh heh...thought I'd add the above, it works for me.........

secretsam

chewa wrote:

alfablue wrote:

chewa wrote:

As an aside, in business I NEVER trust anyone who doesn't like dogs.

A good objective test.

Works for me

Is that an interview question, then? "Do you like dogs?" The EOC may not like that

That's a lot of potential customers and employees you're excluding with such a narrow minded perspective.

saveswalking

SecretSam wrote:

chewa wrote:

alfablue wrote:

chewa wrote:

As an aside, in business I NEVER trust anyone who doesn't like dogs.

A good objective test.

Works for me

Is that an interview question, then? "Do you like cricket?" The EOC may not like that

That's a lot of potential customers and employees you're excluding with such a narrow minded perspective.

chewa

SecretSam wrote:

chewa wrote:

alfablue wrote:

chewa wrote:

As an aside, in business I NEVER trust anyone who doesn't like dogs.

A good objective test.

Works for me

Is that an interview question, then? "Do you like dogs?" The EOC may not like that

That's a lot of potential customers and employees you're excluding with such a narrow minded perspective.

Tongue was a bit in cheek but I have found people who profess not to like dogs a bit difficult to get along with. I would never ask but always found it strange that someone can profess a complete aversion to one thing without good reason. Particularly since men and dogs have been companions since way past. Can understand if they had been attacked (I hate White vans for that very reason )

I never like cabbies who say "I hate cyclists". I could understand it if they said "I hate stealth cyclists" or rlj cyclists or pavement cyclists

alfablue

my position on dogs:

I like the look of them, and some seem well behaved and maybe even a bit smart.

I don't actually enjoy being with them because they can be a bit smelly, sniffy, jumpy-upy and dribbly.

On the bike I am very nervous of the unknown dog, having been severely bitten cycling slowly past a dog (required hospital treatment).

Would I get a job?

secretsam

"chewa wrote:

Tongue was a bit in cheek but I have found people who profess not to like dogs a bit difficult to get along with.

Can understand if they had been attacked (I hate White vans for that very reason )

I never like cabbies who say "I hate cyclists". I could understand it if they said "I hate stealth cyclists" or rlj cyclists or pavement cyclists

I probably am not the easiest to get on with, I admit, but that's just me...nothing to do with les chiens

Dog bite as a kid, but am not afraid of them, just think they're dense, smelly and dirty - am with Alfablue!

WVMs: well, find me anyone on here who likes them...

chewa

Ah, you must both have never met a Vizsla. Intelligent and non smelly (they have a very short coat and even when wet don't niff much).

As to dirty - well we poop scoop (as do all of our dog owning friends) As long as you are not into French kissing them can't think there's a hygiene problem. I've always thought cats dirtier than dogs

alfa - no prejudices here, so yes.

BTW I've been chased on the bike by one dog in 35 years of serious ish cycling, but 2 geese! - much more scary.