Cyclists and dogs
Without question, the community of cyclists has grown rapidly. On many long-distance hiking or cycling paths, it is no longer even possible to let a dog run free in good weather, and we should not do so even if our dog does not have the tendency to suddenly run to the opposite side of the path.
There are several reasons for this:
- Smaller children, inexperienced cyclists, cyclists with health restrictions and older age react more slowly, possibly also more clumsily, and can be very seriously injured in falls
- Road cyclists are sometimes travelling very fast
- There are groups of cyclists on the road where the cyclists in the back realise too late that there is a loose dog in front of them.
- Mountain bikers are to be expected on forest paths. Even legally established "trails" can cross hiking paths, and a dog running ahead or following slowly may be recognised too late because it is hidden by bushes.
Of course, cyclists also have to obey the rules and not endanger pedestrians - including dogs. But when it comes to a crash, it is too late. Therefore: Know the risks and take precautions to avoid them. The next time it's not so sunny, there will certainly be more room for walking again.
Why don't they ring the bell?
The bicycle "bell" is obligatory. What exactly it is, however, is not precisely defined. Cyclists who prefer to ride fast are increasingly using battery-powered "bells", some of which can be extremely loud. They have a good reason for this, because more and more pedestrians and joggers are on the road with headphones and cannot hear the normal bell. Such bells can be very unpleasantly loud and may also frighten the dog. Therefore: listening to music and walking with a dog really do not go together at all.
Cyclists are not obliged to ring the bell before overtaking. But it would be nice if they did, after all, pedestrians can't look around all the time. They can't? Not quite right. If we assume a combined cycle-pedestrian path, both must be careful not to collide. This means that the cyclist should make himself as noticeable as possible and overtake at an appropriate distance and speed. The pedestrian, for his part, should not run across the path in serpentine lines. By the way, the ban on overtaking on the right does not apply here. If the pedestrian leaves more space on the right, the cyclist will probably overtake him on the right. A generally good idea is to always expect cyclists and simply leave enough space. However, speeding past is also extremely unsporting and is ostracised among organised cyclists. Especially if there are children or dogs on the trails.
Beware: Mountain bike trails look like exciting walking paths and great exercise areas for dog lovers. But they are reserved for mountain bikers. Using them on foot is really dangerous, especially on winding trails. For their part, mountain bikers avoid heavily frequented hiking trails, which are usually too boring for them anyway. In mountain bike circles, too, the following applies: consideration and tolerance towards hikers and riders is paramount. Unfortunately, there are people everywhere who don't follow the rules. Let's simply set a good example.
And what if the dog runs along on the bike?
For sporty, healthy dogs, that's a fine thing in reasonable temperatures. For small dogs, there is the DOGSTYLER(R) for the bike.