Keep kids on a leash

"Badger South" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Stupid kid, about 8 or 10 is ahead of me on the trail, swinging a bent branch like an
umbrella/propeller. I hollar 'bike'; 'Bike!'; 'BIKE!!'.

He never looks around, and continues to swing the stick, taking up the width of three adults with
it. I hollar 'Stop swinging the stick, and...'

At the last minute, not even looking the entire time, he jumps to his right.

At least the mother told the kid to apologize.

But that's OK, there are other bikers, and one of -them- can run him over, if he likes; I can't be
bothered. ;-p

-B

Reminds me of the time I was riding on the beautiful "bike path" they have in Columbus, GA. It's
7:00 a.m. and there's hardly a sole outside on a hot August morning. I'm zipping down the path on
the way to Ft. Benning for some touring around (pre 9/11/01). There's a sharp little dip and "S"
curve and as I reach the bottom, there's a man off one side of the path just standing. His dog is
off the other side of the path doing its business. The leash is stretched across the path between
them. I have just enough time to yell, and I hit the leash. Thankfully it's below the axle height
where I make impact and the human idiot on the one end has let go just as I've made contact. I
didn't go down, but it was a close call.

If they're going to call them bike lanes or bike paths, they should make them for bikes and restrict
usage to bikes. Otherwise, call them multiuse. Then we'll know to be on the lookout no matter what.

Mostly I stick to the road.

Bob C.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Badger South said:

To tell the truth, I joked before about getting an air horn like they have at football games. I'm
going on tomorrow and get one and I'm taping it to my handlebars. If there's no movement at the
second 'Bike!', I'm blasting the horn. Then I'm blasting it again as I pass the jokers. Sorry if
this isn't good for bike/pedestrian relations. I've had it.

Loud horns are for alerting car pull-outs, and razzing oblivious jay walkers on the _street_,
and suchlike.

Bike trails are basically parks for relaxing in -- not getting mad at humanity in, or disturbing the
ambience with noise makers.

If riding there causes so much ire and frustration as to provoke one to buy stuff to get even with
pedestrians, it might be time to reconsider some things.

cheers, Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn
[point] bc [point] ca

On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 18:45:22 -0500, "psycholist" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Badger South" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Stupid kid, about 8 or 10 is ahead of me on the trail, swinging a bent branch like an
umbrella/propeller. I hollar 'bike'; 'Bike!'; 'BIKE!!'.

He never looks around, and continues to swing the stick, taking up the width of three adults with
it. I hollar 'Stop swinging the stick, and...'

At the last minute, not even looking the entire time, he jumps to his right.

At least the mother told the kid to apologize.

But that's OK, there are other bikers, and one of -them- can run him over, if he likes; I can't
be bothered. ;-p

-B

Reminds me of the time I was riding on the beautiful "bike path" they have in Columbus, GA. It's
7:00 a.m. and there's hardly a sole outside on a hot August morning. I'm zipping down the path on
the way to Ft. Benning for some touring around (pre 9/11/01). There's a sharp little dip and "S"
curve and as I reach the bottom, there's a man off one side of the path just standing. His dog is
off the other side of the path doing its business. The leash is stretched across the path between
them. I have just enough time to yell, and I hit the leash. Thankfully it's below the axle height
where I make impact and the human idiot on the one end has let go just as I've made contact. I
didn't go down, but it was a close call.

You're lucky, you have a higher class of morons, er dog walkers. The ones on my trail would never
have the presence of mind to drop the leash; they certainly can't conceive of going over to the
dog's side - instead they'll pull on the dog, which tightens the cord and raises it higher. Yep,
they have dogs, but, I suspect they drool when no one's looking. ;-)

There are many bikers on this trail, but the walkers look at you like 'hey, a strange metallic
contraption with round things at each end; is it moving towards me?' each time they see a bike.

Quoted message said:

If they're going to call them bike lanes or bike paths, they should make them for bikes and
restrict usage to bikes. Otherwise, call them multiuse. Then we'll know to be on the lookout no
matter what.

I am on the lookout, and most of the time I ride without incident. Today was a banner day for it.

Quoted message said:

Mostly I stick to the road.

I'd love to ride the roads if I was physically able. I've got a messed up hip, and am too old to
deal with even the smallest hills - seems strange to me, since as a youngster I rode all over the
place and never even gave the idea of a 'hill' a second thought. This is my only physical activity,
and I do it religiously.

To tell the truth, I joked before about getting an air horn like they have at football games. I'm
going on tomorrow and get one and I'm taping it to my handlebars. If there's no movement at the
second 'Bike!', I'm blasting the horn. Then I'm blasting it again as I pass the jokers. Sorry if
this isn't good for bike/pedestrian relations. I've had it.

-B

Quoted message said:

Bob C.

I have two on two bicycles called AirZound from Delta Cycles. Has a over thick 16 oz bottle that
goes in a bottle cage, hooked up with aquarium air pump hose to a horn that mounts on your bicycle.
Runs about US$30. I got mine from a local bicycle shop. Sounds like a semi~!

Badger South wrote: <snip:

Quoted message said:

To tell the truth, I joked before about getting an air horn like they have at football games. I'm
going on tomorrow and get one and I'm taping it to my handlebars. If there's no movement at the
second 'Bike!', I'm blasting the horn. Then I'm blasting it again as I pass the jokers. Sorry if
this isn't good for bike/pedestrian relations. I've had it.

-B

"Badger South" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 18:45:22 -0500, "psycholist" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Reminds me of the time I was riding on the beautiful "bike path" they

have

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in Columbus, GA. It's 7:00 a.m. and there's hardly a sole outside on a

hot

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

August morning. I'm zipping down the path on the way to Ft. Benning for some touring around (pre
9/11/01). There's a sharp little dip and "S"

curve

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and as I reach the bottom, there's a man off one side of the path just standing. His dog is off
the other side of the path doing its business. The leash is stretched across the path between
them. I have just enough time to yell, and I hit the leash. Thankfully it's below the axle height
where I make impact and the human idiot on the one end has let go just as I've made contact. I
didn't go down, but it was a close call.

... There are many bikers on this trail, but the walkers look at you like 'hey, a strange metallic
contraption with round things at each end; is it moving towards me?' each time they see a bike.

Today's best quote: I'm riding on the North Branch Bicycle Trail, which at this point has about
1.5 inches of new snow on it. There are two skiiers and an unleashed dog that's very friendly, but
also very dumb -- the dog runs next to me, then comes to a stop right in front of me. This
requires an emergency stop on my part, accompanied by front brake squeal. The owners then say, in
an irritated manner:

"We weren't expecting there to be any bicycles here."

I'm dumbfounded. Finally I say, "This is a BIKE trail, you know." Then I take off. But the dog
follows me, because I'm moving and the skiiers -- well, there's not enough snow for to do any
realistic skiing and they aren't moving enough to interest the dog. They call after the dog. The dog
stays with me. About 50 yards later, I stop the bike. I look at the dog, point at the owners, and
yell "Sic 'em, boy!". The dog runs vehemently toward the owners as if they were rabbits.

On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 19:12:52 -0500, Badger South <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I'm going on tomorrow and get one and I'm taping it to my handlebars. If there's no movement at the
second 'Bike!', I'm blasting the horn.

Check out the Air Zounds. Fill it with a tire pump, push the little button and watch the drifty
asshats jump. Not cheap, but the energy source is renewable.

On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 19:01:50 -0600, Mike Schwab <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I have two on two bicycles called AirZound from Delta Cycles. Has a over thick 16 oz bottle that
goes in a bottle cage, hooked up with aquarium air pump hose to a horn that mounts on your bicycle.
Runs about US$30. I got mine from a local bicycle shop. Sounds like a semi~!

Sounds like a keeper!

Forget the 'ya'll pardon me ma'am, may I pass through your party, kind Sir's. I've tried that for 4
months. Now, I want people to scatter when they even -think- I'm coming. ;-)

Jeeze, I'm only 235lbs of ex-bodybuilder, and must look like a damn Juggernaut, even at 10mph. Why
they don't scatter already, I don't understand. But after tomorrow, I assure you, they -will-
scatter. And they will speak in hushed tones as I pass. ;-)

Though I say this in partial jest, let them pee their pants, b/c I'm not going to risk hitting
anyone with the demure attitude, henceforth. At least scaring the [censored] outta the few recalcitrant
pedestrians won't get you a lawsuit. <g>

Yesterday a guy was jogging towards me with his unleashed dog ahead of him. So that's illegal, no
problem - when I passed the dog, all was fine. However apparently his dog turned and started to
chase me, because right as I got up to the owner, he shouts out at full volume "Stop, Rover, Stop!".

Of course this shout was right into my good left ear and I almost jumped off the bike, in full
startle. Did Rover stop? Of course not. It's a myth perpetuated by dog owners that they have any
control over their dogs whatsoever, when the urge to chase hits.

Last weekend two ladies had an unleashed dog that was running up and barking at people, and barked
at me, and I was standing still at the bridge on the trail. I told them, nicely 'you need to leash
your dog'. They shout back 'today's not "Leash day"'. I said 'Lady every day is leash day if your
dog is not under control, moron.' OK, I didn't say moron. One of them, flustered for words, hollars
back, 'well, you're not allowed to ride bikes on this trail'. WTF? It's a freaking bike trail, you
idiot, I thought, but let it go. Hell, it's listed as such on the City's public works page.

I told my wife the next time we're walking the trail and the unleashed dog runs up to me, I'm going
to wait until the owner comes near and then run up to him and loudly go "ROWR-ROWR-ROWR", in my best
"doggie imitation" voice, right in his face and see how he likes it. After all their dogs do it to
everyone else on the trail.

(To the 80-90% of folks on the trail with whom I co-exist peacefully, we're still good.)

-B

Quoted message said:

Badger South wrote: <snip:

Quoted message said:

To tell the truth, I joked before about getting an air horn like they have at football games. I'm
going on tomorrow and get one and I'm taping it to my handlebars. If there's no movement at the
second 'Bike!', I'm blasting the horn. Then I'm blasting it again as I pass the jokers. Sorry if
this isn't good for bike/pedestrian relations. I've had it.

-B

Tom Keats is a smart guy...

On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 17:59:07 -0800, [email hidden] (Tom Keats)

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Badger South said:

To tell the truth, I joked before about getting an air horn like they have at football games. I'm
going on tomorrow and get one and I'm taping it to my handlebars. If there's no movement at the
second 'Bike!', I'm blasting the horn. Then I'm blasting it again as I pass the jokers. Sorry if
this isn't good for bike/pedestrian relations. I've had it.

Loud horns are for alerting car pull-outs, and razzing oblivious jay walkers on the _street_, and
suchlike.

Bike trails are basically parks for relaxing in -- not getting mad at humanity in, or disturbing
the ambience with noise makers.

If riding there causes so much ire and frustration as to provoke one to buy stuff to get even with
pedestrians, it might be time to reconsider some things.

cheers, Tom

Thanks Tom. I agree, and I promise to be totally relaxed, and serene on the trail, and will smile
engagingly, as always, and let the Zounds Air horn do my talking for me, and promise to be sparing
in its use.

Note the embedded humor in my previous post before being too stodgy.

-B

Mike Kruger said:

"Badger South" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 18:45:22 -0500, "psycholist" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Reminds me of the time I was riding on the beautiful "bike path" they

have

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in Columbus, GA. It's 7:00 a.m. and there's hardly a sole outside on a

hot

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

August morning. I'm zipping down the path on the way to Ft. Benning for some touring around (pre
9/11/01). There's a sharp little dip and "S"

curve

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and as I reach the bottom, there's a man off one side of the path just standing. His dog is off
the other side of the path doing its business. The leash is stretched across the path between
them. I have just enough time to yell, and I hit the leash. Thankfully it's below the axle
height where I make impact and the human idiot on the one end has let go just as I've made
contact. I didn't go down, but it was a close call.

... There are many bikers on this trail, but the walkers look at you like 'hey, a strange metallic
contraption with round things at each end; is it moving towards me?' each time they see a bike.

Today's best quote: I'm riding on the North Branch Bicycle Trail, which at this point has about
1.5 inches of new snow on it. There are two skiiers and an unleashed dog that's very friendly, but
also very dumb -- the dog runs next to me, then comes to a stop right in front of me. This
requires an emergency stop on my part, accompanied by front brake squeal. The owners then say, in
an irritated manner:

"We weren't expecting there to be any bicycles here."

I'm dumbfounded. Finally I say, "This is a BIKE trail, you know." Then I take off. But the dog
follows me, because I'm moving and the skiiers -- well, there's not enough snow for to do any
realistic skiing and they aren't moving enough to interest the dog. They call after the dog. The
dog stays with me. About 50 yards later, I stop the bike. I look at the dog, point at the owners,
and yell "Sic 'em, boy!". The dog runs vehemently toward the owners as if they were rabbits.

Hey Mike, your post made my day. ;-)

Although I don't -think- I have to explain, let me iterate. I love dogs and kids; after all I have
both. It's the dopey adults that make me go 'grrr', and I do that with a bit of a wry smile.

Thanks to all the suggestions and for taking the post(s) in the spirit intended.

-B

Zippy the Pinhead said:

Badger South said:

I'm going on tomorrow and get one and I'm taping it to my handlebars. If there's no movement at
the second 'Bike!', I'm blasting the horn.

Check out the Air Zounds. Fill it with a tire pump, push the little button and watch the drifty
asshats jump. Not cheap, but the energy source is renewable.

Tres Cool. Merci, Zip.

-B

deltacycle.comhornframe.phpOpen ↗

Badger South said:

Mike Schwab said:

I have two on two bicycles called AirZound from Delta Cycles. Has a over thick 16 oz bottle that
goes in a bottle cage, hooked up with aquarium air pump hose to a horn that mounts on your
bicycle. Runs about US$30. I got mine from a local bicycle shop. Sounds like a semi~!

Sounds like a keeper!

Forget the 'ya'll pardon me ma'am, may I pass through your party, kind Sir's. I've tried that for
4 months. Now, I want people to scatter when they even -think- I'm coming. ;-)

Jeeze, I'm only 235lbs of ex-bodybuilder, and must look like a damn Juggernaut, even at 10mph. Why
they don't scatter already, I don't understand. But after tomorrow, I assure you, they -will-
scatter. And they will speak in hushed tones as I pass. ;-)

Though I say this in partial jest, let them pee their pants, b/c I'm not going to risk hitting
anyone with the demure attitude, henceforth. At least scaring the [censored] outta the few recalcitrant
pedestrians won't get you a lawsuit. <g>

<snip

Kids are really only a problem on bike paths- I've seen them start to run right out into the middle
until I warn them off. Or they get on bikes and wobble right out into the path without even
looking. Sometimes they just stand in the middle! Dumbest of all are the stupid teenage mothers who
cross the bike path with their strollers- not even looking. I guess if I collide with them it won't
hurt, like a car would! However, If I'm passing little kids on bikes, the ones out with their
families, I tend go slow down, go very carefully and give them a nice wide berth since kids can be
kind of erratic on bikes.

On roads, it's not that much of a problem, although once I saw these kids on scooters about to
ride right out onto the road from their driveway- not even LOOKING! Until I yelled. No cars were
coming, just us, so they probably figured it's okay. yeah, suppose they roll right into my path
and can't stop?

Do parents these days even tell their kids basic safety rules? I think most of today's parents are
totally oblivious and unconcerned, or they think the world will stop for their kids- cars, bikes,
whatever, so they don't bother telling them about safety. These are the same parents who probably
let their kids run around grocery stores, movies, libraries- why should bike paths be any different?

Badger South said:

Last weekend two ladies had an unleashed dog that was running up and barking at people, and barked
at me, and I was standing still at the bridge on the trail. I told them, nicely 'you need to leash
your dog'. They shout back 'today's not "Leash day"'.

You need to add a can of "Halt" dog spray to your arsenal.

Dog owners can be weird. We once had a dog run, snarling, teeth bared, full speed at my wife and I
as we walked in a "dogs under control" forest preserve.

I kicked the dog to keep it away, and it ran yipping back to its owner, a middle aged woman. She
gathered it into her arms and said with obvious hatred "Oh, I could just SHOOT you!!!"

Dog owners can be weird.

--
Frank Krygowski [To reply, omit what's between "at" and "cc"]

On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 02:20:11 GMT, [email hidden] (Marlene

Blanshay) said:

Kids are really only a problem on bike paths- I've seen them start to run right out into the middle
until I warn them off. Or they get on bikes and wobble right out into the path without even
looking. Sometimes they just stand in the middle! Dumbest of all are the stupid teenage mothers who
cross the bike path with their strollers- not even looking. I guess if I collide with them it won't
hurt, like a car would! However, If I'm passing little kids on bikes, the ones out with their
families, I tend go slow down, go very carefully and give them a nice wide berth since kids can be
kind of erratic on bikes.

On roads, it's not that much of a problem, although once I saw these kids on scooters about to
ride right out onto the road from their driveway- not even LOOKING! Until I yelled. No cars were
coming, just us, so they probably figured it's okay. yeah, suppose they roll right into my path
and can't stop?

Do parents these days even tell their kids basic safety rules? I think most of today's parents are
totally oblivious and unconcerned, or they think the world will stop for their kids- cars, bikes,
whatever, so they don't bother telling them about safety. These are the same parents who probably
let their kids run around grocery stores, movies, libraries- why should bike paths be any
different?

What worries me, in a somewhat academic way, is why a mother would allow a 2 year old, who obviously
just learned to walk to stray away from her on a public bike trail. Further, why she would do
nothing when a large gentleman on a bike came riding down the trail. Even in the best of
circumstances, the child could stumble out into the path of the bike. I've seen this numerous times
and it's scary.

Although it's not a car, or bus, a bike is made of metal and impacts at 10mph can kill. I don't mind
slowing down or even stopping, but I still wonder what they're thinking to just stand there, with
this infant staggering around 20 feet away on the otherside of the trail.

With the pets, they don't seem to react either, though it's obvious that the dog can run -into- the
biker, and often seems to try and do just that. Fortunately I've managed to avoid all dog
collisions, but they're very unpredictable in the last few feet, even a single digit mph.

-B

Badger South said:

Stupid kid, about 8 or 10 is ahead of me on the trail, swinging a bent branch like an
umbrella/propeller. I hollar 'bike'; 'Bike!'; 'BIKE!!'.

He never looks around, and continues to swing the stick, taking up the width of three adults with
it. I hollar 'Stop swinging the stick, and...'

At the last minute, not even looking the entire time, he jumps to his right.

At least the mother told the kid to apologize.

But that's OK, there are other bikers, and one of -them- can run him over, if he likes; I can't be
bothered. ;-p

-B

Am I right to assume it is a multi use path? Pedestrians and kids and dogs and bicycles? What right
do you have to be so arrogant with a goofy kid? Kids will be kids, nothing you can do about it
except be a bit tolerant. You sound like some road rager cycle hater from "rec.motoring.misc" or
whatever. Sounds like you should slow down and do your mantra or whatever works for you. What's the
value in trying to blast your way thru some vulnerable pedestrians? You will always have
interactions with other users of this path, so why not just get used to it or use the street? Bernie

On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 21:14:48 -0800, Bernie <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

At least the mother told the kid to apologize.

But that's OK, there are other bikers, and one of -them- can run him over, if he likes; I can't be
bothered. ;-p

-B

Am I right to assume it is a multi use path? Pedestrians and kids and dogs and bicycles? What
right do you have to be so arrogant with a goofy kid? Kids will be kids, nothing you can do about
it except be a bit tolerant. You sound like some road rager cycle hater from "rec.motoring.misc"
or whatever. Sounds like you should slow down and do your mantra or whatever works for you.
What's the value in trying to blast your way thru some vulnerable pedestrians? You will always
have interactions with other users of this path, so why not just get used to it or use the
street? Bernie

Well read the first excerpted sentence. The mother thought I was in the right.

I've tried tolerance. I've allowed the morons with their unleashed dogs to intimidate my wife and
daughter and get away with it, driving them from the trail.

I've tried being nice and will continue to be. For those who ignore the nice, I may try their own
proven tactics, and as you said 'blast my way through', and there's nothing they can do about it, as
long as there's no body contact.

-B

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Mike Schwab said:

I have two on two bicycles called AirZound from Delta Cycles. Has a over thick 16 oz bottle that
goes in a bottle cage, hooked up with aquarium air pump hose to a horn that mounts on your
bicycle. Runs about US$30. I got mine from a local bicycle shop. Sounds like a semi~!

Sounds like a keeper!

Forget the 'ya'll pardon me ma'am, may I pass through your party, kind Sir's. I've tried that for
4 months. Now, I want people to scatter when they even -think- I'm coming. ;-)

Jeeze, I'm only 235lbs of ex-bodybuilder, and must look like a damn Juggernaut, even at 10mph. Why
they don't scatter already, I don't understand. But after tomorrow, I assure you, they -will-
scatter. And they will speak in hushed tones as I pass. ;-)

Though I say this in partial jest, let them pee their pants, b/c I'm not going to risk hitting
anyone with the demure attitude, henceforth. At least scaring the [censored] outta the few recalcitrant
pedestrians won't get you a lawsuit. <g>

Unless you give one of them a heart attack <GGG>.

....

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

Badger South said:

(Marlene Blanshay) said:

Kids are really only a problem on bike paths- I've seen them start to run right out into the
middle until I warn them off. Or they get on bikes and wobble right out into the path without even
looking. Sometimes they just stand in the middle! Dumbest of all are the stupid teenage mothers
who cross the bike path with their strollers- not even looking. I guess if I collide with them it
won't hurt, like a car would! However, If I'm passing little kids on bikes, the ones out with
their families, I tend go slow down, go very carefully and give them a nice wide berth since kids
can be kind of erratic on bikes.

On roads, it's not that much of a problem, although once I saw these kids on scooters about to
ride right out onto the road from their driveway- not even LOOKING! Until I yelled. No cars were
coming, just us, so they probably figured it's okay. yeah, suppose they roll right into my path
and can't stop?

Do parents these days even tell their kids basic safety rules? I think most of today's parents are
totally oblivious and unconcerned, or they think the world will stop for their kids- cars, bikes,
whatever, so they don't bother telling them about safety. These are the same parents who probably
let their kids run around grocery stores, movies, libraries- why should bike paths be any
different?

What worries me, in a somewhat academic way, is why a mother would allow a 2 year old, who
obviously just learned to walk to stray away from her on a public bike trail. Further, why she
would do nothing when a large gentleman on a bike came riding down the trail. Even in the best of
circumstances, the child could stumble out into the path of the bike. I've seen this numerous times
and it's scary.

Although it's not a car, or bus, a bike is made of metal and impacts at 10mph can kill. I don't
mind slowing down or even stopping, but I still wonder what they're thinking to just stand there,
with this infant staggering around 20 feet away on the otherside of the trail.

With the pets, they don't seem to react either, though it's obvious that the dog can run -into- the
biker, and often seems to try and do just that. Fortunately I've managed to avoid all dog
collisions, but they're very unpredictable in the last few feet, even a single digit mph.

-B

I've experienced the same thing and they seem to expect the cyclist to do the safe thing because
they are "there" in front of them, and not a motorist isolated and enclosed in the automotibile
bubble. They are simply relying on the cyclist to do the human thing. IMHO Bernie