“Coward” cyclist allegedly grabbed and punched female walker after dog crossed his path at nature reserve

Quote:

“I was walking my dogs back to my car when a cyclist came through the gates, one dog of mine crossed his path, with no need to slam his brakes on,” she wrote.

“He rode around my dog shaking his head. This pathetic human being then slowly cycled towards me, grabbed my hair, punched my arm, and then again in my side by my ribcage.

“May I remind you it is a shared path with dog walkers, horses, and cyclists. Had this been an issue, I would expect any decent human being to say so or ask me – as he was within distance of doing so – to get my dogs on a lead.”

Right, let's just put the matter of the unwarranted assault to bed: there is no justification in this account for the cyclist to do what he did. I'm perfectly happy with her opinion of him and his behaviour.

But the rest of her story is actually where the problem starts...

"one dog of mine crossed his path, with no need to slam the brakes on"

I'll* be the judge of when I* need to "slam" my brakes on-, or steer around-, or slow down-, for your dog.

• You don't know how much it will take to stop my* bike;
• I* don't know if your dog is doing laps and will cross again;
• I* don't know if your dog is prone to panic at a close bike...
• or prone to attack cyclists

All I* know is:

• your dog crossed my path
• it's off the lead and doesn't appear to be controlled (in accordance with codes and legislation)
• you've got another dog that could distract you and exacerbate the problem

It is a shared path; the greater duty is on me* to avoid you. But your dogs are your responsibility, not mine*, and you should exercise control over them in public at all times. I* would expect any decent human being to do so, without being asked (except you have been already - in law).

I* should not have to ask you to put your dogs on a lead... or even just to hold them while I* pass. You should just do it.

* It wasn't me, and I wasn't there when I didn't do it.

In pactice I would probably not even get as far as shaking my head, unless the dog owner was recklessly endangering others with her dog. I meet a lot of people who think shared paths, recreational routes, etc are their own special dog exercise area and that others need to move around them. I tend to slow down, say hello to all concerned, put on a smile and be on my way. But if a dog sufficiently threatens my safety, I'll get all Ballantine with it if necessary; and I won't be afraid to give the owner some advice if appropriate.

And to close with a reprise: the cyclist was completely and criminally out of order in this case. Unless we're missing a big piece of the jigsaw.

This cyclist sounds like a total nutter... like incredibly derranged... like unbelievably unreasonable. 

The lady doesn't come across as a complete shrinking violet though, so hopefully she will get over the experience and won't be put off walking her dogs. 

Man I'd love to know what really happened... I'd happily wager there are some interesting bits that the lady has conveniently left out of her description of events. 

It's a sad fact that there are crazies in every strata of society, even cyclists.  Probably fewer in the cycling group, but there are still some.

I hope the woman recovers quickly and that the perpetrator is caught equally quickly.

“There were no witnesses to this hideous act...."

So, we have to accept as truth what the Ped says then.... I am sure the truth will out but I bet its not completely what the Ped says.