After some 40 years of dog-interaction-free cycling, my number came up and I've been taken off my bike twice in the past year by little 15lb (7kg) dogs that launched themselves at top speed into my front wheel. One was free-ranging, one was on the end of a 25' (7.5m) retractable leash [city ordinance: dogs must be on leash, leash 6' (1.8m) maximum length]. Both times the owners were right there. Neither owner offered anything beyond "I'm sorry this happened." I'm down two helmets and some bar tape, and I've got some new scars on my knee.
Be calm, be rational, stay legal...but do whatever is required to protect yourself. 100 years ago some cyclists ***did a historical thing***. The 2020 version...hmm, I suppose is to mount wide-angle action cams and file lawsuits.
Last edited by tcs; 10-21-20 at 04:45 PM.