Mr IGH

Moved to a new town, there's a 30 mile contiguous MUP. I ride it 2~3 times per week. The walkers with headphones are usually oblivious. I've noticed something interesting. The smart dogs hear my bell and move over. Their headphone-wearing-human notices the dog moving and move over with the dog. Kinda nice 'cause I do hate to spook the headphone wearers, even if it's their fault.

Most collies and retrievers move over upon hearing the bell ring. Other breeds, not so much....

FBOATSB

That's been my experience also. Seems like the dogs know better how not to get run over

Johnny Mullet

I will have to try and notice this next time I ride the Peninsula or trail. Interesting.

ltxi

Agree interesting.

AlexCyclistRoch

I had a earbud-wearing jogger (female, of course) who shrieked an obscenity at me when I passed her AFTER announcing my presence. I was so annoyed, I stopped and yelled at her "Maybe if your music wasn't so loud, you would've heard me when I yelled 'passing' at you, you dumb (insert epithet here)!!" .

Bmach

Maybe you should go slower so as to not be a danger to others on the MUP. Knowing that others are wearing headphones you should be extra cautious seeing you are aware of the danger. Myself I would rather ride on the roads than a well used MUP. But it up to you tousle extreme caution when passing. I do like the dog observation.

SquidPuppet

classy

MrWasabi

Did you get her #?

Cyclist0084

While going slower when passing can certainly reduce the danger not only to others but to myself as well, it doesn't always work out so well. A few years ago, while riding on a MUP, I came up behind a guy jogging (well, more like plodding along) with headphones. I wasn't going all that fast to begin with and as I came up behind him I announced 'on your left.' Of course, he didn't hear me so I slowed down even further (probably to about 6 or 7 mph) and passed him. There was plenty of room between us, but he still yelled out 'let me know you're coming next time! Scared me half to death.' I just kind of looked back, pointed to my ears and said 'I did. Not my fault you couldn't hear me.' To which he then flipped me the bird. I just kind of shrugged and continued on my way.

Point being, no matter what speed you're going, there's always someone who is going to complain, whether it's legit or not.

bulldog1935

It's not about dog breeds, it's simply about good dog masters whose dogs know what to expect.
It's dumbfounding how many people walking their dogs don't know how to shorten their leash and hold the leash only by the handle.

BobbyG

Pavlovians.

Sy Reene

,
The slower one goes while passing, the greater likelihood of there being an accident, as the time spent passing the other is longer. OTOH, passing at greater speed, while reducing likelihood of accident, means that if there is an accident, there's greater likelihood of greater injury.

I think it's this effect that has led to findings that higher allowable highway speed limits, hasn't led to statistically more accidents. People get where they're going sooner, and are off the road sooner. Of course there must be a curve to this speed/safety phenomenon.. hard to say where it is though for bicycling.

rydabent

This has happened to me too!!!!!

one4smoke

Bottom line: If they're wearing earbuds, they're at fault for anything that may happen. One should be utilizing all senses when out on the trail.

Scooty Puff Jr

That's a good observation about dogs, I've never really noticed it, but I'm going to be aware of it now. Many of these issues on a MUP could be avoided if everyone (bikers, joggers, walkers) would just stay to their right. I can't count how many times have I seen 2 or 3 people side by side in the middle of the path completely oblivious to anything around them.

wphamilton

I've noticed that to, in fact I appreciate it when the dog shows with his body language that he's aware of me - he might look back among other things. And then he clues his servant in, discouraging him from obliviously wandering out in front of me. It's a better percentage of passing safely than with joggers with or without headphones.

2manybikes

Just about any dog owner will agree that the dog can hear better than any human. I used to walk my dog a lot after dark, still do occasionally. And in the woods, in the summer, with the foliage blocking my view. I have learned to look where the dog looks when I can not sense anything. When I do, eventually something comes into my view. An animal, pedestrian, or a cyclist.

jwse30

I haven't noticed the bigger dogs (such as the breeds originally suggested) reacting to my presence, but the smaller lap dogs seem to get pretty excited, jumping up and down like I was going to stop and pet them or give them a treat. Occasionally if my daughter is with me, we will stop to pet them and chat with their master.

One day about 20 years ago I was driving (in a truck) down the road and a group of half a dozen or more kids just ran across the street. I had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting them. The only one that didn't join them was their border collie. He had stopped to look before he started to cross the road. My girlfriend (now wife) and I used to joke that border collies were smarter than most humans, and that one proved it to us that day.

J White

Scooty Puff Jr

We had a Boarder Collie and that was one intense dog, extremely smart, we swore she could understand English because she would do anything you told her. Once I told her to go upstairs and get in the bath tub, and she did ! We miss her a lot.

canklecat

For border collies, just bring along tennis balls. Toss 'em as you approach. They'll drag the owner off the trail in a fetching frenzy. Only problem is they'll chase you down to throw it again. And again. And again... so bring some bandaids for the owner's knees.

AlexCyclistRoch

FWIW, I WAS passing her slowly, and I was using the MUT to go east in an area where all the east-west roads were fast and dangerous.....

cyclist2000

I noticed that many of MUP users wearing earbuds turn their heads when I ring my bell.

2manybikes

I think the higher frequency of the bell is easier to hear and carries farther.

Maelochs

Somebody needs to design and market a dog whistle which works off airflow---blowing constantly while the bike is moving.

Plus a small siren to wake up the humans.

cyclist2000

Like deer whistles on the front of cars.