Ran over a puppy today

OMG! Poor puppy! Well, I'm glad you are ok too. Did you speak with them or check on the puppy?! Depending on its age, there could have been damage and you can't really 'blame' a puppy for waddling where it shouldn't go. Those peeps though should have contained them better.

I hate to see any living thing hurt but realize there are times when we can't avoid it without causing ourselves or others to be hurt in trying to swerve, break etc..  Sorry you had to have it happen to you dude.

you, sir, are going to hell

I had a similar incident on my first ride with my new at the time Fondriest, a Yorkie or some other small rodent sized dog was off the leash and I was on a bike path and hit the brakes had and shreaded my back tire, didn't go down but came real close. Long story short the dog owner was a real $%&^. I called the cops as the owner refused to buy me a new tire, the cop gave her an ultimatum, give the him money for a new tire or get a $200 "dog off the leash" ticket. The cop was really cool-I  got $35 for a new tire, I later learned that it was a $60 tire.  

 I don't ride on bike paths any more, too many dogs and kids. 

Thank goodness you and the puppy had a good outcome!  Can you believe the stupid things people do with their kids and dogs on bike trails?

On the Silver Comet Trail near Atlanta, there are plenty people practicing for various tris and cycle races.  So folks are going pretty fast on their bikes.  There are also lots of families with small children/dogs.

One day I came upon a family with a couple kids.  A grade-school girl crossed and was on the opposite side of the path from her family.  I slowed down.  She saw me, and had the sense not to try and cross back.  But, just as I got close to passing them, their toddler decided to cross the path to her sister.  Luckily, I was able to slow down even further, and it was nothing but a minor close call.  However, had I been one of the hot shots who was hammering too hard out there, I would have hit the toddler, which would have been a potentially fatal accident for her (and maybe me too!).

I didn't say anything to those folks, but when I've encountered small children supervised by older siblings and teenage babysitters doing the same kind of unsafe things, and I've stopped and lectured them about the danger their behavior presents.

Scary!!

I once had a squirrel charge at my front wheel, bounce off and scamper away; others weren't so lucky: (WARNING-not for the squeamish: squirrel vs. bike spokes)

http://photos22.flickr.com/29172942_f2de3d5bf4_m.jpg

http://img2.tapuz.co.il/forums/1_117955491.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bike/76039319/

I aim for the little bastards.  Them and chipmunks.

I had a similar experience with a squirrel on the W&OD in VA.  Saw the squirrel dart out.  I left avoidance up to him and held my line.  Did he dodge me? Nope! Darted back and forth until I felt him hit the front tire, get tossed into the spokes, and then up onto my shin.  He tumbled over my foot and dashed back into the woods.

He didnt seem worse for the wear, nor was I.

You do want to avoid toads and frogs, though - they make for very slippery conditions when smeared under your front tire. 

Bad Boy!!!! (j/k)...but...poor puppy!!! I hope is Ok...

Thanks Godness everybody is Ok!!! It could be worse!!!

Man!!! You are a squirrel killer...(j/k) LOL

Very far from you...LOL

It is hard in and around Chicago...the lakefront is just pure danger (walkers, runners, dogs, and in my opinion the worst offenders...tourists) and the outlying paths aren't much better.  I feel sorry for the puppy partially because it got run over and partially because its owners weren't looking out for it. 

what the heck? How did you manage all of these?

BWWWWWWAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I can't believe that! The last one looked like it lived a pretty good life; it was so big it broke your fork. I say he got what he deserved

 

Popular trails freak me out - I would rather tangle with cars than people, their children, and their dogs.

When I am on a trail I try to stay below 20MPH at all times - even going down hill - I just do not want to knock someone over. I know a friend that had her hip broken by a cyclist not paying attention and hauling down a walking trail too fast - I stick to roads and take my chances.

Squirrels are suicidal.