One day in 1978, I was playing tag outside (remember those days?) with the neighbourhood kids.
We were at my best friend’s house and his dog was playing with us. She was great!
If she was tagged, she’d run after us trying to tag us with her nose. I’d known her for years.
Then she bit me.
She bit me and then ran out onto No. 4 Road, was hit by a car and, within the hour, was put to sleep.
I saw her when they brought her off the road and I’ll never forget that. I’ve been uncomfortable around dogs ever since that day.
What does this have to do with cycling?
Well, last year I finally gave up on riding in a part of Richmond that I’d enjoyed for years.
In fact, I had ridden there occasionally since 1986. The reason I’ve given it up, is dogs.
I want to clarify something before I name the area. The route I’m talking about is a designated bike route by the City of Richmond.
You can find it on the city’s bike maps available on their website, as well as TransLink’s.
I’m talking about the (now) off-leash dog park at the end of No. 3 road. I think dog parks are great and sorely needed in this day and age.
But the reason I now avoid the area, is fear.
See, when I used to ride through there years ago, there was no problem. Then, the area was designated as an off leash dog park a few years ago.
Once in a while, a dog would run up playfully and run beside me with a big grin on his/her face before peeling off and going back to play with other dogs, and that was fine and would even make me smile.
But it’s the occasional dog that will either lunge towards me, or take off in full sprint from far away barking like mad and, in my opinion, try to bite me.
At least, that’s what I think is going on when a dog is running beside me, barking madly and snapping at my legs and feet.
All cyclists, runners, dog owners and dogs should be able to enjoy this park, like any other park, and no one should be excluded because of the behaviour of any person or animal.
As a public space, there has to be a minimum level of acceptable behaviour by everyone visiting there — and scaring off people or animals isn’t it.
Geordie McGillivray is an avid Richmond cyclist. His Saddle Up column appears regularly in the Richmond News
