Aidan3 Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 you can do this anywhere as long as it isn't a public road where other road rules apply...so lots of places like fire trails or forest trails (as long as they allow dogs of course) Thanks for clearing that up, it looks like I'm all good except I'll have to walk (or drive) to get to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxx'sBuddy Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 you can do this anywhere as long as it isn't a public road where other road rules apply...so lots of places like fire trails or forest trails (as long as they allow dogs of course) Thanks for clearing that up, it looks like I'm all good except I'll have to walk (or drive) to get to them. yep, i think that's what usually happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerraNik Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 you can do this anywhere as long as it isn't a public road where other road rules apply...so lots of places like fire trails or forest trails (as long as they allow dogs of course) Thanks for clearing that up, it looks like I'm all good except I'll have to walk (or drive) to get to them. Yep, I train my dogs with the bike at the local park... No road rules there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Cesar Milan promotes riding your bike with your dog as a way to exercise the dog, and I was so looking forward to doing that... bleah. I do believe Cesar says - check your local road rules but nobody seems to do this. It's like "Don't try this at home"... I wonder about fire trails in the bush? They are the best places to go usually. I also wonder about having the leash attached to your person? Endurance trials are still legal, so maybe that is OK? I sometimes attach the leash to a hands-free belt but then you have all sorts of problems that a Springer solves. I bought a scooter from the tip shop but my dogs are too old to pull someone of my weight. you can do this anywhere as long as it isn't a public road where other road rules apply...so lots of places like fire trails or forest trails (as long as they allow dogs of course) Heh my closest fire trail goes up a mountain at about a 75 degree angle. I use a Blackdog Y front tracking harness but that is with a walkydog which is more forward than the springer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 The ban is on public roads (exception is apparently made for ET - once a year in Tas) - course, the Department can define public roads in strange ways. So yes, usually have to drive to somewhere there's a shared footpath where dogs aren't banned. I don't want the dogs pulling when we're cycling - training for ET or for show gaiting or just for conditioning - so no pulling. I just use their leashes attached to their BlackDog tracking/flyball harnesses - seems to work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Rusty Bucket Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Aidan2 It makes no difference to the rule if you're holding the lead or tethering it to the bike - both are outlawed. There was a loop hole that allowed the passenger to hold the lead of a horse (for example) while in a car - but they closed that last year. I think the fire trails are ok, I'm not sure. The chances of you being sprung by law enforcement there are tiny. But the definitions page includes "road related areas" which includes footpaths and some shared cycle paths. I think the aim of the rule is to prevent injury to rider and dog and anyone else who might happen to be walking or cycling nearby. So as best I can tell - limited to private property. But you gotta weigh that up against the chance of being injured or being caught. I think it's much less dangerous where there are no cars around or if the dog is not actually attached but does a good "heel" so if you have to wobble around a pothole or rock or other person - it's easier for the dog to keep out the way. We used to have one extremely clever heeler x kelpie who would run along the footpath, and knew to stop when the bike stopped and knew "left" and "right" for which way to go at corners - but didn't go until the bike did and stayed with the bike... brilliant. But you can't do that now. And it doesn't help that all Australian cities have loads more cars on the road than they used to. Got a friend who works in traffic management and he has stats on it. It's astounding and our basic infrastructure (In Adelaide) has not changed enough to keep up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan3 Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 I think it's much less dangerous where there are no cars around or if the dog is not actually attached but does a good "heel" so if you have to wobble around a pothole or rock or other person - it's easier for the dog to keep out the way. Trust me, we're all safer when this dog is attached to me Well I rode with a flat collar tonight to see how she would go. I don't like riding with a flat collar because if we had an accident it wouldn't be safe, but she runs faster, longer and doesn't hang so far back. Definitely need to upgrade the harness to one that is more comfortable I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxagirl Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 (edited) I ride with my sibe attatched to a limited slip collar- Harnesses are designed to allow dogs to pull (and he does sledding so has learnt to pull in harness) so I just used a collar. We ride on quiet back roads near-by, and on bushtracks. But I have seen alot of people biking with their dogs around here, some next to main roads. Edited January 20, 2011 by boxagirl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyDog Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 The rule is part of the "australian national road rules" introduced in 1999. All states and territories had to enact their own version of it or they would not get funding for road maintenance from the Federal Govt. It was back when John Howard used to blackmail? the states into doing what he wanted. So road and road related areas - include footpaths and bike paths that are publically owned and shared by bicycles and pedestrians. There's a long list of definitions. I do believe the same national road rules introduced some other stuff like compulsory bicycle helmet wearing when cycling, and default speed limit of 100km/h anywhere not sign posted - and that was not popular in the NT. I think the NT either opted not to enforce the speed limit rule outside city limits or they made some variation that allows cars to continue to do whatever they like. But I'd want to check before I drove fast in the NT. A lot of SA, and NSW roads now have 110 sign posted where the roads are in good enough condition. Cesar Milan promotes riding your bike with your dog as a way to exercise the dog, and I was so looking forward to doing that... bleah. I do believe Cesar says - check your local road rules but nobody seems to do this. It's like "Don't try this at home"... OT, but the NT now has 130km limits on all the roads that used to be unlimited But we don't have to wear helmets if we're over 18 and on cycle paths. I love riding with my dog, but moving to NSW soon means I'll either have to give it up or find a state park to do it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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