To think this was bloody dangerous and some people are just batshit

???

She said her son was walking ahead. She didn't say he was "running about." You seem to be imagining a toddler, but the OP did not say how old her son was. Children of secondary school age use the train independently in London, so older kids do not need to be right by their parents' side.

Londoners don’t give an arse about children using the tube responsibly on their own. I’m guessing you’ve never actually lived in London.

Extendable leads are handy when you're in rural areas where you're unlikely to bother anyone else but your dog can't really be left loose either (ie possibility of livestock in the next field), they have a little more freedom to explore. In busy or urban areas they should be on a short lead.

I agree, up to a point. If ever my aging spaniel has to come on public transport with me, he's on his fixed lead. If we are pottering about in the lane at the back of my house, he's on an extending lead. The one I have is all high vis tape about an inch wide, not a cord one. The corded ones should be banned, they have the potential to strip skin from bodies.

Bet that is the railway 'path' between Bristol and Bath!

Lots of entitled and selfish people about. Some of them own dogs.

Extendable leads are really bad for people and DOGS.

They really should be banned.

They pull out of owner's hand , sending the ''cassette'' clattering behind the dog, causing it to bolt into traffic.

Use a flat leather or Nylon wide soft lead. Much safer.

Is Embankment different to many other busy tube stations? How do Londoners cope with school children who use the tube independently for school travel?

@paperrocksiscissors I've been to Embankment Underground station many many times - what's your point?

You don't speak for London 😅

@paperrocksiscissors where did the OP say anything about primary age children or not being a Londoner?
Her post could have been exactly the same if it was 4 adults walking down the platform and the two that were ahead fell over the lead - the LEAD was the dangerous part - not whoever was walking ahead.
You seem to have gone on a strange rant about "kids" running around on platforms which is nothing to do with what this thread is about.

I CANNOT STAND FLEXI LEADS. They should be completely banned. Pretty much exclusively used by small dog owners instead of training their dog properly.

Have you been to Embankment tube station???

My post only refers to primary age kids @Needmorelego , most London parents would be the same.

I disagree that extendable leads should be banned. If used properly they're fine. As usual, it's the idiots that spoil things. User error.

I use an extendable lead but it's only in the free position when it's safe to do so, never when there are other people or cars around.

@paperrocksiscissors what's the difference?
A metre ahead? 2 metres?

Oh for goodness sake @Needmorelego there's ahead and theres in front of you, don't be facetious

@paperrocksiscissors also the OP just said "son". He could be 17 🤔

That, exactly. Lost count of the times I've come close to being offed from my bike in London because doggo decided to go to the full extent of his lead and into the carriageway.

There is a time and a place. Massive open fields are one thing but they just aren’t suitable in an urban environment and especially not the tube. I’m surprised she’s not taken people out before to be honest. Anything long and thin pulled taught near people is always going to be a trip hazard. It’s just common sense (which too many people seem to lack!).

@paperrocksiscissors if I am on a Tube platform I prefer my daughter to walk AHEAD of me so I can see her.
If she was behind me surely that's more dangerous.

I know someone who nearly lost some fingers due to an extendable lead. He was walking his dog on one and grabbed the cord part to pull the dog back because another came up to it and was being aggressive. His dog lunged and the cord went through his hand like cheese wire. Horrible injury that required lots of specialist treatment.

Don't use them.

If your dog doesn't have good recall and you want to give it some freedom get a long lead for the park/beach and use a short one everywhere else.

These extendable leads are such a nuisance. Another thick entitled dog owner strikes again

I take it all back @wtfissummer

Whenever people come to London, let your kids do what they want, let them go ahead on the platform with 630 volts on the live rails just below them, with no barrier to fall onto them.

Whats the worst that could happen?

Extendable leads are a nightmare.

Not long ago I was walking out of a shop doorway into a busy street and, if it weren't for DD who spotted it, would have fallen over an extendable lead that was across the door way!

Dog owner was looking in the shop window on one side of the doorway oblivious to the fact that the dog had wandered off to the other side of the doorway creating a perfect trip wire!