Is it against the law to ride a bike, with your dog running along side in a park?

[ShinyAndNew]

I oten question my dad about my dogs ability as he much more experinced than me.

I rang him earlier to ask if he thought an adult dog would 'get' running alongside a bike as easily as my puppy did. I cannot let him off lead yet as he has no recall, so I thought this would be a good way for him to have a run and burn off some energy.

My dad said I shouldn't be doing it anyway, because it's illegal and I'll be fined if the park warden sees me.

I wouldn't be letting him off leash. I used to attach the pups lead to the handle bars of the bike, although she would have followed me anyway. And I wouldn't be going very fast. I'd take my cues from him and have run alongside/slightly ahead rather than dragging him along. But with my current fitness vs his speed, he'd probably be dragging me along

I would think that individual parks have different rules and by laws.

It's certainly not a criminal offence and therefore not against the law.

I have no idea if it is legal or not but I have yet to see a park warden! Do they really exist? If you keep your dog on a leash I do not see the problem, it is more than most people walking their dogs do.

I don't see what would be illegal as long as:
you are allowed to cycle in the park
you are not on the public highway
you always have control of the dog and your bike
you do no cause a nuisance by tripping anyone up

For me the most imptortant thing is control of your dog. Which is why our doodle is still on her training lead as her recall is highly selective.

Gorgionine, in our park, sort of the park is patrolled occassionally by a local security firm that the council hired, to try and prevent vandalism. Also the police patrol there often to try and stop vandals/drugs/drunks. T'is not a particularly nice park.

The paths are wide enough to be able to move over to prevent tripping anyone.

I'm sure it wouldn't be illegal. On a related note, I was walking along a fairly narrow pavement next to a busy road with DS1&2 yesterday - DS2 in the sling and DS1 holding my hand.

Along came a man on a bike, on the pavement, with his (big) dog running next to him, not on the lead. Fortunately DS1 is fine with dogs, but there wasn't room for us all and the man ended up swerving round us one way with his dog going round us the other way. I was unimpressed!

(I must be feeling a bit stroppy today, all my whinges are coming out on MN!)

You can get an attachment for your bike which is designed for your dog to run while you cycle.
here

I haven't used one, but I did see a man using one in a park a few years ago