如何應付惡狗 /阿桂編譯
How to Deal With Bad Dogs

By Fred Matheny and Ed Pavelka of www.RoadBikeRider.com

遇狗攻擊應該是騎士最害怕的事情之一，也許你無法避免被狗追，但你可以了解「狗的心態」以便機智地處理它。

了解狗的天性
絕大部份的狗追逐騎士只是為了要防禦牠的領土，當你騎過街，牠只想著你會不會侵犯牠的領域，假如你沒有威脅到牠們天生的領域性牠們就對你沒有興趣。所以那也就是你很少會在開放區域遭受狗攻，因為那不是牠的領域，牠擔心自己會不會被攻擊都來不及了。

了解狗的戰術
狗通常都是由隱蔽處殺出，然後由後面攻擊。如果牠在你前方，牠也會等你通過才追過來。你可以利用這點而預先做如以下的處置。

狂奔
你經常可以藉由快速通過而避開狗攻，牠寧可睡懶覺也不願真的去攻擊。你可以從牠姿態看出牠只是虛張聲勢或真的要咬你：如果牠小跑步、吠叫、耳朵及尾巴豎直，那牠只是作作樣子，別擔心；如果牠四腳狂奔、耳朵及尾巴朝後、露出牙齒，老兄，牠玩真的！然而，你還是可以利用牠的領域性來解救，如果路很寬又下坡，你也儘可能往牠的外側加速狂奔，以快速通過牠無形的疆界。

守住前輪
通常如果要追你的狗看見你過來，牠會直直地跑一條碰撞航線而不會想要轉到你身旁攔截，危險的是：狗的爪子對有鋪面的道路（柏油或水泥）抓地力不好，所以牠可能控制不住而直接撞向你的輪子，如果撞上前輪你可能會摔倒。所以加速使自己領先牠的碰撞航線而免於直接碰撞前輪，如果交通狀況允許則稍微閃一下，讓牠撲個空，多一些牠修正方向所需要的時間。

大叫
大多數的狗都知道人類對牠們兇的感覺，突然地大叫「停」、「站住」、「喂」、「※」……，會讓牠們遲疑個幾秒鐘。如果牠聽不到，舉起你的手假裝手中有石頭作投擲狀，通常狗都可以深刻體會人類這個姿勢接下來會有個東西痛擊牠們。

水攻
如果一條大狗已經看見你並堵在前方，而路又很小，加速離開已經不可能。那就取下你的水壺預備，有時光拿著水壺已經會讓牠知難而退，如果牠還是持續接近，那麼等牠靠近就朝著牠的臉噴水、並且大叫，這會讓牠慢下來，雖然有時牠還是會追上來，記得讓自己維持前進路線而不要離開路面，好讓自己能加速離開。
有些騎士會準備辣椒噴劑綁在車把上，這東西效果其佳，尤其邊騎邊噴，騎士保持在上風而不受影響，通常會痛擊狗的眼、鼻和嘴巴，這不會造成持久的傷害，對人也很有用，但不在此討論。

放棄並下車
假如以上撇部沒有一項奏效，那就趕快下馬，用單車擋在狗和你的中間，必要時把單車當防禦武器揮甩，並且向人呼救。有時狗主人會適時出現，並說：「哦，牠不會咬你啦！」

叫警察（我國好像叫消防隊比較有用）
假如你已經被咬了，那就趕快報案，記下地點、時間、狗的長相，甚至是飼主的名字、地址。趕快就醫，以防狂犬病，並要求證明肇事狗沒有染上狂犬病。如果老是同一隻狗威脅你的騎乘安全，那就把牠報上去，你有自由且安全地享受你的路權及維持快樂的騎乘的權利。

How to Deal With Bad Dogs

By Fred Matheny and Ed Pavelka of www.RoadBikeRider.com

Dog attacks are high on the list of cycling fears. Maybe you can掐 stop Fang from giving chase, but you can outsmart him if you know how dogs think-assuming that stinkin?mutt even has a brain!

Know dog psychology.
The majority of dogs who chase cyclists are merely defending their territory. When you pedal off the section of road that they consider their turf, you no longer pose a threat to their ancestral instincts and they lose interest. Incidentally, this is why you掞l rarely be chased by a dog you encounter way out in the boonies. He掇 not on his turf so he couldn掐 care less about you.

Know dog tactics.
Dogs want to attack from the rear, coming up from the hindquarter. Even one who sits up in his yard ahead of you may wait till you pass before giving chase. You can use this to your advantage in the next tip because it gives you a head start.

Sprint!
You often can outsprint Fido when he掇 more interested in fooling around than in actually attacking. You can tell his intent by how hard he掇 running and his expression. An easy gait with woofing and ears and tail up, no problem. A full-out sprint with ears back, tail down and teeth out, problem. Still, the territorial gene can save you. If the road is flat or downhill, stand up and sprint to get past the dog掇 invisible boundary.

Guard your front wheel.
When a dog sees you coming, he might make a beeline for your bike, then attempt to turn up beside you. The danger here is that his poor little paws will skid on the pavement and he掞l plow into your wheels. If he hits the front one, you掞l crash. Sprint so that you move forward faster than he expects, and give him a margin for error by steering farther into the road尃f traffic permits!

SCREAM!
Most dogs know what happens when a human is angry with them. A sudden shout of 浭o!?or 浤it!?or 浿tay!?will surprise Fluffy and probably make him hesitate for just the second you need to take the advantage. If he掇 hard of hearing, raise your hand threateningly as if it contains a rock. Outlaw mutts usually have had experience with bad things flying at them when a human makes a throwing gesture.

Play douse the Doberman.
If you see big, fast Prince up ahead and know that he sees you, sprinting might not work. Especially if the road is tilting up. Take out your water bottle. Just having it in your hand may make him stay away. If he does come near you, give him a faceful and a loud yell. This distraction will slow him down, though he may come back for more. Just don掐 distract yourself and ride off the road.

Some riders swear by Halt pepper spray that they clip to their handlebar. This stuff works great尃f you hit your target. That掇 a big if when you and Spot are going different speeds, the air is moving, and you捯e trying to stay on the road. Pepper spray stings a dog掇 eyes, nose and mouth, but it doesn掐 cause lasting damage. It also works on human attackers, but that掇 a different story.

Give up and get off.
If nothing works and Toodles has the upper hand, dismount quickly and hold your bike between you and those sharp teeth. Swing it like a weapon if necessary, and start calling for help. Someone may eventually come out of a house and yell, 浯h, he won掐 hurt you!?

Call the cops.
If you are attacked and bitten, report it to the county sheriff or other authority immediately. Include the location, a description of the dog and the owner掇 name and address if you know them. Get medical attention without delay. If the dog was rabid, you are at risk of serious illness or even death. Demand proof of rabies vaccination or insist to authorities that the dog be quarantined.

If the same dog accosts you every time you ride the road, report this to the authorities, too. You have a right to use public roadways free from fear for your life, liberty and pursuit of cycling happiness. Keep following up with calls to make sure steps are taken to put PupPup on a rope.

Reader React