Modern-day hazards

During the summer, I try to get some healthful exercise by riding my bicycle about the neighborhood every couple of days (weather and schedule permitting). I have a few preferred routes that get me out there for 20-40 minutes, depending. Each has its own particular pluses and minuses.

The (mostly) paved path around Goose Cove Reservoir is a ride that takes me about 35 minutes (about 10 minutes each way to the gate, and 15 minutes for the circuit around the reservoir itself). Its advantages are that (1) because the reservoir is more or less surrounded by forest, the path is mostly in the shade, and (2) it's not open to motor vehicles.

Its disadvantages actually derive from advantage (2) above: (1) the pavement isn't in very good shape, and so makes for a rather rough ride (and inhibits me on downhill streatches); (2) it's a popular place for people to take their dogs for walks and/or runs.

This latter isn't usually a problem, but some dogs get excited in the presence of a cyclist, and some owners (not many) aren't very alert (or effective) about making sure that the sharing of the pathway between dog and cyclist is safe and convenient.

But today I encountered( something I'd never seen before )