John Boyer comment-9529 2009-06-16T17:25:32Z 2009-06-16T17:25:32Z Our society(USA) is parked in fear. We bread dogs to keep the public away and to search for drugs etc. In Boseman Montana every shop has a Lab spread out on a cool wooden floor. I agree with you bojo. Its humonoid in origin. ...and miles to go before we sleep John Boyer 2009-06-16T17:25:32Z bojo comment-6880 2009-04-29T06:27:00Z 2009-04-29T06:27:00Z Sorry, but give me a break...in England dogs walk with their owners into pubs. And in public parks, and on the sidewalks. The reason dogs in America are so unruly is because they don't get enough freedom and exercise. In Africa people will laugh at you when they see a dog on a leash, because they've never heard of the concept of 'walking' your dog--you just walk WITH your dog, and he trots alongside. I can walk my dog for 2 hours a day but he will get home and still pace the house. He is only calm, not barking, and not digging after he's had a good hour of off leash romping and playing. Dog parks are virtually useless for us. We get to the dog park and he's just not interested in other dogs, so he doesn't get any exercise. He likes to sniff and run at a fast pace (faster than I can run!). I'm moving to Sacramento in a couple weeks from Tucson, where we (illegally) let our dogs run through the desert washes for an hour every day, and nobody bothers us. He is healthy, happy, and sane. I'm worried about moving; are we going to be persecuted? I'd be curious to know how many dog attacks have happened as a result of dogs being off their leashes. The vast majority of attacks I know about are by dogs who are mistreated, never walked, and escape from their yards to unleash their frustrations on people. People who let their dogs off the leash to run are generally good owners with good dogs. This is a human problem, not the dogs. bojo 2009-04-29T06:27:00Z Kat Haro comment-6305 2009-04-17T02:29:32Z 2009-04-17T02:29:32Z I'd be curious to see what the policy for having "dog park hours" at city parks would be. I've seen dog training groups in McKinley park, and wonder if there is a way to gate off a certain area for occasional meet ups. I think having designated areas at parks would be great, occasional, organized hours might be a way to start! Kat Haro 2009-04-17T02:29:32Z Dale Kooyman comment-6300 2009-04-17T00:27:14Z 2009-04-17T00:27:14Z I think the city and country creating more dog parks or setting aside parts of parks for dogs is an excellent idea. This would cost the city and county, of course. In view of the tax protesters demanding governments reduce costs, do you think dog owners would be willing to cover the costs of new dog parks and set asides? Dale Kooyman 2009-04-17T00:27:14Z Mona Romero comment-6279 2009-04-17T00:15:37Z 2009-04-17T00:15:37Z I'm sorry your girl was attacked--what an awful experience. You're absolutely right that we need to protect our animals, thanks for being proactive and writing an article! Mona Romero 2009-04-17T00:15:37Z Angela Murray comment-6277 2009-04-16T23:49:27Z 2009-04-16T23:49:27Z Creating more dog parks could be a good solution - for me it is challenging, because we have had countless dogs run up to us unattended and we have no idea of their temperment. Once they approach, more of them are friendly than not, and that's fine - it's that initial concern of not knowing the temperment of a dog who is flying up to us and absolutely not responding to their owner's call backs. Our girl has been attacked unprovoked by a dog we were told was friendly, and it was truly an awful experience. As far as leashed dogs sniffing other leashed dogs - I honestly love for our dogs to meet other dogs - and I always ask if it is ok, some people say no, their dog isn't friendly, but most say sure and our dogs get a lot of socialization that way, as well as at the occassional dog park. My issue is not with unleashed dogs in general, it is with unleashed dogs that do not respond to owner's commands, and in dangerous places such as downtown, or even on the river trail with so many bikers and other dogs. I have known dogs that were trained impeccably, and still ran out into the street because of a momentary distraction and got hit and killed. We need to protect them, as well as others and ourselves. Angela Murray 2009-04-16T23:49:27Z Mona Romero comment-6273 2009-04-16T23:18:23Z 2009-04-16T23:18:23Z I totally understand your viewpoint, but I hate that I can't let my dog off the leash to play fetch at the park without scaring or somehow offending other people. I also find it bothersome how people act annoyed when their leashed dog(s) want to sniff and befriend my leashed dog while in passing. Dogs are social creatures, they need to be interact with other dogs to become socialized. I think the city should create more dog parks. Or have a spot for dogs in every park where they can go unleashed or at least socialize with others without their owners having a heart attack. Mona Romero 2009-04-16T23:18:23Z Oracle comment-6239 2009-04-16T18:52:49Z 2009-04-16T18:52:49Z Dogs need to be on a leash in public. Those who disregard the law are setting themselves up for lawsuits and huge liability if something goes horribly wrong. Think pit bull owners who just can't believe their dog turned and mauled a child. Juries side with people, not dogs. Oracle 2009-04-16T18:52:49Z JoshFernandez comment-6236 2009-04-16T18:24:05Z 2009-04-16T18:24:05Z Whoa. JoshFernandez 2009-04-16T18:24:05Z Angela Murray comment-6234 2009-04-16T17:45:47Z 2009-04-16T17:45:47Z Hi Geoff - honestly, I am not sure what Sacramento as a city can do to enforce it, I just think people overall need to be more repsectful of others and their dogs. I see many, many dogs off leash in downtown, and with the busy streets and many distractions, I am always worried about them. I wouldn't advocate citing peopl, necesarrily, I truly just wish people with off leash dogs would be more considerate about where they are kept off leash. I do not live downtown, I live in a gated community so my local neighborhood is definitely better than at the American River Trail, but we enjoy our walks on the trail and so do the dogs so we should be able to go there without fear of dogs running up to us all the time. Thanks for your reply - I know this won't be a popular stance with many... Angela Murray 2009-04-16T17:45:47Z Geoff Samek comment-6222 2009-04-16T13:49:31Z 2009-04-16T13:49:31Z Interesting article. I would love to hear more about how you think Sacramento can better enforce existing laws to make places like the American River Bike Trail less potentially dangerous. Is your local neighborhood better or worse than the trail? Geoff Samek 2009-04-16T13:49:31Z Angela Murray comment-5969 2009-04-12T07:55:16Z 2009-04-12T07:55:16Z Hi Templar - I am never offended by an opposing point of view, and in fact expected it when I wrote this piece. I know that many people have had bad experiences on RT (all my rides on RT have not been perfect, and some areas are very challenging to get to), so my story was an attempt to point out the finer attributes of the system rather than focusing on the problems. There's so much of that already, I thought I'd let people know that we actually do have a decent system here. My only concern was the word misleading, since that was never my intent, only to show people there's a different side to the system that doesn't receive enough appreciation for what it is. Thanks for clarifying, and for sharing your opinion - it's always welcome and as I understand it, that's what this venue is for! Angela Murray 2009-04-12T07:55:16Z templar comment-5926 2009-04-11T15:54:37Z 2009-04-11T15:54:37Z Angela and William, I didn't mean to offend anyone and I sincerely apologize if I have done so. Like most other people, I have had good experiences as well as bad on RT buses. But Angela painted such a rosy picture, I felt like I had to present a different view. Again no offense intended. But after my experiences, I cannot envision a situation in which I would choose to ride the RT bus instead of drive. Light Rail otoh is ok... well except between the hours of 11 am and 3pm and after 8pm :) templar 2009-04-11T15:54:37Z Angela Murray comment-5922 2009-04-11T06:13:19Z 2009-04-11T06:13:19Z Templar - I don't feel I am misleading others in my analysis - it is my opinion of why I enjoy taking the bus and my attempt to dispell some of the negative steretypes RT and the drivers receive for circumstances over which they have no control - such as times and destinations. I have, in fact, experienced just the situation you described, and it was in February on a weekend, in fact, so RT is not without it's inconveniences, it's just that I choose to deal with the inconveniences because I feel that for me, the benefits outweigh them most of the time. I'm aware of the schedules and how long I will need to wait before I take a bus, and how long it is for a connecting bus if I miss a bus, so I come prepared - in fact I carry the timetable around with me - or I choose an alternate method of transportation. There are days when even my commute to work takes me at least 1/2 hour longer than it would have if I had driven, but again, it's a choice because in that 1/2 hour I might read, or meet someone new. William, very well stated - thank you! Angela Murray 2009-04-11T06:13:19Z William Burg comment-5876 2009-04-10T22:55:24Z 2009-04-10T22:55:24Z Templar: I have done both. In the early 1990s I did not have car, lived in Citrus Heights, and used the bus and light rail to get to work downtown, a trip that normally took about an hour. It was not particularly fast nor convenient, but if I planned ahead I could get where I was going. After a few months, I got an opportunity to move to Midtown and jumped at it, which dramatically reduced my commute and made me a lot happier. The lesson here is not that public transit is bad, but that living long distances from one's workplace is bad. Yes, public transit is far more efficient for shorter distances, and yes, service outside of main transit corridors (and business hours) can be spotty or downright nonexistent. Most of Sacramento is a city built for the automobile: a decentralized, amorphous low-density landscape based around feeder streets and cul-de-sacs instead of transit corridors and a permeable grid. In such a landscape, in many cases cars are the only practical alternative. Part of the solution is rebuilding cities the way we used to (the way that Midtown and Downtown still are) and part is expanding transit service to make off-hours travel more practical, and more comfortable, for everyone. The point is that Regional Transit does some things well, even if it doesn't do everything well. Nobody here claims it is perfect. William Burg 2009-04-10T22:55:24Z templar comment-5873 2009-04-10T22:49:51Z 2009-04-10T22:49:51Z It's easy to say stuff like this when you have options. Yes, Regional Transit works well during the work week at working business hours. Especially commuting to and/or from the more dense parts of town. But for those that have no choice (and do not live in the midtown/downtown area!) it is not that easy. Try waiting for the 82 at CSUS on a Saturday evening in the middle of February. I did this shit for years and it is not as fun as you are misleading others to believe. A journey that would have taken 10 mins tops in a car can take more than an hour. From waiting for a late bus in the rain with it's limited weekend schedule, to waiting for the connecting bus and the final trudge home through cold, wet, muddy, dimly-lit streets. All alongside cars that constantly splash you just for kicks. And if that first bus is late, you gotta wait almost an hour for your connecting bus. I have not ridden an RT bus in years and I do not miss it. templar 2009-04-10T22:49:51Z waldorfandstatler comment-5872 2009-04-10T21:50:31Z 2009-04-10T21:50:31Z We suggest taking a ride on the wild side (south sac, oak park, franklin, meadowview) and not the lilly white suburbs in order to keep it real! waldorfandstatler 2009-04-10T21:50:31Z John Day comment-5870 2009-04-10T20:59:17Z 2009-04-10T20:59:17Z Great job. After hearing what you said last night and after reading your article, I may actually take a bus to see what it is like. Again, Great Job. John Day 2009-04-10T20:59:17Z Angela Murray comment-5839 2009-04-10T18:31:03Z 2009-04-10T18:31:03Z William - you and and I are on the same page. Thank you! Angela Murray 2009-04-10T18:31:03Z Angela Murray comment-5838 2009-04-10T18:30:41Z 2009-04-10T18:30:41Z Makiko, I've experienced these things too - I definitely received a great deal of sympathy when I mentioned I took the bus. Taking the bus is streotypically and inacurrately considered something only for people who do not have other means. Being the proponent of all the advantages of public transportation that I am, I would definitely encourage you to explore your options! Angela Murray 2009-04-10T18:30:41Z Angela Murray comment-5837 2009-04-10T18:27:31Z 2009-04-10T18:27:31Z Thank you John - waldorfandstatler, I haven't personally taken those buses, so I can't attest to these issues in those areas - and it sounds like you haven't taken them lately either (for good reason). I haven't addressed transportation or lack thereof to the outlying areas yet, though I plan to in a future story. I can attest to the fact the Regional Transit does an excellent job with the funding they are provided, and our community is fortunate to have an option. My experience is mostly in the Howe Avenue/Arden/CSUS/Downtown, and Folsom commutes. Angela Murray 2009-04-10T18:27:31Z John Hughes comment-5835 2009-04-10T18:21:59Z 2009-04-10T18:21:59Z waldorfandstatler: The first five items you list have nothing at all to do with transit or buses and everything to do with community and neighborhoods. The fact that Sacramento's community includes those elements is a sad tale. As for the "bus drivers peeling away" they are the exception that prove the rule. John Hughes 2009-04-10T18:21:59Z waldorfandstatler comment-5833 2009-04-10T17:58:03Z 2009-04-10T17:58:03Z Here are some of the things we've experienced on bus 51 and 53 (do these even run anymore?) - people peeing - people covered in pee - fist fights - obnoxious teenagers harassing women - drug deals - bus drivers peeling away leaving people who were just a second too late at the stop screaming and upset Things are a bit different if you are taking lite rail or the bus in a less 'affluent' part of town. waldorfandstatler 2009-04-10T17:58:03Z Makiko Yamashita comment-5828 2009-04-10T17:02:42Z 2009-04-10T17:02:42Z I agree with you too. I grew up in places where public transportation (plus bicycle) is so common. I went to school and commuted to work by trains and buses or I rode a bike. I like taking a bus or train because I can read, work or take a nap, things I cannot do while driving. I also thought it interesting to observe people. Angela, your article makes me think about exploring more about the Sacramento's RT. I have not used much but I always had a good experience when I used a bus or Light Rail. Except that many people seem to pity me when I use RT. I have had these responses, "Oh no, do you have to take a bus? Ask someone to drive you." or "Are you going to be really okay?", as if I were entering some dangerous world. Bu I do hope that the transit system will improve in the future. Sometimes, it takes too much time to travel by RT. Makiko Yamashita 2009-04-10T17:02:42Z William Burg comment-5826 2009-04-10T15:54:45Z 2009-04-10T15:54:45Z I definitely agree. Over the past year or so I have slowly weaned myself off of the car habit, taking advantage of the fact that both my home and my office are within a couple blocks of light rail stations. I am a student at Sacramento State, and took advantage of my student transit pass. It takes about as long to ride to school on the bus as it does to drive, the walk to class from the bus stop is about as long as the one from the parking lot, and I used the time on the bus for last-minute studying or reviewing notes. Taking Light Rail to work takes about the same amount of time as driving, give or take a couple of minutes. One difference I noticed was that I came in to work in a mellower mood. Driving to work, even a short commute of two miles, often got me stressed due to having to negotiate with downtown traffic. Riding to work is a different experience, as instead of dealing with cars you deal with people. While not everyone on the train is uniformly nice, people tend to bow to social pressure and behave courteously on the train. Once in a great while a train is a few minutes late, but generally light rail keeps a very tight schedule very well. The bus has a different vibe, since the driver can interact more directly with passengers. Regular riders greet each other and have running conversations on the bus on every subject. Having a monthly pass allows some really flexible transit options: if I'm walking somewhere and a bus happens to be going by, I can hop on for a few blocks and save a few minutes. At my last job, my employer paid for parking as I sometimes had to drive for work, so I still drove once or twice a week. At my new job, there is no parking, but I never need to drive, so I leave the car at home. I still drive when running big errands or going places on the weekends, but I fill the tank about once a month and mostly the car sits on the street. William Burg 2009-04-10T15:54:45Z