Keep your dogs leashed on bike trail

I am writing about the importance of the dog leash ordinance in Sandpoint. On March 3, I was in what could have been a fatal bicycle accident with a dog on the Long Bridge bike path. It was with a dog who has never jumped out in front of anyone.

The dog sat at its owners' side to let me pass and at the last minute it stepped out. I was taken by an ambulance to the hospital with an eye socket fracture, split eye brow, elbow sprain and shoulder injury.

I missed three weeks of work. It could take up to six months to full recover.

My helmet saved my life. With the snow gone, there is a lot of traffic on our bike/walking paths. Please don't just carry your leash — put it on the dog.

DEBORAH L. RIGGINS

Clark Fork