Can I walk my dog?

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I occasionally observe cyclists walking their dogs on a leash. Is this allowed? And if so, what should you consider?
S. Kriesi, Dietlikon ZH

The number of dogs as pets is increasing in Switzerland – this also raises the question of how they can be transported by bike in an animal-friendly and legal manner. Where leash is not required, dogs with good obedience can run alongside the bike. It’s even legal to walk a dog on a leash while driving. But it is reserved for adults and should be done with “due care”.

This includes moving the animal away from traffic from the side and not tethering it to the handlebars. However, special brackets on the bike are safer and this gives the animal a certain freedom of movement without the bike swinging. Dogs are also allowed in baskets and bike trailers, provided safety is guaranteed and the animal does not jump out. The law does not make any technical specifications here; however, manufacturer information such as weight limit applies.

Who is responsible in the event of an accident?

However, many dogs not only enjoy cycling, but they also enjoy crossing bikes, causing them to fall over and over again. This also happened 20 years ago when a dog hit the front wheel of then Bundestag Kaspar Villiger (82) in the Verzasca Valley. Apart from the suffering of the then Finance Minister who broke his finger in the accident, the dog owner’s liability insurance had to pay the bill. Because dog owners are held responsible for the lack of supervision, which is basically causal liability: Unless they supervise the dog with due care, they are liable for damage.

Source: Blick