A Tuggeranong woman says lower speed limits for shared paths should be considered after her beloved dog was run over by a speeding cyclist on a path through an enclosed underpass.
The nearly 12-year-old pomeranian, Milo, was run over by the cyclist on Sunday evening and died of his injuries on Wednesday night.
"Everyone is just so devastated, he was so loved," Ravinder Singh said.
"He was our baby, no one ever looked at him like he was a dog."
Monash vet Dr Marc Pilkington said the little dog's injuries included several broken ribs, a collapsed lung and damage to his internal organs.
The ACT Government says the speed limit for cyclists on shared paths is 50km/h but some areas have lower limits such as the path across Commonwealth Avenue Bridge which has a 10km/h speed limit.
Mrs Singh said a male cyclist in full lycra speeding "like a bullet' ran completely over the tiny dog's torso when he came around a bend and through a Drakeford Drive underpass about 7pm on Sunday.
She was walking with her friend Jo Favaloro who had her two-year-old grand-daughter in a stroller.
Mrs Singh said her dog was on a lead and did venture in to the right hand land momentarily as the cyclist came around the bend at speed, yelled "bike" and then ran straight over the animal.
"He was apologetic afterwards but I don't think he was very sad about hurting a dog. What if it had been a child?" she said. "It just all happened so fast."
Mrs Singh, Mrs Favaloro and another neighbour, Sandy Hoare, regularly walk around Lake Tuggeranong. The underpass where the accident happened was busy, providing access to the lake, the Hyperdome and across to Bunnings.
They said most cyclists did the right thing but an arrogant minority treated the shared paths as a velodrome to ride at high speeds.
"They almost treat you like dirt," Mrs Favaloro said. "The attitude is, 'What are you doing on the path with a child or a dog?'."
Mrs Hoare said: "It's a time trial to see how fast they can get around the lake, which is disgusting".
Mrs Favaloro suggested the speed limit through an underpass be put at 10km/h or cyclists be made to get off and walk their bike given the often enclosed nature of the space. Mrs Singh said a closed-circuit camera might force cyclists to slow down.
Mrs Hoare said she was aware of body corporates for units around the lake putting in complaints to the ACT government about the behaviour of cyclists on the shared paths. There had also been calls for an extra path to be put in to separate cyclists from walkers.
A Justice and Community Safety Directorate spokesperson said "only four incidents about cyclists speeding on shared pathways'' have been reported to Access Canberra this year.
"Do we have to have a special family pet killed for something to happen?" Mrs Hoare said. "Yes, it's a dog. But for anyone who has owned a dog, they are part of your family. They have lost a family member."
Mrs Singh said her vet bills totalled $4000 but she would have paid anything to save Milo. Her family made a donation in his honour to the RSPCA to help put "his soul at peace".
The JACS spokesperson said cyclists ''should always slow down when passing pedestrians and sound their bell or give a verbal warning before overtaking".
"On footpaths or shared paths a cyclist must give way to all pedestrians and keep left of the path unless it is impractical to do so," a statement said.
"Pedestrians should also keep to the left of the path, appropriately supervise children and keep any dogs or other animals on a lead."