Cyclists using mobiles - WTF?

[Cab]

Never have my phone turned on while riding. Hate the damn thing ringing.

 

[HJ]

Cycle while using a mobile, you mean like this...

Using a phone while driving has been banned for a good reason, drivers kill people, while not paying attention. Using a phone while cycling is not much different to using a phone while walking...

The application of a wee bit of common sense makes a lot of difference.

 

[MacB]

Cycle while using a mobile, you mean like this...

Using a phone while driving has been banned for a good reason, drivers kill people, while not paying attention. Using a phone while cycling is not much different to using a phone while walking...

The application of a wee bit of common sense makes a lot of difference.

Is a fair comment but don't expect any sympathy if you crash while doing it

 

[HJ]

Is a fair comment but don't expect any sympathy if you crash while doing it

Nor would I expect sympathy if I walked into a lamp post while using a phone, the point is there is difference between cycling along on the phone at <10mph and texting while driving a car at >25mph

In general cyclist don't kill people (ok so in an average year 2 people are killed by cyclist but these cyclist traveling at high speed and not taking care), driver kill an average 7 people a day! Being hit 1 ton + of metal can be fatal even at low speeds, we have to try and get these things in perspective...

 

[just4fun]

i use my phone whilst cycling, but there is a time and a place for this. Most of my commute is 3 miles of cycle paths with me being the sole occupier, the roads + streets are empty (except for an increasing amount of smashed glass )

 

[WimbledonCyclist]

What a load of hysterical crap. Welcome to cyclechat

I'm sure it is illegal somewhere else.

It's a pleasure being here. I thought it was a good idea to add the Dutch perspective. Especially as Holland, along with Denmark/Copenhagen, is often hailed as an example of getting things like cycling provision and a safe riding environment to a reasonable level.

You're welcome to find it all a load of crap. But I think it makes perfect sense to ban the practice. I think we agree that talking/texting on your phone is a bad idea when cycling around in traffic, I guess we'll just have to disagree on banning it.

To my mind it's not unlike cycling around while drunk. Bad idea, and best banned in the interest of safety.

 

[hydridmatt]

So let me get this quite clear:

1) drivers doing something that takes his mind off the road = evil, bad and wrong.
2) Cyclists doing the same = not so bad.
3) Cyclists putting hands in pocket, thus unable to brake in a hurry if someone jumps out = cool as can be. Right...

If we demand respect from cars, we have to show them similar respect, otherwise our call ring hollow. We might not kill people if we hit them, but we can impact on the behaviour of other road users.

 

[Arch]

So let me get this quite clear:

1) drivers doing something that takes his mind off the road = evil, bad and wrong.
2) Cyclists doing the same = not so bad.
3) Cyclists putting hands in pocket, thus unable to brake in a hurry if someone jumps out = cool as can be. Right...

If we demand respect from cars, we have to show them similar respect, otherwise our call ring hollow. We might not kill people if we hit them, but we can impact on the behaviour of other road users.

To make it clearer than I did, I think it was cool, but stupid - 'cool' is not automatically a positive feature in my mind. In fact more and more 'cool' means 'childishly daft'....

 

[HJ]

i use my phone whilst cycling, but there is a time and a place for this. Most of my commute is 3 miles of cycle paths with me being the sole occupier, the roads + streets are empty (except for an increasing amount of smashed glass )

Sounds like a fun commute

 

[ComedyPilot]

last night a guy cycled past me on a busy road, looking like he was reading a text on his mobile, or maybe he was looking at a map.
This morning I overtook a guy who was holding the phone to his hear having a conversation.
WTF are those guys thinking?

They might be thinking you need to drop your 'aitches'?

 

[HJ]

So let me get this quite clear:

1) drivers doing something that takes his mind off the road = evil, bad and wrong.
2) Cyclists doing the same = not so bad.
3) Cyclists putting hands in pocket, thus unable to brake in a hurry if someone jumps out = cool as can be. Right...

If we demand respect from cars, we have to show them similar respect, otherwise our call ring hollow. We might not kill people if we hit them, but we can impact on the behaviour of other road users.

This is such a silly comment, try and get a sense of perspective, which is more dangerous: 1.5 tons of metal travelling at over 25 mph or 100 kg of cycle and rider travelling at 10 mph?

You might not be able to look ahead, plan ahead and steer with one hand at 10 mph, but I can, as most cyclist.

Get real! Just because you drive a car you are not God, the laws of physics still apply, sadly there are too many people with driving licences who do not understand this simple idea.

 

[BentMikey]

Is a fair comment but don't expect any sympathy if you crash while doing it

LOL! You'll have even less for me then. Last year I stacked (fell) whilst skating and filming my feet doing a trick. My mates proper laughed.

 

[Norm]

You might not be able to look ahead, plan ahead and steer with one hand at 10 mph, but I can, as most cyclist.

Talking of silly comments, is that not exactly the same argument that drivers employ to justify using the phone whilst driving?

People have been doing that for many years, it's the unexpected, which you don't plan for but which appears at the very moment you are looking at the phone, which causes the problem.

Yes, the outcome is very much worse in a car but there is some strange logic in your arguments.

IMO.

 

[BentMikey]

I think it is potentially illegal on a bicycle, maybe one of the coppers on here can comment?

I recall a skater claiming he'd been pulled over and ticketed by the cops for skating along the road whilst on the phone. Case dismissed because he had no handlebars.

 

[CotterPin]

I never answer my phone whilst cycling as it is usually buried deep in my bag. So I have to stop rummage around in my bag, realise it was actually in my pocket all along, take it out of my pocket and press the answer button. By which time, of course, the person who was attempting to call me will have rung off.

In any event, it is usually the person I am desperately cycling hard to reach, calling me to ask me when I will be there. Well, a bit later than I would have been. Puts me in mind of the Basil Fawlty moose scenario...