Cyclists using mobiles - WTF?

[marinyork]

Sorry it probably was a bit rude but nowhere have I said that is it a bright idea extensively using your mobile during a commute. It seems a bit odd -presumably you are going somewhere so why they are they in a hurry to know something? There are many things not a MUST on the highway code that are not a good idea to do, I say this so often it becomes boring.

I do see people using mobular phones whilst cycling but have yet to see an excessively dangerous example of it. I only have to go out of my door to see illegal driving on a mobile.

 

[purplepolly]

I do see people using mobular phones whilst cycling but have yet to see an excessively dangerous example of it..

It's usually not dangerous in itself and certainly not as dangerous as texting whist driving, but how often do cyclists on here manage to avoid collisions with blind motorists due their own quick reactions? Someone who's texting isn't going to be able to react as quickly and save themselves.

Or to put it another way - if one party is paying attention then an accident might be avoided, if both parties aren't paying attention then an accident is far more likely.

 

[fossyant]

Saw a club cyclist a few years back...no hands, round sharp bends, at the back of the club run....on the phone.....git....I can't do no hands.......

 

[Mr Pig]

I'm surprised this is even being debated. There is no way you could cycle and text safely, and if you suggest that you can you're an idiot!

 

[hackbike 666]

One of my mates in "Pre Booked" tonight was quite obviously teting while having his hands off of the steering wheel which probably scares me more than seeing cyclists do it.

 

[Arch]

I'm surprised this is even being debated. There is no way you could cycle and text safely, and if you suggest that you can you're an idiot!

I could just about cycle and READ a text at the same time, but I wouldn't do it on the road - I might do it on a very empty cycle path, but I think I'd be more likely to stop.

On the no-hands theme, a friend and I were driving behind a guy one night last week - well lit, hi vis coat (not a cycling one, the sort builders wear), riding along not only no hands, but with his hands in his coat pockets. Jealous? Moi!?

I think some people just don't think, or don't care - well, we know that, we see them run red lights, ride on the pavement, wear enveloping hoods... Annoyingly, they are the people who seem to be unbreakable, and it's the careful ones among us who get all the grief.

 

[marinyork]

It's usually not dangerous in itself and certainly not as dangerous as texting whist driving, but how often do cyclists on here manage to avoid collisions with blind motorists due their own quick reactions? Someone who's texting isn't going to be able to react as quickly and save themselves.

Or to put it another way - if one party is paying attention then an accident might be avoided, if both parties aren't paying attention then an accident is far more likely.

I usually see people doing it in places like parks which involves its own set of risks, perhaps saying hello to a tree, the wrong side of the path adjoining a pond or a pedestrian.

 

[hackbike 666]

I see pedestrians doing it everywhere.

 

[marinyork]

I see pedestrians doing it everywhere.

And funnily enough exactly the same behaviours are observed.

 

[Mr Pig]

a friend and I were driving behind a guy one night last week - well lit, hi vis coat riding along not only no hands, but with his hands in his coat pockets.

I wouldn't do that but man I wish I could! ;0)

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Saw a guy carrying a large cup of coffee! No idea how far he got though...

This will probably cause apoplexy on here, but I not only used to drink coffee behind the wheel of my truck, but sometimes actually make a cup using my little coffee percolator. All without slowing from 56mph. My rationale was that both the action of making it and the subsequent consumption of it helped to keep me alert.
It's less of a problem now that my work consists of sitting in the canteen on my laptop waiting for one load in a seven hour shift.

 

[Mr Pig]

I not only used to drink coffee behind the wheel of my truck, but sometimes actually make a cup using my little coffee percolator.

If you'd crashed and someone died you'd have gone to jail for sure.

My grandfather drove trucks, among other things, and when I think about some of the stuff we did as kids in and around them it's amazing. I don't think the words health and safety had been invented back then. We had a lot of fun though :0)

 

[yorkshiregoth]

I seem to notice more and more ninja POB's using their mobiles, but at least they have some form of lighting from the phone's screen.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Oops - sorry. I'll admit to having used my mobile when cycling. Normally at night as well, possibly once a month, riding to the coast with a group of other cyclists, when a strange man in a leg bandage calls me up and asks where the back end is. I don't text though.

I try to avoid using it normally.

 

[hackbike 666]

I've never used my mobile on the bike but then again im whiter than white.