Cell phones and cycling

[kajero]

I saw the MOST distressing thing on my ride today. Another cyclist was chattering away on her cell phone while riding. If the cyclist behind hadn't been so oberservant I think something awful could have happend. I felt like screaming at the cell phone rider telling her to get and off the trail and make her call then!

[owlice]

I saw one of those yesterday, on a MUT. She was kind of all over the place. I always announce, quite loudly for those who look clueless (as she did), and she gave me an annoyed look (!) when I passed her middle-of-the-trail self.

[PamNY]

I see this fairly often. It's infuriating and I wish there were a law against it.

[Velocivixen]

I live with a regional MUP behind my house and during nice weather it is packed with all types. It drives me nuts to see parents with kids, or folks walking dogs while "not being present" because they're on their mobile phones. IMHO, unless you're someone really important you don't need to be on the phone all the time. I wish people would simply enjoy what they're doing at the moment, versus dividing their attention and probably doing a lousy job at both. People with dogs on those flexible-leads stretched across the path not paying attention to the runners, walkers or cyclists coming along because they're on the phone. Okay, I'll step off my soap box now.

[Norse]

I once passed a clueless wonder yacking loudly on his cell phone while pulling two little kids behind in a carrier. He was completely oblivious to the traffic around him. I repeatedly called out, yelled is more like it, but he continued to hog the middle of the trail. As I finally passed him I said "nice" and he pulled his cell phone away from his face long enough to yell a stream of obscenities at me. What a great dad!

[zoom-zoom]

I see this fairly often. It's infuriating and I wish there were a law against it.

I see people texting while riding. I would assume that it IS illegal in a state with texting while driving ban, since bikes have to follow the same laws as cars. I'm guessing it will never be enforced, though.

[kermit]

I got behind a girl on the bike path who comes to a sudden stop to text someone. I obviously gave her a few choice four letter words!

[jessmarimba]

I got upset the other day at a driver who had pulled off the road to talk on his phone...but stopped his car blocking the bike lane. Then honked and gave me the finger when I shrugged my shoulders at him after I had to pop up on the sidewalk to go around (too much traffic too bunched up from a red light for me to take the lane). Righteously oblivious people scare me.