Cellphone Cyclists

[onimity]

Does this get on anyone else's nerves? Maybe it's just that there are so many cyclists around here but at least every other day I see the telltale signs: a bike swerving a bit, going at an unpredictable pace. As I approach it becomes clear that the source of the erratic riding is the fact that the rider has a hand on the handlebars and another on the cellphone that they are happily chatting into. My sister almost got hit yesterday by a guy in race gear, careening down a huge hill (that she was climbing) on a MUT. He was making dinner plans on his phone.

Haven't we pushed multitasking far enough?

Maybe it's me, but I just don't think that talking on a phone works particularly well while driving OR riding a bike. At least half the time when a driver doesn't notice me and pulls out when I have the right of way on the road they are obliviously talking on their phone. Not only do they often have a reduced ability to control the vehicle, but they are distracted. On a bike, talking on a phone seems even more dangerous to me, particularly when riding in traffic. I thought about it the other day and guessed that I *could* use my earpiece to answer the phone if I *had* to, but why on earth would I want to?!? It seems to me as dangerous as an iPod, etc.; I rely on my sense of sound to keep myself safe.

It's just a pet peeve, but I wondered if anyone else has noticed this and if so, how do you respond. "HANG UP AND RIDE?!?" ??

Anne

[mimitabby]

we saw someone doing that. i thought she was drunk. Nope, she was on a cellphone. Sometimes my phone rings when i am riding. I slow down find a safe place to stop, then answer phone. Not hard at all.

[F8th637]

I haven't yet seen people talking on their cell phones on the trail but definitely the headphones. I just don't get it either. I get off the trail and answer my phone if it rings too. I hate when you see a driver who seems to be in a world of their own only to pass them and see them on their cell phones. It drives me nuts too!

[Nokomis]

In our neighborhood last night, we saw a little boy (10 or under) rolling on a push scooter with a phone between his ear & shoulder - amazing he could do that with a helmet on - and drinking a can of soda all at the same time. Multi-multi-tasking, must have super-tasking role models!

[li10up]

Guilty as charged. I answer my cell when riding but I immediately tell the person that I'm riding my bike and that I'll call them back. I only do this when on a road with no traffic and/or a wide shoulder. Otherwise I just let it go to VM or pull over and then answer.

[Jo-n-NY]

I am happy to be spastic in this area. I cannot talk on a phone and ride at the same time. If it rings I pull over to the side and stop, otherwise, there is always vm.

~ JoAnn

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Most of the people I see on bikes while cell phone talking are wobbling. They are also oblivous to their surroundings, their minds are half somewhere else. You can tell from behind that they are on their cells phones just from their erratic path. Just as bad as driving a car while on the phone. I think they are dangerous to themselves and to the rest of us.

[Zen]

It's not just you.
When will this idiocy end?

[chickwhorips]

I won't even get on my soap box about this one. Simply, yes it bothers me. I usually carry my phone on my for emergencies. Though anyone that knows me, if I'm out riding, I don't want to be disturbed. Or if I'm running or hiking, those ones annoy me too.

Must... not.... get... on.... soapbox....

[DDH]

I take my cell phone on rides with me, but I pull over and stop if someone calls and I have only had that happen once where I actually heard it. I take it more for my own use, should something happen and I need it, so I just put it in my seat pack so it's unlikely for me to hear it while riding.
I get upset with folks that talk on the phone and drive much less be on a bike.

[dex]

I saw one just last night, actually. But this guy...he was truly special.

The scene: Around 10 p.m., it's just gotten dark in Seattle, moderately busy road (for the Seattlites around, it was 10th Ave near St. Mark's on Cap Hill), a bit of reflective gear catches my attention ahead and off to the right. Then I notice that the stripes of reflective material that I'm seeing are sitting awfully upright for what appears to be a rider on a road bike and not appearing entirely steady. As I get closer I see that this guy is sitting up on his bike, one hand holding a phone up to his ear, the other dangling down by his side. There are lines of cars parked on the shoulder to his right, and plenty of cars driving in the open lane to his left. It was almost like he was daring the universe to turn him into road mess.

I was quite relieved once I was able to pass him (*I* didn't want to be the one accidentally turning him into road mess...besides, I drive a tiny car that could be theoretically totaled in such an accident). I was also pretty annoyed that he was being so stupid.

My thought this morning is: Why spend all that money on lights for your bike (of which he had many) and clothes with lots of reflective material to make yourself visible only to ride like a dumba**? Is it so that all of the drivers are better able to you being stupid? Because that's really effective...

[indysteel]

How timely. I was in a group ride on Sunday--paceline formation mind you--when someone answered their cellphone. Thankfully, we had just taken a left turn and weren't all together yet so there was room for me to get out from behind her, but what the heck? Don't do that; not with someone on your wheel.

[silver]

I carry my cell phone with me, but my family knows if I'm out riding I'm not answering. Leave a message. If they have an emergency call once, hang up and then call again. I'll stop as soon as it's safe for me to and call back. Otherwise, I'll stop at my next planned stop.

I mean really! what's that important?

Side story regarding emergencies:

one morning I was doing a practice tri training. We had a television station come out to interview us. I left the phone in the car. When I got back to the car, I had 6 messages. My Mother-in-law had fallen and had to go to the hospital by ambulance. I went straight to the hospital. I showed up covered with mud from the muddy lake we were swimming in and sweaty! Uggggg! I comforted my MIL and then asked the nurse if they had a shower for me. They immediately found one for me and brought me towels and soap.......LOL....I must have smelled really bad. As much as I would have liked to have been there earlier, I couldn't have done anything. EMS had been called and did their work and the world continued to revolve without me.

[Aggie_Ama]

DH and I have some heated discussions over this. I will usually hit mine to send it voicemail because it rings and vibrates. He will answer it and keep riding. ARGH!!! If I decide to answer it I pull over. Most people know if the sun is up and I am not at work I am potentially on my bike.

DH also has been working on balance and riding with no hands. DRIVES ME CRAZY!! Usually we are in the middle of no where, but every once in a while he just does it on a road I know a car could come up on us at any point. I have been encouraging him to be a safer cyclist for my sanity.

[Kano]

Mine rides in my backpack, and each of my kids has her own ringtone, so I know which one it is who "needs" me, and can decide from there. I keep meaning to find a special ring-tone for work, so I know for SURE that I don't want to answer! I can't grab the phone while riding, so if I'm going to respond, I pull over -- but while it's ringing, I LOVE listening to their tunes! It's the only time music is playing while I ride -- at least where I am, and it's always a delightful surprise!

(better than a honk!)

Karen in Boise