4 ms·

One of the women in that photo is using her mobile phone while she cycles along right next to a bunch of other people. That is so dangerous. It's behaviour like

by vosper 14y ago

One of the women in that photo is using her mobile phone while she cycles along right next to a bunch of other people. That is so dangerous. It's behaviour like this (and the inability to cycle in a straight-ish line) that makes me hate biking in groups of commuters, like those riding down Market St in SF.

Someone 14y ago
How dangerous? I think it all depends on how well the average drive can ride in a straight line. Having a bike with a larger slant in the front fork (Wikipedia calls them roadster http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadster_(bicycle) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadster_(bicycle), but does not realize that 'keeps a straight line easier' is one of its most important assets) helps tremendously there. For examples of 'safe' use of a mobile phone while cycling, see http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/ http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/
- aidenn0 14y ago
  Wow, first thing that jumped out at me from those pictures was that all the bicycles had at least a top chain cover, and most had no exposed chain around the crank at all. That has to account for a lot of the "riding in formalwear" since pants and dresses can get caught in the chain really easily otherwise.
- vosper 14y ago
  It does relate to your ability to bike in a straight line, but the other danger is that you're not looking at what other people are doing. Relative to their width people on bikes move a lot more side-to-side than a car does - it's not uncommon to see a person on a bike weaving a couple of feet in either direction as they pedal. If cars did this the lanes would have to be 2-3 times the width of the car on either side to accomodate the movement. Further, having one hand off the handlebars massively diminishes your ability to react safely and accurately. Granted, the worst that might happen in a bike-on-bike crash is a broken bone or concussion, but for people who aren't at peak health (or who just get really unlucky) this could be a significant, even life-changing event.
  - Someone 14y ago
    Yeah, it definitely is not for everybody, everywhere, every time :-) I just wanted to point out that danger depends on lots of things. Many people on the photos I referenced probably are well on their way to or over the magical 10.000 hours of practice riding a bicycle. Most car drivers, similarly, will have lots of experience driving in traffic with cyclists. Also, if you look closely, you will notice those not on bike paths often are in the middle of a road that is not wide enough for a car to pass them. Cars, in that location, do not go faster than bikes. It also does not look particularly busy there.
Derbasti 14y ago
The thing is: the worst thing that can happen when you fall off your bike on a bike lane is maybe a broken bone. Compare that to cars...
- excuse-me 14y ago
  If you are distracted by the phone in a car at 70mph you have covered 32metres if you do the same on a bike like that women's - you have covered about 2 bike lengths! ps Don't answer your phone in the pelaton at the start of a Tour de France stage!
nandemo 14y ago
In Tokyo I've seen people cycling while: - texting - holding up an umbrella. Very common. - smoking (exercising is good for you, I guess it cancels out the health hazards of smoking...) - "walking" (cycling?) a dog with a leash. I've seen each of the above multiple times. It's all the more dangerous because the vast majority ride on the sidewalk. And once I saw a guy leisurely riding on the road while reading a manga. God, I wish I had taken a pic.

by vosper 14y ago

Someone 14y ago

How dangerous? I think it all depends on how well the average drive can ride in a straight line. Having a bike with a larger slant in the front fork (Wikipedia calls them roadster http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadster_(bicycle) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadster_(bicycle), but does not realize that 'keeps a straight line easier' is one of its most important assets) helps tremendously there. For examples of 'safe' use of a mobile phone while cycling, see http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/ http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/

aidenn0 14y ago
Wow, first thing that jumped out at me from those pictures was that all the bicycles had at least a top chain cover, and most had no exposed chain around the crank at all. That has to account for a lot of the "riding in formalwear" since pants and dresses can get caught in the chain really easily otherwise.
vosper 14y ago
It does relate to your ability to bike in a straight line, but the other danger is that you're not looking at what other people are doing. Relative to their width people on bikes move a lot more side-to-side than a car does - it's not uncommon to see a person on a bike weaving a couple of feet in either direction as they pedal. If cars did this the lanes would have to be 2-3 times the width of the car on either side to accomodate the movement. Further, having one hand off the handlebars massively diminishes your ability to react safely and accurately. Granted, the worst that might happen in a bike-on-bike crash is a broken bone or concussion, but for people who aren't at peak health (or who just get really unlucky) this could be a significant, even life-changing event.
- Someone 14y ago
  Yeah, it definitely is not for everybody, everywhere, every time :-) I just wanted to point out that danger depends on lots of things. Many people on the photos I referenced probably are well on their way to or over the magical 10.000 hours of practice riding a bicycle. Most car drivers, similarly, will have lots of experience driving in traffic with cyclists. Also, if you look closely, you will notice those not on bike paths often are in the middle of a road that is not wide enough for a car to pass them. Cars, in that location, do not go faster than bikes. It also does not look particularly busy there.

Derbasti 14y ago

The thing is: the worst thing that can happen when you fall off your bike on a bike lane is maybe a broken bone. Compare that to cars...

excuse-me 14y ago
If you are distracted by the phone in a car at 70mph you have covered 32metres if you do the same on a bike like that women's - you have covered about 2 bike lengths! ps Don't answer your phone in the pelaton at the start of a Tour de France stage!

nandemo 14y ago

In Tokyo I've seen people cycling while: - texting - holding up an umbrella. Very common. - smoking (exercising is good for you, I guess it cancels out the health hazards of smoking...) - "walking" (cycling?) a dog with a leash. I've seen each of the above multiple times. It's all the more dangerous because the vast majority ride on the sidewalk. And once I saw a guy leisurely riding on the road while reading a manga. God, I wish I had taken a pic.