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> as a bicycle commuter Smartphone use in a vehicle is a problem, so I agree with the gist, but this part about you riding a bike is completely irrelevant to t

by leokun 13y ago

> as a bicycle commuter Smartphone use in a vehicle is a problem, so I agree with the gist, but this part about you riding a bike is completely irrelevant to the point you made. But maybe you want some kind of cookie for being so respectful of the environment and conscientious enough to ride a bike on a regular basis. So I just wanted to take this moment and thank you for riding your bike. You're a good person. You should tell more people that you are a bicycle commuter so you can get more people to thank you for your service to the world.

ipsin 13y ago
I think that you are missing my point, because the bicycle is entirely relevant. I own a car. I drive it. A lot. You didn't need to know that. But in the situation I described, I feel quite vulnerable, because I'm not in a car, and because I'm not on the sidewalk. In other words, because I'm on a bicycle.
- leokun 13y ago
  I get that. I totally agree with the point that smartphone use while driving is bad, that's why it's also illegal. But it's dangerous for everyone, not just bicycle riders. Personally, and I'm sure the downvotes will keep flying in, I think it's completely reckless to ride a bike in dense traffic, surrounded by people who are on their smartphones and driving too fast, but you can feel all self-entitled to the road because the law just happens to be on your side (but not the infrastructure - not many bike lanes), but maybe instead ride on less busy roads or just don't ride at all. I give bikers a lot of space, and everything that is required for them to be safe, but though I will never do anything less, I have learned to resent it. So many people riding their bikes just seem oblivious to their surroundings and make bad decisions and simply get in the way not caring. Then you come and post on the internet about how bad drivers are. I wish it was safer for people to ride bikes. I wish bike riding were a great thing where there were many lanes available, and everything was happy and safe, but it's not. So maybe just stop riding your bike, or ride on a less crazy road.
  - ipsin 13y ago
    Your assumptions ("not many bike lanes", "self-entitled") seem to be somewhat localized, but your anger and willingness to jump to incorrect conclusions about who I am or how I ride isn't. I'm pretty sure I don't live near where you live. Cars don't drive too fast. There are bike lanes. When I see a stop sign, I stop. I try not to piss off drivers. You seem to be offering me a false choice: "stop talking about risk" or "stop riding your bike".
bdcravens 13y ago
Not irrelevant. Those who use phones while driving put this person's life at risk. Same thing with motorcycles, to lesser degree; pedestrians, to a larger degree. A person is allowed to express the risks they face by riding a bicycle without having to worry that they should have suppressed that fact for fear of sounding too hipster. To say that driving while texting is bad without including the personal relevance is a hand-wavy general comment.

by leokun 13y ago

ipsin 13y ago

I think that you are missing my point, because the bicycle is entirely relevant. I own a car. I drive it. A lot. You didn't need to know that. But in the situation I described, I feel quite vulnerable, because I'm not in a car, and because I'm not on the sidewalk. In other words, because I'm on a bicycle.

leokun 13y ago
I get that. I totally agree with the point that smartphone use while driving is bad, that's why it's also illegal. But it's dangerous for everyone, not just bicycle riders. Personally, and I'm sure the downvotes will keep flying in, I think it's completely reckless to ride a bike in dense traffic, surrounded by people who are on their smartphones and driving too fast, but you can feel all self-entitled to the road because the law just happens to be on your side (but not the infrastructure - not many bike lanes), but maybe instead ride on less busy roads or just don't ride at all. I give bikers a lot of space, and everything that is required for them to be safe, but though I will never do anything less, I have learned to resent it. So many people riding their bikes just seem oblivious to their surroundings and make bad decisions and simply get in the way not caring. Then you come and post on the internet about how bad drivers are. I wish it was safer for people to ride bikes. I wish bike riding were a great thing where there were many lanes available, and everything was happy and safe, but it's not. So maybe just stop riding your bike, or ride on a less crazy road.
- ipsin 13y ago
  Your assumptions ("not many bike lanes", "self-entitled") seem to be somewhat localized, but your anger and willingness to jump to incorrect conclusions about who I am or how I ride isn't. I'm pretty sure I don't live near where you live. Cars don't drive too fast. There are bike lanes. When I see a stop sign, I stop. I try not to piss off drivers. You seem to be offering me a false choice: "stop talking about risk" or "stop riding your bike".

bdcravens 13y ago

Not irrelevant. Those who use phones while driving put this person's life at risk. Same thing with motorcycles, to lesser degree; pedestrians, to a larger degree. A person is allowed to express the risks they face by riding a bicycle without having to worry that they should have suppressed that fact for fear of sounding too hipster. To say that driving while texting is bad without including the personal relevance is a hand-wavy general comment.