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-   -   Rethinking riding on the street. (https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-safety/914274-rethinking-riding-street.html)

I-Like-To-Bike 10-05-13 03:33 PM


Originally Posted by howsteepisit (Post 16135277)
Never seen/used a smartphone either I see. And since I was not aware I would need to be defending a position at the time I read some of the articles, why would I want to clutter my mind or files with bad advise. And I for sure have seen articles about how to sort/read/reply to messages while stuck in traffic. Less in the last few years, but say 4 or 5 years ago, there was a lot of such advise, especially in sales productivity literature. But as is clear you think I am lying - so be it. As to what is worth about what you have/have not seen - not worth a thing to me.

OK, got it. You read some forgettable articles somewhere 4 or 5 years ago that had obvious bad advice, but your dim memory of them confirms Genec's platitudes about our instant gratification culture and that "we" are overwhelmed by social pressure to multi task at all times, including while driving.

howsteepisit 10-06-13 12:13 AM

Think you summed up my opinion pretty well. May be right, may be wrong, who knows, but its my opinion.

genec 10-06-13 09:18 AM


Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike (Post 16135180)
Does that mean you were just joshing about "us" and don't believe anything you wrote in your diatribe?

No, merely that all of us are part of the issue... Classic example of what I was saying... how about that airlines are working hard to ensure that people can make phone calls on flights... oh sure the airline is also working that from a revenue standpoint. But consider what it will be like when even only a 1/4 of the people on even a short 2 hour flight are yacking away to close some business deal, or chat with some long lost friend.

And regarding texting in general... if I am not mistaken, there have been some rather recent horrific crashes by people texting...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/was...a_train_c.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/...52835520081002
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...u-s-first.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57...al-helicopter/

Frankly I am of the opinion that the issues of cell phone distraction are underplayed as everyone believes they CAN "get away" with it... "just this once..." and that the reality is that there are more close calls and minor crashes caused by distractions such as cell phone use, GPS use, even fumbling for radio buttons than many of us care to admit.

But apparently some here require actual "smoking guns" before admitting this. So we will have to wait... for data to eventually be collected, compiled and graphed some time in the future, before some will admit that "ya know, that is a problem."

dynodonn 10-06-13 10:10 AM


Originally Posted by genec (Post 16136995)

Though not proven yet,(law enforcement has confiscated her phone) there's the possibility that this motorist was texting since it's reported that a witness seen her phone in her lap with a partial text on the screen, just after the crash, and that she has admitted to taking her eyes off the road for a few seconds.

http://auburnpub.com/news/national/n...d3f5b9e18.html

I-Like-To-Bike 10-06-13 01:10 PM


Originally Posted by genec (Post 16136995)
No, merely that all of us are part of the issue... Classic example of what I was saying... how about that airlines are working hard to ensure that people can make phone calls on flights... oh sure the airline is also working that from a revenue standpoint. But consider what it will be like when even only a 1/4 of the people on even a short 2 hour flight are yacking away to close some business deal, or chat with some long lost friend.

Yes I can see how that might frighten "us" from riding our bicycles on airplanes.

phoebeisis 10-06-13 02:38 PM

Well I am definitely going to quit riding while flying.
But yeah if i flew it would be annoying to be locked in a tube with 40-50 people talking to themselves.Something to be said for texting I guess.
Flying sucks now-greyhound buses without the disinfectant odor but with less comfortable seats and with poorly mannered passengers who can't handle their liquor

I-Like-To-Bike 10-06-13 05:19 PM


Originally Posted by phoebeisis (Post 16137659)
But yeah if i flew it would be annoying to be locked in a tube with 40-50 people talking to themselves.Something to be said for texting I guess.

I can testify that airport waiting areas are much more pleasant than they were several years ago, now that multiple loudmouths have taken up texting instead of incessantly gabbing at top volume as if they were talking into a tin can attached to a string with the other party's tin can.

Now if only the airport concessionaires would turn down the volume of the ever present TVs blaring the news, and TSA would stop announcing the same old warnings every 15 minutes. It might make waiting for a delayed departure somewhat more bearable.

rekmeyata 10-07-13 11:04 AM


Originally Posted by genec (Post 16134687)
Cell phone use also represents the same "selfish attitude" noted by HawkOwl and by the OP... and really what it comes down to is the fact that there are too many of us on too little road space all trying to climb to the top of whatever respective heap we have to climb, while looking back at the approaching wave of whatever.... be it waves of cars, waves of younger peers or waves of competition... we all feel the need to "do it" now.

That "do it now" feeling is also heavily promoted by our it's gotta be there overnight, just fax it/Fedex it/instant coffee it or fast food it to me right now, instant gratification world.

We've stopped smelling the roses (unless of course they are packaged in an ad and delivered right to the door) and we've decided that little else matters except our own world... which means drivers go on red lights without stopping, cyclists go all the time and we all get crunched in some way.

How do we bring back the right attitude... I donno... seems like since disco died, we're all trying to meet the same deadline. Try reversing that trend.

Maybe we need the aliens to land...

I agree.

rumrunn6 10-07-13 02:23 PM


Originally Posted by Retro Grouch (Post 16091705)
My neighbor's legally parked car was just rear ended and pushed about 50 feet forward. I can only assume the woman who hit it was paying more attention to her cell phone than she was to her driving. I've had 2 internet bicycling acquaintances who have been killed by similar un-attentive drivers.

My worst bicycling injuries have all happened on car-free trails. I understand that frequency vs. severity issue. But I'm thinking a lick that's hard enough to push a parked Buick 50 feet would definitely seriously injure or even kill a cyclist and there's really no defense or precaution for that.

- there have been more than a couple deaths this fall. if you have options that are still fun, use them, I say

GreatWhiteShark 10-07-13 02:46 PM

rekmeyata,

I could agree more with you, in only that I do not like using the detection of automobile move movements past 15-MPH, through entertainment devices (broadcast videos and/or conversations <phones and Etc.>) and shutting off, because I do not trust such actions would stay to just shutting off all the entertainment devices (broadcast videos and/or conversations <phones and Etc.>). The same reason I do not trust (ONLY reason I do not use the following device) I think it is Geico insurance corporation's costs through miles travel and quality of driving device that insert underneath the dashboard.

But you are 100% right, if it was not for giving a revenue avenue for The Capitalist Multinational Businesses that make and sell the entertainment devices (broadcast videos and/or conversations <phones and Etc.>) lobbying all levels of The USA governments, then this problem would not exist!

MMACH 5 10-08-13 09:15 AM

No cell service in this part of WV.

I have to wonder if someone has researched the auto collisions in this area and see if it's per capita rate is lower than others.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechcons...-fi-are-banned

genec 10-08-13 09:46 AM


Originally Posted by MMACH 5 (Post 16142798)
No cell service in this part of WV.

I have to wonder if someone has researched the auto collisions in this area and see if it's per capita rate is lower than others.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechcons...-fi-are-banned

I suspect the sparse population in that area might have more to do with any collision statistics.

I-Like-To-Bike 10-08-13 09:50 AM


Originally Posted by MMACH 5 (Post 16142798)
No cell service in this part of WV.

I have to wonder if someone has researched the auto collisions in this area and see if it's per capita rate is lower than others.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechcons...-fi-are-banned

Doubt it since it wouldn't prove much. The "Quiet Zone" (as described in the NPR piece) traffic environment, density and patterns are likely not representative of, or comparable to, areas where most of the "capita" live or drive.

MMACH 5 10-08-13 09:57 AM


Originally Posted by genec (Post 16142927)
I suspect the sparse population in that area might have more to do with any collision statistics.


Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike (Post 16142948)
Doubt it since it wouldn't prove much. The "Quiet Zone" (as described in the NPR piece) traffic environment, density and patterns are likely not representative of, or comparable to, areas where most of the "capita" live or drive.

True.
It would certainly make for a beautiful commute, though. :)

genec 10-08-13 11:06 AM


Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike (Post 16142948)
Doubt it since it wouldn't prove much. The "Quiet Zone" (as described in the NPR piece) traffic environment, density and patterns are likely not representative of, or comparable to, areas where most of the "capita" live or drive.

Well golly gee... ILTB and I both agreed.


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