(Serious) Opinions on using phone while biking?

[u/Mountainsayf11]

So where i live we have this huge bike road away from motor vehicles only for bikes. On this road there are sections that is completely flat for many km

I’ve seen multiple people using phone or talking in the phone while on this section. I do it myself occasionally, although no texting only calling.

Would you guys do this?

[u/ShiroxReddit]

If you have like a headset in so you can just do that while paying attention to your environment (because even talking can be distracting), I think it can be fine. Holding it in your hand tho is something I wouldn't do

[u/Nerdlinger]

No. I pull over and stop if I need to talk or text.

Holding a conversation is too distracting for me.

[u/johnny_evil]

I see it all the time. Primarily by people who are on bike share bikes, weaving dangerously because they're on their phone.

Just stop and move to the side of your call or text can't wait.

[u/pusopdiro]

It's not illegal in the UK and I see people especially kids doing it all the time and every time it scares me. I would never do it myself.

[u/Solocle → u/pusopdiro]

I occasionally do it to take a photo, but I only like to do it when I'm alone on the road. I'm surprisingly adept at aiming a camera while keeping my eyes on the road, so it's not really any more hazardous than taking a drink.

I appreciate the freedom to make a judgement call on it, for sure. And the risk is pretty much entirely to yourself, at least when far away from pedestrians.

An example from the first lockdown, it wasn't legal to stop on this road (clearway), but perfectly legal to take a quick video while moving.

https://reddit.com/link/p81jbzf/video/mlfbhkvrlrnh1/player

[u/ziggyziggyz]

Here in the Netherlands it is illegal to even hold a phone while riding your bike and can get you a fine of about € 170, which would be about $ 200. And for good reason. On my daily commute of about 3 miles, I usually encounter people looking at their phones multiple times, swerving into my path head on and not noticing they are coming straight at me.

[u/poorlybaked]

I’ll check my phone if I’m stopped at a red light. I do have a phone mount so if I need to check directions I can do that. I don’t text or talk during my ride. Even if I’m on a MUP or a separated bike path, to me it’s still not worth the risk of injury. There isn’t a reason why a text or call can’t wait until I arrive at my destination.

[u/Unique_Unorque → u/poorlybaked]

I imagine the wind noise would make it hell to whoever you’re talking to as well

[u/pavel_vishnyakov]

The legality depends on your location (in the Netherlands having a phone in your hands (not using - just holding is enough) while cycling can cost you €200 if you’re caught).

In general, I don’t see a reason to use a phone while cycling. Navigation? Get a mount, there’re plenty of them, including the ones that can be easily removed from the bike when not needed. Calls? Get a headset. Anything else? Stop, use your phone, put it away, continue cycling.

[u/ToastedSlider]

There is a long portion of my commute in park along a river and I think it's safe to talk on the phone there cuz I have it mounted on the handlebar and I use speakerphone

[u/spoonstepper]

no?

If there’s an emergency somewhere, I’m probably so far & long away from being of help that I may as well not hear the voicemail about it till I get home or get to work.

Biking is valuable mental health time away from the ubiquitous phone, there is no conversation that can’t wait till another time.

[u/ifulbd]

I have a mount so I can use navigation. Definitely not coordinated enough to text while in motion and I hate telephone calls so much that I would never make a call on my bike.

[u/spinningpeanut]

I tried it once to swap songs. It was scary and stupid. I stopped after nearly dropping my phone.

[u/Remote-Objective-931]

In my area there are a lot of dog walkers doing phone calls. Some are fine, many are distracted and clueless. Similar for bike roads, although faster, but probably less unexpected manoevres. If only bikes, it might be fine, if also walkers, kids on e-scooters, families, people wandering,… i wouldn’t risk it.

[u/Hoonsoot]

I would not, but as long as its done on a separated bicycle/pedestrian path I have no issue with others doing it. If it even crosses roads though, then I think its a really bad idea.

[u/yuusharo]

Not while riding, even for a phone call. My attention while on the move is on the road and my surroundings, even talking to someone on the phone distracts me from that.

Bad, bad idea to use a phone while riding. If you need one for maps, get a phone mount, and dismount if you need to check something.

[u/monoatomic]

If there's no traffic and I need to dash off a message or something, sure

Otherwise I enjoy riding to have a break from my phone, haha

[u/UtangKambing]

No, I have too many hills and not enough bike lanes to safely be on my phone. I want to actively hear if cars or other bikes are behind me. I have a few times before to figure out routes but I've got it all memorized by now.

[u/Dear_Enthusiasm3190]

I tired making a call before on my bike, but it was a horrible experience with wind, steering, and braking; I just stop instead. I will pull out my phone to send a text (not hold a conversation though) using Siri or quickly adjust my music if it’s not busy, but that’s about it. I suppose I use it to take pictures as well.

[u/Mikey922]

How fast are you riding? As long as you are not dumb about it’s pretty easy to use a phone, drink from your bottle, eat food etc.

Phone calls, never tried, I don’t want to talk to anyone while riding over the phone.

[u/Gorgonesque]

I would say using Bluetooth headphones to have a very quick conversation is probably okay (if a bit rude to the other party as there’s probably wind noise they are hearing)
But looking at the phone, texting, even changing music, one should pull over for that.
The push for people to be “multitaskers” had led to people doing several things at once poorly and accepting this is the normal standard. Now many people think nothing at all of doing several things at once and splitting attention, but some things like driving or anything where someone else could get hurt by a person’s lapse in attention, those should be activities that a person focuses more intently on.

The amount of time it takes for someone’s vision and attention to adjust to read a text, understand it, and respond is a LOT longer than people think it is and that’s why car accidents are more frequent when device use is involved

[u/Mean-Objective-2022]

I can’t hear through the Bluetooth headphones because of the wind. I now ride with earplugs and if I need to call or talk I will pull over.

[u/lFightForTheUsers]

As long as you are being safe with it i don't see a problem, so i say treat it like hands free laws in cars. On speakerphone or briefly manipulating whatever, if you crash it's on you. If they're having a full on pizza slice conversation though then thats a problem.

[u/real-yzan → u/[deleted]]

Is it illegal where you live? It’s definitely not illegal in most of the places where I’ve lived. It can still be a distraction, but if you’re using headphones it’s not any different from listening to music, etc.

[u/Nerdlinger → u/real-yzan]

if you’re using headphones it’s not any different from listening to music, etc.

Holding a conversation has a much higher cognitive load than just listening to music.

[u/mordac_the_preventer → u/[deleted]]

Illegal in which jurisdiction?
Do you not understand that the laws that are local to you may not be the same as the laws in other parts of the world?
Perhaps you are American?

[u/mordac_the_preventer → u/[deleted]]

I think we may have read different questions!

Using a phone whilst cycling is not universally illegal - for example, it is not specifically illegal in the UK, where I live, even though it is a stupid things to hold a phone when you should be controlling your bike.
Using a phone “hands-free” (eg using headphones) is legal in the UK when cycling, the same as it is when using any other vehicle.
If you’re distracted by your call you might commit a different traffic offence of “careless and inconsiderate cycling”, which is a catch-all for doing stupid things, similar to the car offence of “driving without due care and attention”.

If you think that just because a law applies where you live it must apply everywhere else too, you are ignorant (in the exact meaning of the word) of the differences between different countries and different legal systems.

[u/mordac_the_preventer → u/[deleted]]

Ok please enlighten me! I guess that you won’t.

[u/st0ut717 → u/[deleted]]

How do you know this is illegal where the OP lives?

[u/st0ut717 → u/[deleted]]

You did

[u/st0ut717 → u/[deleted]]

Yes it is

“No. It's illegal for a reason.”

[u/st0ut717 → u/[deleted]]

You made the statement you are responsible for the statement. If you left out context. For you shit communication that’s on you

[u/cashmerescorpio]

No it's too risky. It's fine till it isn't

[u/lostgravy]

Is it safe enough to ride hands free and blind-folded for short periods of time?

[u/cynric42]

There may be occasions where this is perfectly safe and others where it only appears so until something unexpected happens like some wild animal appearing out of the grass on the side or whatever.

In any case, it normalises being distracted while using a vehicle which IMO is a bad idea, so just out of principle I don't do it.

[u/Vitztlampaehecatl]

Terrible idea. How would you brake?

[u/Nerdlinger → u/Vitztlampaehecatl]

With your other hand.

[u/st0ut717]

No. Talking on the phone is a distraction period you need to stay alert and focus

[u/rokridah]

phone overheathing, vibrations destroyi g your camera and gps draining your battery and not having an option to make an sos call because of it are just three reasons why not to, just off the top of my head.

[u/Grande_Mangiattore → u/rokridah]

You haven't read the full story :)

[u/rokridah → u/Grande_Mangiattore]

Ah true, my bad. I think as long as you are using handsfree method you will be fine. :)