Cell Phones worse than DJs

Robert Chambers said:

Personally, I think the DJs of Clear Channel who made the offending remarks should be brought up
on some sort of charges ... but that's a side to the point I'd like to bring up.

I think drivers with cell phones are a far worse threat to cyclists than these DJs could ever be.
A year ago I was run down by one and spent 8 days in the hospital and spent many months in painful
rehabilitation. Evidence seems to be mounting that they are a significant distraction to a driver.

Just a thought for those who are tired of the DJ threads and need something else to obsess about.

Bob C.

The other day I was almost mowed down by a cyclist (I was walking), on an unlit general use path
winding through a heavily treed area that blocked the moonlight and reduced visibility on the path
to about four feet. The cyclist was wearing all black (business suit), had no lights, and was
talking on a cellphone with one hand (making him unable to stop or apparently to steer properly). I
literally had to dive off the path. He didn't stop riding or talking into the phone. Probably never
noticed me (seing as how it was dark, he was moving fast and was obviously distracted, he could
easily have mistaken me for a racoon).

My point is that it's reckless people who are a threat, more than the specific things they do. I
would definately agree that cellphones can be a hazard when used in traffic situations, but they can
also be used responsibly, and sometimes people might need to make a call. I think it would be a
shame if they were outlawed. I was once rear-ended at a red light by a guy who spilled his morning
coffee and tried to clean it up without pulling over, but I don't hear anyone trying to outlaw
eating and driving. I think we're more likely to start seeing SUVs with microwave ovens and
mini-fridges.

Please! Eat responsibly! If you are eating, let a friend drive or call a cab! Don't let the life you
take be someone elses!

adam

In article <[email hidden]>, "Jacobe Hazzard"

Quoted message said:

My point is that it's reckless people who are a threat, more than the specific things they do.

Which hearkens back to the thread about the air-miles-collectin', Nissan-hood-dentin' BMX kid.
If, instead of colliding with a car, he had bowled-over an elderly pedestrian who was stricken
with osteoporosis & a heart condition, or a stroller with an infant in it, the complexion of
/that/ discussion would be radically different. I'm no big fan of Car Culture, myself. But even
less so of wanton recklessness and general endangerment, regardless of whether or not [driving] a
car is involved.

cheers, Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn
[point] bc [point] ca

Quoted message said:

My point is that it's reckless people who are a threat, more than the specific things they do. I
would definately agree that cellphones can be a hazard when used in traffic situations, but they
can also be used responsibly, and sometimes people might need to make a call. I think it would be
a shame if they were outlawed. I was once rear-ended at a red

light

Quoted message said:

by a guy who spilled his morning coffee and tried to clean it up without pulling over, but I don't
hear anyone trying to outlaw eating and driving.

I

Quoted message said:

think we're more likely to start seeing SUVs with microwave ovens and mini-fridges.

Please! Eat responsibly! If you are eating, let a friend drive or call a cab! Don't let the life
you take be someone elses!

adam

I was on my bike, stopped at a light in town, and needed to turn left. I turned to see if the driver
behind me was paying attention, and she was talking on a cell phone and kinda looking at the
ceiling. That made me very nervous as I have seen people try to turn left while talking on a cell
phone, and it isn't pretty!

You said, "sometimes people might need to make a call" Jeez--they can pull over and stop the car to
make the call if it's that important! Eating? It's not the same as talking on the phone and you know
it--or maybe you're trying to be funny. When a person talks on a phone, their mind is occupied
because they are having to make decisions. Eating is just shoveling food into your mouth.

Pat in TX

Pat said:

Quoted message said:

would be a shame if they were outlawed. I was once rear-ended at a red

light

Quoted message said:

by a guy who spilled his morning coffee and tried to clean it up without

Quoted message said:

Eating? It's not the same as talking on the phone and you know it--or maybe you're trying to be
funny. When a person talks on a phone, their mind is occupied because they are having to make
decisions. Eating is just shoveling food into your mouth.

Maybe it is to you, but I do more than shovel -- I check to see that they didn't put anything I
didn't ask for on my sandwich. I add salt to the fries. I put sauce on the taco. I try not to drop
stuff on my shirt, lap, and seat when I bite in.

It reportedly caused an accident, as shown in the quote above.

Quoted message said:

Pat in TX

--
Rick "Hungry" Onanian

Tue, 4 Nov 2003 17:41:50 -0600, <[email hidden]>, "Pat"

Quoted message said:

When a person talks on a phone, their mind is occupied because they are having to make decisions.
Eating is just shoveling food into your mouth.

And keeping it out of your lap.

Eating and drinking while driving are definitely distractions to the job at hand. That job, boring
as it is, is 'watching out for the other guy'.
--
zk

Yes ... indeed. Driving is a mundane and boring task. When I started this thread, I picked on cell
phones, but I could as easily have picked on eating, applying makeup ... shoot, I think it would be
special if they'd a) not allow anyone under 20 or so to drive and b) especially not allow carloads
of teenagers with a teenage driver. But really, I was just trying to point out that, if we want to
obsess about something, we have lots more we can obsess about than what a couple of idiot DJs have
to say. While I'd never condone their call for violent acts against cyclists, I've been with plenty
of cyclists on group rides who rode so discourteously and selfishly that it angered me ... and I was
on a bike.

But heaven help the cyclist who gets in my path when I have a bag of popcorn in the car and I drop a
big, juicy kernel between the seats.

All of this is a large part of the reason I just moved to the absolute middle of nowhere. I can do a
50 mile ride and be passed by maybe three cars. And there's no cell phone service!

Bob C. "Zoot Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tue, 4 Nov 2003 17:41:50 -0600, <[email hidden]>, "Pat"

Quoted message said:

When a person talks on a phone, their mind is occupied because they are having to make decisions.
Eating is just shoveling food into

your

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

mouth.

And keeping it out of your lap.

Eating and drinking while driving are definitely distractions to the job at hand. That job, boring
as it is, is 'watching out for the other guy'.
--
zk

Robert Chambers said:

Yes ... indeed. Driving is a mundane and boring task. When I started this thread, I picked on cell
phones, but I could as easily have picked on eating, applying makeup ... shoot, I think it would
be special if they'd a) not allow anyone under 20 or so to drive and b) especially not allow
carloads of teenagers with a teenage driver. But really, I was just trying to point out that, if
we want to obsess about something, we have lots more we can obsess about than what a couple of
idiot DJs have to say. While I'd never condone their call for violent acts against cyclists, I've
been with plenty of cyclists on group rides who rode so discourteously and selfishly that it
angered me ... and I was on a bike.

But heaven help the cyclist who gets in my path when I have a bag of popcorn in the car and I drop
a big, juicy kernel between the seats.

All of this is a large part of the reason I just moved to the absolute middle of nowhere. I can do
a 50 mile ride and be passed by maybe three cars. And there's no cell phone service!

Bob C.

Watch out for the wet train tracks!

- Jim S.

I recall seeing some stats on causes of "distracted driver" accidents once (sorry, can't immediately
find the source). As I recall, cell phones were way down on the list of causes. I think eating while
driving was actually number one, at any rate, it was way up there. Other causes included fiddling
with the radio and talking to others in the car.

Agreed, that reckless people endanger others, no matter whether they are motoring, bicycling, or
walking. Unfortunately, motorists have the potential to cause a lot more damage with their
carlessness.

Tue, 4 Nov 2003 20:42:30 -0500, <[email hidden]>, top posting toady "Robert
Chambers" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Pay attention to where you're pointing that [censored] of yours and turn off the stupid radio too.
--
zk

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Yes ... indeed. Driving is a mundane and boring task. When I started this thread, I picked on cell
phones, but I could as easily have picked on eating, applying makeup ... shoot, I think it would
be special if they'd a) not allow anyone under 20 or so to drive and b) especially not allow
carloads of teenagers with a teenage driver. But really, I was just trying

RI already has a restriction on newly-licensed drivers carrying passengers other than family.

Quoted message said:

to point out that, if we want to obsess about something, we have lots more we can obsess about
than what a couple of idiot DJs have to say. While I'd never condone their call for violent acts
against cyclists, I've been with plenty of cyclists on group rides who rode so discourteously and
selfishly that it angered me ... and I was on a bike.

I haven't been in a group like this, but I've seen groups while I was in a car, they [censored] me off
pretty good.

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

"David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says... RI already has a
restriction on newly-licensed drivers carrying passengers other than family.

Heh, I'm from RI, glad I got my driver's license a while ago when it was legal to do just about
anything . . .

Anyhow, here in NY, talking on cell-phone handsets has already been outlawed . . . my gripe with the
law is that it still allows for people to talk / rant / be distracted while on hands-free devices
(those obnoxious Madonna-style boom mics being popular) in the car . . . a little safer, perhaps,
because you have both hands free (to apply makeup), but not really getting at the root of the issue
. . . oh well .
. .

Brendon

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Brendon M. Troy
"David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says... RI already has a
restriction on newly-licensed drivers carrying passengers other than family.

Heh, I'm from RI, glad I got my driver's license a while ago when it was legal to do just about
anything . . .

Anyhow, here in NY, talking on cell-phone handsets has already been outlawed . . . my gripe with the
law is that it still allows for people to talk / rant / be distracted while on hands-free devices
(those obnoxious Madonna-style boom mics being popular) in the car . . . a little safer, perhaps,
because you have both hands free (to apply makeup), but not really getting at the root of the issue
. . . oh well .
. .

Brendon

Maybe the answer is to outlaw stupid people altogether but then there would so few people left to talk to 😕

"Kaputnik" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recall seeing some stats on causes of "distracted driver" accidents once (sorry, can't
immediately find the source). As I recall, cell phones were way down on the list of causes. I
think eating while driving was actually number one, at any rate, it was way up there. Other causes
included fiddling with the radio and talking to others in the car.

Agreed, that reckless people endanger others, no matter whether they are motoring, bicycling, or
walking. Unfortunately, motorists have the potential to cause a lot more damage with their
carlessness.

I believe you mean carelessness. Carlessness would be a good affliction for most drivers! ;-)

Bob C.

"Jim" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Robert Chambers said:

Yes ... indeed. Driving is a mundane and boring task. When I started

this

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

thread, I picked on cell phones, but I could as easily have picked on eating, applying makeup
... shoot, I think it would be special if they'd

a)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

not allow anyone under 20 or so to drive and b) especially not allow carloads of teenagers with
a teenage driver. But really, I was just

trying

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to point out that, if we want to obsess about something, we have lots

more

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

we can obsess about than what a couple of idiot DJs have to say. While

I'd

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

never condone their call for violent acts against cyclists, I've been

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

plenty of cyclists on group rides who rode so discourteously and

selfishly

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that it angered me ... and I was on a bike.

But heaven help the cyclist who gets in my path when I have a bag of

popcorn

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in the car and I drop a big, juicy kernel between the seats.

All of this is a large part of the reason I just moved to the absolute middle of nowhere. I can
do a 50 mile ride and be passed by maybe three cars. And there's no cell phone service!

Bob C.

Watch out for the wet train tracks!

- Jim S.

Do you know me? If not ... strange coincidence. I was on a century about 5 years ago and it came
through this remote area where I now live. It was raining. I was second in a paceline as we
approached some RR tracks. Though we slowed and were being very careful, the guy in front still
fell. I swerved to miss him, but that put me at a bad angle for the tracks. When I hit them, I went
down and my kneecap went straight into a rail. Broke completely in two. Very nasty.

Many lessons learned on that one.

Bob C.

Robert Chambers said:

"Jim" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Robert Chambers said:

Yes ... indeed. Driving is a mundane and boring task. When I started

this

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

thread, I picked on cell phones, but I could as easily have picked on eating, applying makeup ...
shoot, I think it would be special if they'd

a)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

not allow anyone under 20 or so to drive and b) especially not allow carloads of teenagers with a
teenage driver. But really, I was just

trying

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to point out that, if we want to obsess about something, we have lots

more

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

we can obsess about than what a couple of idiot DJs have to say. While

I'd

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

never condone their call for violent acts against cyclists, I've been

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

plenty of cyclists on group rides who rode so discourteously and

selfishly

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that it angered me ... and I was on a bike.

But heaven help the cyclist who gets in my path when I have a bag of

popcorn

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in the car and I drop a big, juicy kernel between the seats.

All of this is a large part of the reason I just moved to the absolute middle of nowhere. I can
do a 50 mile ride and be passed by maybe three cars. And there's no cell phone service!

Bob C.

Watch out for the wet train tracks!

- Jim S.

Do you know me? If not ... strange coincidence. I was on a century about 5 years ago and it came
through this remote area where I now live. It was raining. I was second in a paceline as we
approached some RR tracks. Though we slowed and were being very careful, the guy in front still
fell. I swerved to miss him, but that put me at a bad angle for the tracks. When I hit them, I
went down and my kneecap went straight into a rail. Broke completely in two. Very nasty.

Many lessons learned on that one.

Bob C.

Bob, WE ALL know you. It's the same stories over and over.

The great treatment Trek gives you when you have to warranty their defective frames. How getting
wider bars made such a difference for you. Then there was the wet railroad tracks crash and your
split in two knee. The latest crash with the cell phone driver. Your yearly crashes and your painful
rehabs have become boring.

Bob, why don't you just chill and have a few beers(30 or 40 is better). Oh wait, that would put you
in rehab again, and I'm sure you would have to share that with us also.

Yes Bob, I know you.

Jim S.

"Jim" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Robert Chambers said:

"Jim" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Robert Chambers wrote:

>Yes ... indeed. Driving is a mundane and boring task. When I started

this

Quoted message said:

>thread, I picked on cell phones, but I could as easily have picked on eating, applying makeup
>... shoot, I think it would be special if

they'd

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a)

Quoted message said:

>not allow anyone under 20 or so to drive and b) especially not allow carloads of teenagers with
>a teenage driver. But really, I was just

trying

Quoted message said:

>to point out that, if we want to obsess about something, we have lots

more

Quoted message said:

>we can obsess about than what a couple of idiot DJs have to say. While

I'd

Quoted message said:

>never condone their call for violent acts against cyclists, I've been

with

Quoted message said:

>plenty of cyclists on group rides who rode so discourteously and

selfishly

Quoted message said:

>that it angered me ... and I was on a bike.
>
>But heaven help the cyclist who gets in my path when I have a bag of

popcorn

Quoted message said:

>in the car and I drop a big, juicy kernel between the seats.
>
>All of this is a large part of the reason I just moved to the absolute middle of nowhere. I can
>do a 50 mile ride and be passed by maybe

three

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>cars. And there's no cell phone service!
>
>Bob C.

Watch out for the wet train tracks!

- Jim S.

Do you know me? If not ... strange coincidence. I was on a century

about 5

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

years ago and it came through this remote area where I now live. It was raining. I was second in
a paceline as we approached some RR tracks. Though we slowed and were being very careful, the
guy in front still

fell.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I swerved to miss him, but that put me at a bad angle for the tracks.

When

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I hit them, I went down and my kneecap went straight into a rail. Broke completely in two. Very
nasty.

Many lessons learned on that one.

Bob C.

Bob, WE ALL know you. It's the same stories over and over.

The great treatment Trek gives you when you have to warranty their defective frames. How getting
wider bars made such a difference for you. Then there was the wet railroad tracks crash and your
split in two knee. The latest crash with the cell phone driver. Your yearly crashes and your
painful rehabs have become boring.

Bob, why don't you just chill and have a few beers(30 or 40 is better). Oh wait, that would put
you in rehab again, and I'm sure you would have to share that with us also.

Yes Bob, I know you.

Jim S.

Gee, Jim the anonymous. Nice to know I have such a fan. Thanks for the enlightening post.

Bob C.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Jacobe Hazzard

BRobert Chambers said:

Personally, I think the DJs of Clear Channel who made the offending remarks should be brought up
on some sort of charges ... but that's a side to the point I'd like to bring up.

I think drivers with cell phones are a far worse threat to cyclists than these DJs could ever be.
A year ago I was run down by one and spent 8 days in the hospital and spent many months in painful
rehabilitation. Evidence seems to be mounting that they are a significant distraction to a driver.

Just a thought for those who are tired of the DJ threads and need something else to obsess about.

Bob C.

The other day I was almost mowed down by a cyclist (I was walking), on an unlit general use path
winding through a heavily treed area that blocked the moonlight and reduced visibility on the path
to about four feet. The cyclist was wearing all black (business suit), had no lights, and was
talking on a cellphone with one hand (making him unable to stop or apparently to steer properly). I
literally had to dive off the path. He didn't stop riding or talking into the phone. Probably never
noticed me (seing as how it was dark, he was moving fast and was obviously distracted, he could
easily have mistaken me for a racoon).

My point is that it's reckless people who are a threat, more than the specific things they do. I
would definately agree that cellphones can be a hazard when used in traffic situations, but they can
also be used responsibly, and sometimes people might need to make a call. I think it would be a
shame if they were outlawed. I was once rear-ended at a red light by a guy who spilled his morning
coffee and tried to clean it up without pulling over, but I don't hear anyone trying to outlaw
eating and driving. I think we're more likely to start seeing SUVs with microwave ovens and
mini-fridges.

Please! Eat responsibly! If you are eating, let a friend drive or call a cab! Don't let the life you
take be someone elses!

adam [/B]

Any thing that takes a drivers attention away from the road is bad. But they shall never make cell phone use in cars illegal. 🙁

As a hardcore roadie, I use my cell on the time as I ride. A way to pass the time (4-5 hrs can be long when pedalling alone). Also listen to my radio/MP3 player (Nokia 3300). It is all hands free. Plus if I'm going to get hit, really do not want to hear it....

Memph

Quoted message said:

Any thing that takes a drivers attention away from the road is bad. But they shall never make cell
phone use in cars illegal. 🙁

It's happening in the UK. As from Decemeber, anyone caught using a mobile phone whilst driving, even
if the car is stationary & it's a hand-held phone, can be fined. Hands-free kit is apparently going
to be still legal.

Cheers, helen s

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove dependency on fame &
fortune h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:

It's happening in the UK. As from Decemeber, anyone caught using a

mobile phone

Quoted message said:

whilst driving, even if the car is stationary & it's a hand-held

phone, can be

Quoted message said:

fined. Hands-free kit is apparently going to be still legal.

Cheers, helen s

This has been the case in some US states (Massachusetts and New York are two I know for certain)
where only hands-free is allowed. I believe that the conversation is 90% of the problem, though, not
the hand on the phone, making the rule a "we did something" move for the politicians.

I have heard (but can't seem to find a link) that there are a few South American countries where
using a cell phone while driving is treated worse than driving drunk.

Austin
--
I'm pedaling as fast as I durn well please. There are no X' in my email address.