Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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Just how much did the spinach growers pay for that research?
An official overview of the new dutch law is here: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2019/06/28/%E2%80%98laat-je-...
The term used is "vasthouden", i.e. holding the device, so using it should be fine, as long as you're not holding it. And the article explicitly states that /operating/ a device that is in a holder is OK:
"Als een mobiel apparaat in een houder zit mag het wel worden gebruikt, bijvoorbeeld voor navigatie of handsfree bellen."
I.e.: "If a mobile device is in a holder, then it may be used. For example for navigation or hands-free calls".
So... seems pretty sensible.
Ha, I'd always thought that gangs of cats waited by the side of the road, telling one of them "wait, wait, wait.. go, go go" whenever a car was close enough.
Froomy is finally catching up with GoT; hence the expression.
I really want to know why the squirrel did cross the road.
Was it because it was nuts or to show that it wasn't chicken?
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maybe an initiation ritual?
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Not as tough as the pheasant initiation.
Grey squirrels are vermin!
Seems that the squirrels are further up the food chain than ducklings in some places. At least the DfT seem to think so.
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Oh do shut up.
if you're responding to my post then no I won't. This is a forum to discuss the subject maters at hand. Instead of dribbling like you've lost your marbles why not enter into a normal conversation/discussion, is it too hard for you?
So how many people are being killed/injured by people on bikes using phones, just so we know the data and risk factor? Are they going to apply the same law for pedestrians, if not, why not, surely the risk is pretty much the same isn't it if not more so? oh wait, peds using phones utterly ignoring their environment and hurting people doesn't count!
The fine for 20% over a 50km/h limit in an urban(other) area is €48, doing 60km/h in a 50km/h zone is €75,
The equivalent fine of €95 is for doing 42km/h in a 30 zone or 64km/h in a 50 zone, so in the lower speed limit (residential), one were there's greater danger posed by motorists, if you're 40% over the posted speed limit that gets you the same penalty as a person using a mobile phone whilst cycling, seems legit!
We'd need to consult the original Dutch to see whether it includes eg Bluetooth-equipped devices. In any case, we can hope that the law will be applied pragmatically.
If it follows the usual pattern, it’ll be applied pragmatically if you are old and white, mostly ok if you are young and white and incredibly aggressively if you are none of the above.
Depends on what they mean by "mobile electronic devices". If that's meant literally, then it could apply to turning on/off bike lights which I doubt they would want. I think they mean "mobile" as in "mobile telecommunications" which could exclude GPS devices.
I think it'd be clearer if they specified not staring at a screen (e.g. more than a second or two) whilst moving.
Presumably that would also make it illegal to operate the compouter functions (speed etc) of a GPS-equipped bike computer while moving.
About that new Dutch law: it applies to all mobile electronic devices. So you're also not allowed to take your GPS out of its holder (which makes sense).
Dowsett has been observing for a few weeks/months on Twitter that having 'van', 'aert' or 'poel' in your name is an unfair advantage this season (e.g. Lampaert, van Aert, van der Poel, Poels, Evenepoel).
Given that he specified his name in the morning before doing the race, should we regard this 'name-doping' as unfair preparation?
Well if all the other top riders are on it...
Holding up traffic like that? He should have got a bill.
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What do the Inland Revenue and a duck have in common?
They can both stick their bills up their ass.
$12000 damages for his bike?
10k bike plus accessories and the frame snapped.
Then again America, so they start high with their claims.
Anyone know the specifics on the Dutch thing?
[Edit] France24 have it that you have to be moving.
[Extra Edit] Holland-Cycling has a bit more-
https://www.holland-cycling.com/blog/300-mobile-phone-use-on-bike-illegal
The last bit: The new law applies to holding or operating your device. So if you want to use your navigation, take pictures or make a video while you are riding, make sure you use a holder on your handle bars or helmet. Just don't press any buttons while you're riding!
With the Portland thing (America's big cycling city) it would appear that the cable was the closure, no hanging signs or tape, no cones, no standing signs. A bit like doing a temporary road closure by sinking solid black metal posts in a road, hoping that was enough and wondering why it was destroying cars and injuring the occupants. And then being sued.