Netherlands considers banning use of mobile phones while cycling

I agree that people shouldn't cycle whilst using a phone (one handed, calling, not talking about a mounted map/computer).

But then people shouldn't drive whilst using a phone, and they do. Frequently. 

Since this law isn't enforced, why would this change anyones behaviour?

Based only on my own experience, I see %-wise more drivers texting and making calls than cyclists.  Both make me cringe and you have to be a complete idiot to do this whatever method of transport you are using. 

Driver the other day almost went into the back of me, he had to swerve past onto the roundabout.  one hand on mobile, the other behind his head (no joke).  I wanted to batter him.

I'm not happy about this being used as another law to hassle cyclists with, and to be honest, it's quite rare for me to see someone cycling and using a phone (in Bristol at least). Yes it does happen, but nowhere near the number of times that I see drivers with phones stuck to the side of their head (or hiding it on their laps where only cyclists can see that they're texting/tweeting).

Maybe they should generalise the law and make it so that you are not able to use distracting devices whilst on a public road. Apply it to peds, cyclists and motons, but try to match up the fines with the danger imposed on others i.e. £10 fine for a ped, £20 for a cyclist and £200 for a moton.

Problem here is that it is much easier to see if a cyclist is using a mobile phone (than looking through windows to see if drivers are), so the police will go for the low-hanging fruit.

Trying to ban stupid behaviour which essentially is likely to end with injury or even death to the stupid person does make me feel conflicted. E.g I'm all for mandatory seat belt laws in cars, I don't like the idea of people getting hurt, personally I'd ban smoking tomorrow, but at the same time people need freedom and I recognise that there are probably well meaning people out there who would ban bicycles from the road tomorrow in an attempt to save us from ourselves.

London cyclists notice it is de rigueur for car drivers to use their smartphones as we easily see down into their windows. It sounds like this isn't a similar problem in Netherlands so I wonder how they stamped usage out in cars and are now focusing on cyclists as their greatest threat to Dutch public safety?

The UK Highway Code 'sort of' covers this for cyclists already with Rule 66.

You should:  keep both hands on the handlebars except when signalling or changing gear.

I'm guilty of this too. I check my messages and have a quick chat on the loudspeaker to the other half when going up slow climbs of any length. Not really much more complex than grabbing the bottle for a drink. Not that I'd advocate it to anyone and I certainly wouldn't be doing it in city traffic, just out in the backcountry.

Surely this will set a terrible benchmark for those in cars, what constitutes use?

My strava is running on a mobile in my saddlebag, is that use. My bluetooth headset  may also be giving me google maps directions, is that use. What if my framebag has a plastic transparent front so I can see turn by turn directions?

In that case, mobile phones banned from cars. Sat Navs banned from cars. Car stereos banned from cars. Fuel efficiency and temperature monitors banned from cars. Walnut dashboards (well they are distracting)?

"The issue has also risen to prominence following campaigning by Michael Kulkens whose 13-year-old son was killed while using a phone on a bike last year. “The woman who killed my son is absolutely blameless and her life has been turned upside down as well,” he said. - See more at: http://road.cc/content/news/191435-netherlands-considers-banning-use-mob...

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That is  refreshing. You would never hear a quote like that in the US and increasing the UK these days. The parents 99/100 would be blaming everyone else except the person responsible in a bid for compensation.

... the driver should have had superhuman reflexes .... poor infrastructure ..... blah, blah, blah , blah, blah .....

Yeah, but the kids around here look so cool, riding no-handed, gazing at their smart phone, doing 10kph on a shitty city bike.

Yeah definitely a good idea to ban phones from bikes.  Says me who's used his phone to taunt his pals as to there whereabout when I'd dropped them on a climb.   

It was a deserted empty road - I'd not do it with any traffic around - but I was younger and more foolish then. 

From the picture, it looks like the local police are already chasing down offenders 

Good idea...

Worse than peds on mobiles. Clueless twats.