trailangel

Yes. Also if you had a HAM call you used a radio (with a license and some training). But those were less dangerous, as it was a simplex conversation......one side at a time, and the other side would wait for your comeback if you busy driving. These cellphones are a duplex conversation and much more engaging.

Machka 

https://www.police.tas.gov.au/what-w...mobile-phones/

"There’s a common myth that a driver can use their mobile phone while sitting in traffic or at traffic lights – and it’s incorrect – so drivers, when thinking of using your mobile phone, remember the advice from MC Hammer “Can’t touch this”.Don’t be that person who uses their mobile while driving, you face a fine of $300 and 3 demerit points – and worse, with the inattention you risk crashing and seriously injuring or killing yourself or someone else.

It is illegal to touch your mobile phone while driving this includes having your mobile sitting on your lap and touching and part of the phone for GPS.

The ONLY time it is legal for a driver to use their mobile phone is if it is mounted within the vehicle and can be used WITHOUT touching any part of it."

ironwood

Finally the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has banned handheld phones while driving. Whether the law is obeyed is another matter. Mass drivers are among the worst in the US, which is why they are referred to as "Mas....s Actually, I think hands free devices are almost as distracting. I even find the radio distracting when I'm driving a car in traffic.

Digger Goreman

Georgia has a similar/same law.... Nothing but a self-congratulatory, mental stroking by politicians and police.
In my disgruntled moments, I think to write an editorial to the above auto congratters, inviting them to admit to a "BIG FAT FAIL" or to a super quick card game: "BULLSPIT".... I'll be yelling out in the first round....

63rickert

Haven't read all comments but OP being considerate to his wife seems reasonable and rational. Were it a case where the wife is just wrong and it led to fights you could get a divorce. But OP seems to like his wife and she has a point.

I feel a lot like OP very often. My habit is 60 years, not 30. Not giving it up but full understanding of any who do. And riding with my wife is the reason we are together in first place.

FiftySix

A not so interesting, but fine example of Americans and their addiction to phones while driving.

While riding my bike this morning, I'm cutting through a church parking lot but riding near and parallel to the street. Why? Because it positions me better to cross the next street to get to a donut shop I like to go to at the end of my ride.

Anyway, I see this lady in a burnt orange Subaru of some sort coming down the street, she uses her turn signal indicating she is turning into the parking lot ahead of my path. Since no one else is nearby, I thought the turn signal was meant for me. Thumbs up for that, I slowed down so she could pass across my path.

However, as soon as she gets in the parking lot and in my path, she stops her car to look at her phone. I loudly say "beep beep" and go around her. If any cars would have been behind her, they would have been stuck hanging out on the street, but at least cars have louder horns than my bike does.

After I get across the street to the donut shop I see her roll the extra 100 feet into a parking spot. She just couldn't wait those extra 5 seconds to park her car for good, whatever was on that phone was that important.

Just so y'all know, no animals were harmed in the making of this anecdote.

FiftySix

The above is also why people in cars here stop 1, 2, or even 3 car lengths away from a stop light or a car in front of them. They gotta look at that phone screen ASAP!!!

Kedosto

I don’t feel like I’m done, but I completely understand your situation. If it doesn’t feel right, you shouldn’t be doing it. The points you’ve made are reasonable and you have excellent alternatives. If your giving up road riding - with comfortable alternatives - improves your relationship then why not? Listen to your conscience.


-Kedosto

Troul 

how else are they going to find out what color the light in front of them is? The APP will tell them.

nomadmax 

The politically correct term is "Aero Belly" Plus, he might not even be an engineer

On a serious note, I don't consider giving up road riding because there really isn't any other place to ride as far as I'm concerned. I'm not driving somewhere to ride a bike and there aren't any gravel roads, MTB trails or bike ways around that wouldn't require me to start the truck.

As a side note, if someone lives in a area where traffic/roads don't make it safe or desirable to ride the first half hour before getting to the rural good stuff, an E road bike could be the answer. Tick along with dense traffic at 28 mph and then reduce the assistance once you get to the good stuff.

Kapusta

I definitely limit where I ride on the road, and now that I ride somewhere less road-friendly, I ride it less.

I think much of the “gravel bike” craze is simply the desire to get away from so many cars. That’s the appeal for me, at least.

No cars is a lot of what i like about MTB. Despite it being something of an adrenaline sport for me, and despite the fact that I wreck 50 times more on the trail than on the road, I think I am actually much safer in terms of life-changing injuries.

The other aspect of mtb which makes me worry less about getting killed or maimed is the speeds involved. Single-track MTB is generally MUCH slower.

biketampa

there is no problem. I support efforts for making the roads safer for cyclists and more bike lanes. But I pick and choose where I feel safe riding on the road. I enjoy gravel riding and have some decent multi use paths. I also enjoy riding indoors.

rseeker

IMO riding in traffic sucks hard. Not riding at all sucks worse. But that's just me, and I support and respect your decision whatever it is. I think being a good husband and father who is there for your family comes first. If you decide you need to give up riding roads to be that, then that's what you should do.

CrankyOne

Riding on the roads in the U.S. is quite dangerous, at least compared to bicycling in other countries.




We're fortunate to live in a city with an increasing number of protected bikeways. They are not nearly up to Dutch standards but are massively safer than sharing the road with a bunch of inattentive people in 4000lb steel cages.

Kapusta

I am not surprised to see that the US fares so much worse for bicycles deaths.

I AM surprised how much worse we fare for automobile deaths.

indyfabz

I'm not. It's my understanding that one goes through far more training to get a license in some/many European countries. I have ridden in both Italy and Spain. Spent seven weeks touring the latter. Drivers seem much more skilled and less risky than in the states. The day before I flew home from Spain I was tooling around when a driver did something stupid without looking. He was so apologetic I thought he was going to get out of the car, get down on his knees and beg for forgiveness.

I will also bet there is less drunk driving in Europe. In '88 I visited Swedish au pair I had been dating in the states. One night we went into the city (Gothenberg) for dinner, drinks and a movie. She said we had to take the bus because we would be drinking. A first offense DUI would result in a license suspension for a year. On the way back to the 'burbs there were all sorts of people on the bus, including older adults who were dressed like they had been to the symphony.

indyfabz

I'll add that when I was a cycling "camp" in Italy for a couple of weeks with some friends back in 2013 motorists were very courteous to cyclists, but you were most definitely expected to follow the rules of the road. I live in Philly, where that sort of thing is viewed as optional. One morning our group was in the early stages of a long ride when we came to a traffic circle. Their was already a car in the circle. The rule is you yield to a car already in the circle before entering. The front part of the group wasn't having it and nearly got creamed because the driver fully expected us to yield the right of way.

I-Like-To-Bike

Source of this graph, please. Curious how the data was gathered for total kilometers traveled on roads by bicyclists in each country.

Jbarcs

Without question my rides in 2019 were significantly more threatening than in any previous year. In 2018 I did a long ride (1200 miles), mostly on roads, from North Carolina to north of Boston. Not once did I feel endangered (with the exception of aggressive dogs in southern Virginia). In 2019 road rides I cannot say I ever felt safe. Folks throwing stuff, intentionally close passes, ridiculous "false turns." At age 69 now I have wondered the same thing. And my road mileage for the year is now only 1500 miles compared with usual annual miles over 3000.

julius rensch

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I understand your feelings....I have come to many of your conclusions in my own cycling experience.
Two years ago, I did choose to limit cycling to my immediate neighborhood, solely.
It is peaceful and quite lovely and allows me the ease and safety of a smooth surface, very little traffic with the speed limit of a sane 25 mph.
At age 79, the days of my all day rides are over....but I still enjoy the trusty Raleigh whenever the mood strikes.
Julius in Ohio

Ed333

How do you go about taking on the increasingly bad culture among drivers? I struggle with that question, things have been getting steadily worse. As a local active living advocate, bike/ped committee volunteer, etc. , we struggle with it. I am older now, no longer able to put on a sudden spurt, and there are many roads I used to enjoy but now avoid. Seems like the culture of Entitlement rules...and some of our fellow cyclists do not help, riding abreast at chatting speeds, not observing traffic signs/signals, etc...it feeds the negative attitudes. I wish there was a magic button to push.

Lawrence Rhodes

A Blackburn Dayblazer in the $50.00 Range will solve your problem. Drivers start moving over a block away. I ride recumbent trike in San Francisco.

alston28

Not there yet, but I understand and appreciate the sentiment. It’s dangerous out there, and most drivers hate us. The only solution I see is we need lots more bicycle riders on the road.

dkatz1

I don't feel the same, but I totally understand.

vintage1987

I rode for 40 years and now ride only on the paths around Tucson. We have 140 mile loop that never crosses the road. But drivers on the streets would rather run you in a ditch than be respectful of your rights. They continually ride with phone in hand and their 2 right wheels in the bike lanes. Ride here and die, so choose the paths.