January 25, 2007
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Cell Phones Part 2
New Jersey may make it illegal to talk on a hand held cell phone while riding a bike. Here is the link: Link
Should it be illegal to talk on the cell phone while riding a bike?
New Jersey may make it illegal to talk on a hand held cell phone while riding a bike. Here is the link: Link
Should it be illegal to talk on the cell phone while riding a bike?
Comments (112)
yes…you need two hands.
Soon it will be illegal to think a thought.
No.
Not sure, but it’s definitely stupid.
no that’s dumb.
what kind of idiot does that?
Soon it will be illegal to think a thought.
Uhh… maybe not illegal… but it’s definitely not a good idea unless you’re REALLY good at riding your bike…
you don’t need two hands. there are unicycles u know :]
No.
Humm, pretty soon it will be illegal to ride a bike until the age of 21.
who does that anyway?
lyssa, the yellow one
yes, i tried it several times.
very very hard to concentrate on both
The things they are trying to make illegal , Im feeling crazy about alot of it.
I used to do that…rode off the curb and fell. painful.
but illegal? crazy
yes
yes
um. . .
no. . .
Perhaps if the bike is in heavy traffic. . .
but no. . .
lame
No. But really?are people really that stupid? Oh well
I don’t know if it should be illegal or not, but it’s certainly unwise.
You could lose control of the bike, get in an accident, drop or break your phone, etc.
NO.
wtf
Unless it’s a hands free cell phone. But in reality who really needs to talk on a cell phone while biking. Biking should be for relaxation or exercise. And for those who say some people need to bike for transportation, then I say if they don’t have a job that pays enough for a car it doesn’t pay enough to need to talk on a cell phone while on the bike.
Basically, you’re asking: Should it be illegal to be stupid?
is it illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving a car in all states? because it would/should follow that it would be illegal to use one while riding a bike or a motorcycle. It would make things safer for everyone, I think.
also, this is totally unrelated and completely OCD of me but… does it ever bug you (or anyone else for that matter besides me) that while the majority of your background is cream, the spilled coffee/Jesus montage has a white background? because that could be fixed rather easily…
Laws are for our protection from idiots.
“As my father used to tell me, ‘You can’t legislate common sense,’…as quoted in the article
Yes, the reason is that the duty of the government is to ensure public safety in the best way possible. Kind of like how your mom or dad forbids you to take that extra cookie even though you want it. It id probably in your best interest not to eat that cookie, because as soon as you want that cookie, you are going to want another, and, eventually you are 600 lb. man sitting on his couch eating cookies all day. The point is, is that a gevernment was initally set up to protect the people, from the government, and from themselves. It is really not that hard, if you want to make a phonecall, stop your bike, and make a call. Talking on a cell phone and riding a bike can have numerous and very terrible side effects. Death, (talking on a cell-phone an hitting a car), severe injury, (riding your bike and hitting a light post), or social isolation, (because your friends are angry with you for not carrying on a coherent conversation with them). The europeans are always telling us to slow down, is it really that hard?
Lol. Duh.
It should be illegal to ride a bike while talking on the phone.
well only stupid people who ride on bikes and can’t do 2 things at the same time
um…Question: Who rides a bike and talks on a cell phone?!
caT
Maybe if they focused on something important, say, driving and talking on the phone.
nope……..
hahahah i love my state.
it’s already illegal to talk on the phone without a “hands free device”.. atleast i think it is?
It should be illegal to be stupid. May I suggest life imprisonment for having low common sense?
I think it should be only allowed if you have a hands-free. It’s the same as a car, a bike could seriously injure someone if the bikers aren’t paying attention or have limited control due to not putting 100% into steering the bike. Someone’s going to end up with a broken leg and suing the biker and the city.
I don’t know.
It’s kind of a dumb thing to do if you don’t have three arms, but I’m not sure it should be illegalized.
No, the only person you can really kill is yourself. Legislation should protect individuals from each other, not themselves. Self immolation is completely voluntary. I can kill myself if I want to, and what?
People are stupid. =/
no, let the people learn their lesson.
Why is it necessary for there to be a law about it?
Why cant people be less fucking stupid?
PS I still cant see the fucking rabbits and it is pissing me OFF
I’d first like to comment on this:
“No. But really?are people really that stupid? Oh well”
Posted by: I_LiveForThis_18
Well, yeah. People ARE that stupid. No offense to anyone with that, but that’s why there’s “Caution: HOT Coffee” on the coffee cup you get ANYWHERE. Well, DUH! It’s coffee and it’s GOING to be hot! That’s why jars with peanuts in them say “Contents Contain Peanuts.” Well, DUH! You bought it because you wanted peanuts. But people are stupid and spill coffee on themselves and then sue McDonald’s because their cups don’t say “Caution: Hot!” on them. People are stupid and go out and buy peanuts even though they are allergic and then they have a reaction and sue the company because the product doesn’t say “Contents Contain Peanuts.” People are stupid and need guidance.
As for the actual post, I think it’s a good law. Slowly enforcing that cell phones should not be used in multi-task situations, like driving. You may not think it’s hard to drive and talk on the cell phone or ride your bike and talk on the cell phone, but it’s not that you need two hands to ride a bike. It’s more that you need to concentrate on where you are going and what you are doing rather than talk on the cell phone and disrupt your attention. I’ve been in quite a few close calls that were not my fault while driving and have seen people driving strange and wonder what’s wrong with them. 98% of the time (at least for me it is) those people who nearly get me in a wreck or are driving like morons are talking on the cell phone.
That’s easy. I do it all the time. What a stupid law
um…Question: Who rides a bike and talks on a cell phone?!
caT
Posted 1/25/2007 8:07 PM by bite_me_jerk
I do :]
Studies have shown that in driving the problem from cell phones comes from the diversion of attention induced by the conversation and that hands free and hand held cell phones has no substantial effect on driving performance in a car. I wrote a paper on it a few years ago for school and would have to look it up to see what studies those were. Riding a bike is different than driving a car but if you know what you are doing you can ride a bike nearly as well with one hand as you can with two. In light of those things I believe that it is misinformed and irresponsible to ban talking on a hand-held cell phone while riding a bike, but what would a person expect from a politician but being misinformed and irresponsible?
yes…you’re endangering your life and the lives of others. THATS why it should be illegal, let alone the stupidity of it.
Many people are suggesting that it should be illegal to be stupid. Has anyone considered that very few if any politicians from either party would be free then. You would also be imprisoning many members of the press as well as numerous civilians. In all actuality, we likely would have a free population of very miniscule proportions in the US.
Is that even possible to do without falling over?
I have always felt there should be a law against stupidity…one of the most comical things I have ever seen was a guy trying to ride a motorcycle and talk on the cell phone. He ended up sprawled all over the pavement. Thankfully he was going so slow by the time he wiped out, he wasn’t seriously hurt, but he was mortified when he realized how many people saw him crash on the bike and were laughing.
Is everyone answering this question from the viewpoint that these people are riding in the street? If so, then this should be upgraded to a “illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving a CAR” law, not just bikes. Bikes must follow the same laws as cars. Still, they should be on sidewalks, were they are of no danger to anyone but themselves (Concrete hurts)
um i dont think it should be illegal
It should be like jaywalking. Officers don’t arrest you on sight but if you’re hit by a car the blame should lay on you, granted that the car didn’t come up on the sidewalk in a murder attempt.
-David
Many people are suggesting that it should be illegal to be stupid. Has anyone considered that very few if any politicians from either party would be free then. You would also be imprisoning many members of the press as well as numerous civilians. In all actuality, we likely would have a free population of very miniscule proportions in the US.
Posted 1/25/2007 8:31 PM by mrcolorful
To quote South Park, “It’s because 1/4 of America’s retarded!”
Yes;
whilst in control of any machine
Driving your bike while talking on the cell phone is stupid, but so is a law prohibiting it.
Soon it will be illegal to think a thought.
Posted 1/25/2007 7:40 PM by Not_Really_Here_Today
^^ Yes.
YES.
NO
Haha && that’s why I’m proud of my state. =)
yeeeees
It should be illegal to talk on a hand held phone while driving. I do it, but I wouldn’t if it were illegal and I’ve almost wrecked so many times because of it.
No. But if and when it becomes illegal to do so in our cars then it should apply to cyclists also.
It’s a pretty stupid thing to do, I know that much.
Yes
Is it unwise? Yes. Should it be illegal? No. Some of these laws are just plan stupid.
who talks on a cell phone while biking?
i dont know if you’ll read this or not, but it looks like you read everyone’s comments.
1) on the subject of this, they have made lots of harsh laws for bikes. at UF they have pulled many people over for speeding (as a bicycler!) i think people shoudlnt be too heavily pentalized but there should be some sort of rule or law against having a cell phone and riding a bike. i know i wouldnt do it! but then again, im terrified of falling over
2) im doing a project for school. We have to define something in the world. I picked the word “terrorist” so i was wondering if you could put up a post asking the many MANY fans you have here about how far they think terrorism extends, as in, who falls under the catagory as a terrorist. I think it goes as far as an abusing parents. Someone who strikes terror into someone’s heart is a “terrorist” i was wondering what other people thought and if you were interested in what people thought about this as well!
so sorry for the super long comment! thanks!
I’ve done that before.
That is just rediculous…I don’t see why they’re even addressing the issue. If someone is good enough to ride on their Huffy and shoot the breeze at the same time, then they should be allowed to do so.
If it’s hand-held, I think so. Just get a microphone or something to hook up, it’s a whole heck of a lot safer.
the first line says it all
“New Jersey may have unresolved problems with taxes, child welfare and gangs, but lawmakers are ready to crack down on one perceived danger: talking on a cell phone while riding a bike.”
sad state of affaires
What isn’t illegal in NJ?
How do you talk on a cellphone… while riding a bike????????????????????
… i am pro choice on this :O
Who does that..
well i guess, a few do.
I’m not sure if that should be illegal, but probably not advisable. Riding a bike with one hands is not hard, but while talking on a cell phone… If you can do it more power to ya.
I also agree with turtle 1014′s comments about the spilt coffe pics.
Unless it’s a bluetooth… and even then, definately not when you’re on a major roadway.
It’s very dangerous for a bicyclist if they can’t hear what’s going on around them.
I’m not sure that legislating cell phones is the most important thing our government needs to be focusing on right now. That said, it’s really common sense not to try talking on a cell phone and riding your bike at the same time. “Look ma, no hands!” works for like a second before you crash.
Only if attempted suicide is illegal. I don’t know. Do bike accidents ever injur the people in the car?
Yes, I’ve done it and I almost fell over a few times and almost ran into a few people/poles.
That seems fine to me.
What I don’t get is why they had to make into a law. Are people just not smart enough to not stop the bike when they need to call someone?
WHY would you need to talk to someone while you are riding your bike? Do these people not have a life?!
It should be illegal to sue if you get run over while doing it.
So long as it is illegal to talk on the phone while driving a car.
I don’t know about making it illegal..
but it should definetly be taken into consideration when judging between who was wrong, the car driving on the road, or the bicyclist who was talking on the cell phone and swerved in front of the car because of it.
oh hell, yeah
You’d hope people would have enough sense not to need a law to keep from talking on a cell phone while riding a bike. I mean, doesn’t it just seem like a really bad idea to begin with?
Yeah.
And while driving. I watched some test they did on TV where a couple people took a driving test twice, once while talking on a cell phone and the other time after drinking — just below the limit for … whatever state they were in. California I think. Anyway. They failed both times, but did a better job after three beers than with their cell phone in hand.
Problematic? Very yes.
Should it really be necessary to make a law against that?
Soon it will be illegal to think a thought.
Posted 1/25/2007 7:40 PM by Not_Really_Here_Today
Hah, seriously.
Can’t the guy stop pedaling for just a moment?
… but not if there are training wheels on it.
nah. If someone is stupid enough to ride a bike while talking on the phone, it’s their own fault. Apologies to anyone who has actually been injured doing that or known someone who did.
I guess it would be safer… but sometimes I think that the gov’t should let us make some mistakes instead of try and think of a law for everything…
When I figure out how to do that I’ll get back to you. I have enough trouble waving while riding a bicycle.
Cheers,
m
I think that the gov’t should let us make some mistakes instead of try and think of a law for everything…
Posted 1/26/2007 6:42 AM by EllEN__OHH
amen!
and…to answer the question…
stupid…
It’s a good thought, but some people can ride very well with one or no hands…
I’ve done it, but I’m a fairly good cyclist and I wasn’t in any traffic. And it is a little difficult. Not the riding part, that’s fine with one hand, but the stopping bit gets complicated with only one break. Still, illegal? People do stupid things all the time. Why don’t the put the effort the would spend making this illegal into catching more drunk drivers? It’s a little more threatening than me putzing around my college town with a bike and a cell phone.
I would pull over if I got a call while I was riding my bike – just makes sense. But I don’t think it should be illegal.
Yes.
I’ve never seen someone do that.
Yeah, I think so. It’s more distracting than while driving, especially because you need two hands on a bike to really ride it well.
lol, that you even need a law for this is great!
I don’t know about making it illegal but it’s not the safest thing to do.
It’s just common sense.
Some people can concentrate while doing it; others can’t. But I don’t think it should be illegal.
If they do something stupid, though, while doing it, the phone shouldn’t serve as an excuse.
no, i do it all the time
I’m from Jersey. I love our stupid ass laws. But still, gotta love it.
I think it’s hilarious that biking and talking on a cell phone are getting this much attention while homelessness and taxes and crime aren’t. WOW.
Also, if I’m biking and getting a drink of water while another biker is talking to me- is that the exact same distraction and therefore illegal? Or is it non-punishable because it’s a bottle of water in my hand and not a cell phone? Or if I’m scrolling through the data on my cyclometer while chatting with a fellow biker? I still have just one hand on the handlebars while I’m talking! Just curious.
What a stupid piece of legislation.
I don’t know that it should be illegal….
But I do know that you’d have to have very little common sense to talk on a cell phone while riding a bike.
Especially if riding on streets. There’s enough that could happen even without having the added distraction of a cell.
…what… the fuck?
what? no!
hahaha no
UHM, no.