Comment by victorhooi | Hacker News Reader

Comment by victorhooi | Hacker News Reader

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Speaking as a cyclist - I've seen drivers do far stupider things every single day =).

Everything from not checking for pedestrians (or cyclists) when turning, not indicating when turning, using a mobile phone whilst driving, trying to squeeze their giant SUV into tiny gaps, changing lanes every 20 metres because they think it will get them "ahead".

There aren't rare occurrences - but things that are illegal - yet the majority of drivers do them (in Sydney), because being an aggressive driver is seen as "normal".

I've even asked friends - one of which has had two accidents related to mobile phone use - why do you talk on the phone? Apparently they consider it a badge of bridge that they're "good enough drivers that they can text and drive"...

And let's be realistic - unless you have a deathwish, most cyclist aren't going to take needless risks. When was the last time you saw a cyclist try and text and ride? Unlike a car, you don't have airbags, or slabs of metal, or crumple zones.

Yet drivers have all of those, and so yes, they do act with more impunity.

Also - when was the last time you saw the headline "Cyclist maims SUV driver in brutal collision"?

However, I absolutely agree with you that unpredicatbility is very bad.

In fact, that's exactly why cyclists ride on the road, and don't weave in/out on footpaths. You pick a straight line, and a constant speed, and stick to it, ignoring all the loutish drivers who beep at you for not riding on the footpath.

> When was the last time you saw a cyclist try and text and ride?

I see it damn near every day here in Japan. Often with an umbrella in the other hand... Also lots of people biking wearing earbuds. Different culture though, I guess. The roads people bike on here are probably a lot slower than in Sydney though, and most biking is on mixed-use sidewalks.

You should most high school kids in the netherlands when they go to school every morning, most of them bike without having their hands touching the steering bar. texting with their phone in one hand, and either breakfast with the other.

A major difference between the US and the netherlands is the infrastructure. Dutch infrastructure makes it possible for people to do that without it being an incredible lethal endevour.

> When was the last time you saw a cyclist try and text and ride?

Few years ago, when I lived in Cambridge, I saw someone cycling with their phone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other (i.e. no hands on the handlebars). Some cyclists certainly do take stupid risks.

> "Cyclist maims SUV driver in brutal collision"?

May not happen often, but it can.

I think you've just supported my point.

You cited a single example of somebody using their phone on a bike, several years ago - and yes, I agree, that was a pretty silly risk (and I hope that person is OK, and didn't do it again).

How often do you see a driver of a car using their phone?

I see it several times every single day in Sydney. I'm pretty sure most people would be lying if they told me they didn't see it either.

Heck, if you want stats - sure, here's the CDC and NHTSA's info on distracted driving:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/in...

Car drivers often don't like to be confronted with how bad a driver they are - but the statistics don't lie. We as humans are shockingly bad at driving (and I drive as well, and I'm well aware of my limitations).

And regarding your SUV vs bike example, may not happen often? I think that's stretching the rules of incredulity. I'm not going to make any assumptions about your background (e.g. you may not have a technical background). - and I don't have a physics background either - but I believe the basic equation is:

F = m * a

So you take a 2,000 kg SUV.

And a 8 kg bicycle, combined with a 65 kg person = 73 kg.

Even if they were travelling with the same acceleration (doubtful) - the SUV would impart around 30 times the force on the cyclist versus the other way.

> When was the last time you saw a cyclist try and text and ride?

Often. I've also seen a cyclist using a laptop while riding. Yes on the street.

Lol, I'm not even sure how that even works. How exactly does one changes gears or brake, whilst typing on a laptop?

I'm a pretty good cyclist, I commute every day, but even I would probably struggle to use a laptop whilst riding...

I mean, a bike has two wheels, if you stop holding the handlebars, you kinda...topple over?

On the flipside - cars make it pretty easy to use your phone (or heck, laptop, as you say).

I see drivers using their phones several times every single day in Sydney. I'm pretty sure most people would be lying if they told me they didn't see it either.

The CDC and NHTSA's has webpages devoted to this trend:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving

https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/in...

We're talking several thousand deaths and several hundred thousand injuries every year in the US.

> I mean, a bike has two wheels, if you stop holding the handlebars, you kinda...topple over?

the trick to driving without using your hands on the handlebars is to simply keep enough speed to not fall over. This way you can steer a bit by moving your weight left or right from your saddle.

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