Slashdot Mirror
Netherlands Proposes Legislation To Ban Use Of Phones On Bicycles (npr.org)
The Dutch government is considering a proposal to ban the use of smartphones and other "mobile electronic devices" on bicycles. From a report: Infrastructure Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen published the draft legislation on Thursday, NL Times reports. If approved, it could go into effect in the summer of 2019. It is already illegal to use a phone while driving a motor vehicle in the Netherlands, the news site says. Offenders face a fine of more than $250. Biking is a widespread form of transportation in the Netherlands, and extending the telephone ban to bikes has been discussed for several years. In 2015, then-Infrastructure Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen concluded that it would be impossible to enforce a ban on phone use on bikes, according to a 2016 story from Dutch News. But the following year, the government began reconsidering its position.
Next thing you know, Netherlands will ban talking on a phone while moving. Perhaps a technical solution can be found, like tethering phones to walls in houses; for convenience, small kiosks (with walls for privacy) can be put in various public places so you can use a phone when not at home. It'll be the next big thing!
Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
Should've got off your bike before typing that.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
Well, as a student I did get a hefty fine (~€200) for not having lights on before it was officially daytime. I never got a speeding ticket for my car that was that high, the closest I got was a parking ticket (€180). I never got a parking ticket on bicycle, though I did get it 'towed' and had to fetch it with the police later and got off with a warning. I also got stopped by the police for crossing a light in red on bicycle, though I argued my way out of that because that officer was regulating traffic further down the road and couldn't actually see the traffic light from the side I crossed. Taking the fine, I was in the queue with another 10+ cyclists that morning. I am also proud that I got flashed by an automated speed camera, though I never saw the fine :-). I also know of a student that spent the night in a police cell sobering up, charged with drunk driving (on a bicycle) and attempt to escape the police (drunk on the bicycle). He got off easy.
Now, I never get any fines, I walk (and moved to a country were jaywalking is permitted). In short, if you take the bicycle as much as you would take the car, you may actually end up with the same number of fines.
By the way, I think they should also outlaw walking whilst using phones so I don't have to dodge people on the sidewalk all the time.