So you’re driving down the freeway or a busy city street and your phone makes that irresistible sound: whoop! It’s a text message, probably from the friend you’re driving to meet. Or you’re lost and you need to read the map and there’s nowhere to pull over. So irritating! But rarely a problem for me when I’m riding my bike.
About the Bike Commute Diaries: Launched in May 2012 for National Bike Month, this series explores the unexpected and surprising things I’ve learned about bicycling for transportation.
One woman. Many bicycles. 
Jeff
September 20, 2012 at 8:52 am
So your riding down a country road and the irritating noise is not from your phone. Pull it out anyway and use the camera to record the event. Two riders in Colorado did and got a crazy driver busted for harassing them.
http://www.adventure-journal.com/2012/09/horn-crazy-driver-busted-for-harassing-cyclists/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_meium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+adventure-journal+%28adventure+journal%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
ladyfleur
September 20, 2012 at 9:46 am
I saw that video. Isn’t it crazy! Sadly, there are way too many drivers who don’t think we should be on the road and would like to bully us off it.
jillycube
September 20, 2012 at 5:13 pm
ugh street harassment 😦 wish i had done this when this happened to me and my group. funny thing is i now know where the truck lives now and i see it forever parked at the home i pass every time i enter and leave downtown san jose. i guess they got scared. i’m not sure.
on another incident, me and my same group got lecture that we didn’t belong on the road by a different old truck driver. even though we told him we were allowed to take the lane, due to lack of a designated bike lane, he said to us we’ll get our “just deserts” for taking the lane…. wat??? D:
ladyfleur
September 21, 2012 at 8:43 am
That’s funny that you ride by the truck whenever you go downtown. It would be tempting to like leave little “love notes” on the truck. I don’t get harassed much, but I know there are a lot of drivers who don’t understand that taking the lane or using a left turn pocket lane are normal, safe, legal bike behavior.
fiedlerin
September 25, 2012 at 6:26 am
Goodness, I got a headache just watching this video. Note to self: “Always carry a decent camera of some sort”
ladyfleur
September 25, 2012 at 8:38 am
That man was nuts. I heard they found him and are prosecuting him.
Richard Masoner (@cyclelicious)
September 21, 2012 at 8:37 pm
Wait — if you’re holding your phone, how did you take that picture?!
ladyfleur
September 21, 2012 at 8:56 pm
I’m very talented. I took the photo myself with the iPhone that I dropped and broke on the Twin Peaks ride. It’s still good for some things.
fiedlerin
September 25, 2012 at 6:28 am
I admit it, I caught myself texting and riding the other day, I just thought “what in the world am I doing???” and got off the bike. Ha, I have moments!
ladyfleur
September 25, 2012 at 8:37 am
We saw a lot of people in Amsterdam riding while on the phone, but rarely texting. That’s another level of difficulty/danger.
fiedlerin
September 25, 2012 at 8:50 am
Oh yea, it wasn’t my smartest moment… still better than the girl I saw the other day… headphones on and reading a book while riding in the city.
jillycube
September 25, 2012 at 1:10 pm
I’ve seen someone do that too on busy Stevens Creek! D: headphones and actually reading a thick paperback book. i don’t recall her wearing a helmet either. in my mind i was thinking, “Why would you do that?!”
ladyfleur
September 25, 2012 at 1:48 pm
I saw a young guy reading a book no-handed riding down Park Blvd near California Ave in Palo Alto. I was impressed by both his skill and stupidity.