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Dutch telecom company finds way to stop people using phone while ... cycling

You could be forgiven for thinking they've missed the point...

A mobile telephone service provider in the Netherlands has devised a way to stop people using their mobile phones - while cycling.

The company, KPN, has partnered with the Dutch Traffic Safety Association to develop an bicycle lock linked to an app that will block the network's signal while cycling, reports Deutsch.rt.com.

We don't want to be too critical, but we can't help thinking that there are a few problems with this.

One, you have to splash out €100 on it. Yeah, that will fly.

Two, you have to be on KPN's network to use it, and at the moment it is only available to users of the Android system (an iPhone version is on its way, which is reassuring.

And three ... we almost forgot ... IT'S TO STOP PEOPLE USING A MOBILE PHONE WHILE CYCLING, NOT DRIVING, WTF?

 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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14 comments

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alansmurphy | 7 years ago
0 likes

Knowing I have an email or call is important and I may wish to stop to check my phone. Surely they can lock down some functionality or the screen rather than the connection (I believe the Pokemon game already does this as it doesn’t work when you go above 15kmh). Whilst they’re solving problems, I hate people phoning to tell someone they’re 5 minutes from the train getting in, twatting about with laptops in coffee shops, playing loud music on their phone, ruining a music gig by filming it and on and on… Maybe KPN could ban the mobile… Oh

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brakesmadly | 7 years ago
0 likes

Have you been to Amsterdam? Cyclist's mobile phone use is actually a major pain. The cycle lanes aren't that wide, and heading straight towards someone riding one handed looking at their phone is pretty scary.

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. . | 7 years ago
0 likes

Indeed.  Translate (if necessary) & read the linked article.  This is aimed at parents to stop their kids using Pokemon Go or whatever whilst on their bikes

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Fretwork | 7 years ago
1 like

It's actually meant to be for kids, at least that's what local news says. A large part of accidents in which cycling kids are involved is said to be caused by phone use. And, as everbody cycles here I can imagine parents buying the system.

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esayers | 7 years ago
0 likes

I guess one of the target audience here is insurance, providing cheaper insurance to those that have and use the app or not providing insurance at all unless you have and use the app.

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Simon E replied to esayers | 7 years ago
2 likes

esayers wrote:

I guess one of the target audience here is insurance, providing cheaper insurance to those that have and use the app or not providing insurance at all unless you have and use the app.

If that was the case then why don't people without a mobile phone get cheaper car insurance?

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Al__S | 7 years ago
0 likes

Is there any reward for using it? Surely the sort of people who'd buy this are already the sort of people who are less likely to be using their phone whilst riding?

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davel | 7 years ago
0 likes

They're blaming a sizeable proportion of accidents on them (20% of under-25s) according to this http://road.cc/content/news/191435-netherlands-considers-banning-use-mob...

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handlebarcam | 7 years ago
5 likes

Everyone's heard of "First World Problems". This sounds like the equivalent, but for those parts of the world that have reached an even higher, post-car-dominated stage of development.

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brooksby | 7 years ago
0 likes

So is it illegal to use a phone while cycling, in the Netherlands? 

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JonD replied to brooksby | 7 years ago
0 likes

brooksby wrote:

So is it illegal to use a phone while cycling, in the Netherlands? 

 

I *think* it may be a recent law change. Then again, that may not have been the NL I was thinking of..

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BehindTheBikesheds replied to brooksby | 7 years ago
0 likes

brooksby wrote:

So is it illegal to use a phone while cycling, in the Netherlands? 

it's also illegal to use headphones too, from a nation that seemingly understands risk they are pretty dumb on the headphones situation, mobile phone I'd never use one myself but how many people are having serious crashes whilst on a bike whilst using them?

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ktache | 7 years ago
8 likes

Not the app of the week then?

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Jack Sexty replied to ktache | 7 years ago
1 like

ktache wrote:

Not the app of the week then?

It's 'something' of the week, and it rhymes with app... in my humble opinion anyway! 

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