.png "Smartphone on the bike, what is allowed and what is not?")
App on the bike has been banned since 1 July 2019. Obviously, but what about calling, navigating and listening to music?
App ban for cyclists
Texting on the bike is dangerous. The cyclist then keeps only one hand on the handlebars, while the other hand types a message or searches for something on the internet. The small screen is quite distracting and less attention is paid to traffic. That increases the risk of accidents. For that reason, the cabinet imposed an app ban on 1 July 2019. Every offender caught by the police will receive a fine of 95 euros excluding administration costs. Since the introduction, agents in the Netherlands have already handed out thousands of fines.
Two hands on the wheel
Apps with applications such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are therefore no longer allowed on the bicycle. But is it allowed to call with a smartphone to the ear? The regulations are clear on this. It is under no circumstances allowed to hold a smartphone while cycling. It is also forbidden for cyclists to clamp a mobile phone between the ear and the shoulder. Incidentally, the new regulations apply to all portable devices. In addition to a smartphone, you are also not allowed to hold a tablet, navigation system, camera or music player while pedaling.
stand still
The new rules only apply to cyclists who actively participate in traffic. If a cyclist is stationary somewhere, they may hold and use the smartphone. Do you hear the phone ringing while pedaling? Then stop in a quiet place and answer the incoming call. In theory, it is not prohibited to use a smartphone in front of a red traffic light, but for safety reasons, this is not desirable.
Phone holder on handlebars
Despite the rules, cyclists can still make calls on the way. The condition is that they do not hold the device. One solution is to use a special phone holder on the handlebars. In this, the user confirms a smartphone and then makes a call via the loudspeaker function. However, others can listen in that way. Such a bicycle holder is particularly useful for navigation purposes, for example via an app such as Google Maps. It is allowed to briefly touch the smartphone screen while cycling, provided the device is in a suitable holder. In this way, for example, accept an incoming call or accept an alternative route. Apping via a device in the phone holder is not a good idea. If the cyclist causes a dangerous situation, a police officer can still issue a ticket.
Headphones with control buttons
Listening to music while cycling is allowed. It is important that you can still hear the ambient noise, so don’t turn the volume up too loud. Also consider how you can control the music playback and adjust the volume while on the road. After all, the new regulations do not allow music to be controlled on a smartphone while pedaling. Fortunately, modern headphones and earplugs have a practical solution for this. Wired models often have a remote control built into the cord. You can also use wireless bluetooth headphones, where the control buttons are often located on an ear cup. For example, turn the volume down a notch or skip a song. An additional advantage is that many headphones today have an integrated microphone. With this so-called headset function, cyclists can accept incoming calls and make hands-free calls.
