Woman Who Called Her Mother While Cycling Out of Fear Wins Back Her Fine

A woman who received a 75-euro fine for calling her mother while cycling in Naarden has successfully appealed the penalty. She had not called casually-she felt unsafe because a man on a bicycle ahead of her kept looking back in her direction.

Feeling unsafe while cycling is not uncommon. Research by the Dutch Cyclists' Union found that only 12 percent of respondents have never felt unsafe cycling in the dark, and the organization recommends calling someone as a safety measure.

The woman did exactly that on a summer afternoon in 2023 while cycling through a wooded area. Shortly after, she encountered police and was fined for holding her phone while riding. She contested the fine, and the case reached a cantonal court.

The Public Prosecution Service argued she could have slowed down or stopped until the man was out of sight. But the court ruled that while traffic rules apply to everyone, it goes too far to say people cannot call for help in an unsafe situation-provided they can explain their reasoning. The woman did, and the judge ordered the 75 euros returned.

"Safety always comes first," said lawyer Inge Oosterveen, supporting the verdict. "The court weighed the circumstances correctly here."