Cyclists wearing earphones...

pburns

Just been perusing this thread over on the 'dark' side (i.e. the cycling forum).

Apparantly the VAST majority of them think it's perfectly OK to wear earphones while cycling on public roads and compare it to listening to a car radio.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055561039

Don't want to turn this into a gas-guzzler Vs. museli-muncher debate, I kinda have a foot in both camps. I am just amazed at this attitude though...

kona

if its being disussed over there why double post it here? so it can be a biased debate and everybody agree with you i suppose:p

The Real B-man

Listening to the Radio?

Cars have Mirrors so you can see Hazzards Cyclists with earphones are signing a death wish you need hear when a 40ft Artic is wailing its horn at you to get out of the way!

kona

The Real B-man wrote: »

Listening to the Radio?

Cars have Mirrors so you can see Hazzards Cyclists with earphones are signing a death wish you need hear when a 40ft Artic is wailing its horn at you to get out of the way!

the fact he is wailing a horn would mean he is behind the cyclist trying to get past. Not going to kill him.

The shock of a 40ft truck flying past with a horn blasting is more likely to cause a accident than, if the cyclist is oblivious IMO.

Anan1

kona wrote: »

if its being disussed over there why double post it here? so it can be a biased debate and everybody agree with you i suppose:p

+1

Why not post on the thread that's already running over there, rather than duplicating the thread here?:)

pburns

kona wrote: »

if its being disussed over there why double post it here? so it can be a biased debate and everybody agree with you i suppose:p

So says he whose handle is named after a bicycle manufacturer.

No, so it's so I can get an equally 'unbiased' view as ye had over on the cycling forum.

pburns

Anan1 wrote: »

+1

Why not post on the thread that's already running over there, rather than duplicating the thread here?:)

So close it if you like. Just wondering about the different perspectives is all.

leeroybrown

I both drive and cycle. I wouldn't wear headphones while cycling as I prefer to have 100% of my senses available on the road. Does that mean I turn off my CD player in the car? No. If my bicycle had the same level of protection from other road users as my car does I probably would consider using headphones.

Your ears are of relatively limited use while cycling. They can't be trusted for manoeuvring and tell you nothing you haven't actually learned by glancing over your shoulder. Who needs wing mirrors when you have a neck that rotates and unobstructed peripheral vision.

I've had a decent think about this one before and the only conclusion I could come to is either we allow people to listen to whatever they want or we ban people with hearing defects from the roads. Anything else is hypocrisy...

kona

pburns wrote: »

So says he whose handle is named after a bicycle manufacturer.

No, so it's so I can get an equally 'unbiased' view as ye had over on the cycling forum.

It doesnt take einstein to see that on this forum its will descend to cycle bashing and on cycles its will descend to motors bashing.

I didnt post on the one in cycles because there was a thread months ago about the exact same thing. Just goign around in circles.

My opinion is there is nothing dagerous about it. Ive been cycling on the road for 6 years regularly and driving for 2. so I can see both sides of the argument.

IMO sombody complaining about a Ipoded cyclist doesnt have a clue about cycling and therefore is ignorant.

A muppet on a bike is a muppet, ipod or no ipod.

A experienced cyclist is experienced ipod or no ipod.

As a experienced cyclist your eyes are more important than your ears and Il admit i check around me more often on a bike than i use the mirrors on my car.

Anan1

pburns wrote: »

So close it if you like. Just wondering about the different perspectives is all.

Me too, which is why i'm not sure of the value of having all our perspectives over here and all theirs over there. Sure we'll see how we get on so, but don't say I didn't warn you ;-)

leeroybrown

I'll also add that this 'problem' isn't restricted to cyclists. I've actually seen a few drivers wearing headphones in the car.

BostonB

leeroybrown wrote: »

I'll also add that this 'problem' isn't restricted to cyclists. I've actually seen a few drivers wearing headphones in the car.

How else can you hear the DVD.

snollup

everyone seem to only talk of the protection offered by a car rather then the potential damage a car can do to other road users. If roadusers in general took this view we would have far less accidents on the roads. I drive a car, ride a motorbike and also a bicycle (not all at once!) and it's car drivers that I would consider the worst offenders when it comes to observation on the road.

helimachoptor

Used to always wear them but low enough to hear people beeping at me etc.

Cuddlesworth

snollup wrote: »

everyone seem to only talk of the protection offered by a car rather then the potential damage a car can do to other road users. If roadusers in general took this view we would have far less accidents on the roads. I drive a car, ride a motorbike and also a bicycle (not all at once!) and it's car drivers that I would consider the worst offenders when it comes to observation on the road.

Considering the large majority of road users are motorists its a pretty obvious conclusion that you will see more mistakes from them.

Anan1

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Considering the large majority of road users are motorists its a pretty obvious conclusion that you will see more mistakes from them.

I think snollup means that you'll see a higher proportion of car users with poor observation.;)

leeroybrown

snollup wrote: »

everyone seem to only talk of the protection offered by a car rather then the potential damage a car can do to other road users.

I made point like that above and you might have taken it up the wrong way. There's a limit to how much good driving/cycling can protect you from the actions of other road users. The driver and passengers in the car are heavily protected from little accidents that can be extremely serious for a cyclist so I like to have all my senses fully available.

-Chris-

pburns, you've been rumbled...

cyclopath2001

pburns wrote: »

So says he whose handle is named after a bicycle manufacturer.

No, so it's so I can get an equally 'unbiased' view as ye had over on the cycling forum.

I'm kind of surprised that a 'vast majority' support headphone-wearing. Mostly on my commute I rarely see any cyclist wearing headphones.

Personally I think it's a really bad idea as I get a lot of information about what's happening around me not just by sight but from engine noises and gear changes. It's also distracting, just like using a cellphone while driving...even with hands-free.

Cuddlesworth

Anan1 wrote: »

I think snollup means that you'll see a higher proportion of car users with poor observation.;)

That's incredibly subjective to personal observation. As a motorist, cyclist and biker I would say I have seen a huge amount of stupid things done by all. But on a percentage of how many actual road users I pass by each day, cyclists rank much higher in my mind as bad road users.

dazzerb

Comparing listening to an ipod while cycling to listening to your car stereo is the wrong comparison to make for this argument. The true comparison would be comparing to driving while wearing your ipod which I am sure you would all agree would be very dangerous and probably illegal. i.e. if not safe in a car then there is no chance it is safe on a bike.

BTW: I cycle a lot.

cyclopath2001

dazzerb wrote: »

The true comparison would be comparing to driving while wearing your ipod which I am sure you would all agree would be very dangerous and probably illegal.

It might depend on the volume too. Most drivers keep their radios volume reasonably low & if anything, it's no harm for them to have some music to counter the frustration of being trapped in traffic.

DePurpereWolf

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Considering the large majority of road users are motorists its a pretty obvious conclusion that you will see more mistakes from them.

He doesn't say more, he says worst.

Driving a car in the city is so easy/boring, everybody is half asleep while driving. Bicycling in the city is really difficult (at least in Cork) so you have to pay attention.

But a bike just doesn't do much damage, if I cut-off a car driver, he might be afraid he'll get some scratches on his car. If a car cuts me off, I'm afraid it's going to be the last thing I'll see.

BostonB

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

That's incredibly subjective to personal observation. As a motorist, cyclist and biker I would say I have seen a huge amount of stupid things done by all. But on a percentage of how many actual road users I pass by each day, cyclists rank much higher in my mind as bad road users.

The point being discussed was observation, not bad road use. Otherwise I'd agree with you. As a cyclist you're more aware of whats around you.

I don't see that many cyclists with earphones. But you'd see a few every day. Just like people on mobiles.

Gavin

I use closed can headphones on my commute through the city centre every day. I do it to block out the noise of the cars and buses and people, it makes the cycle much more enjoyable.

Whilst in my special place I like to remind myself how wonderful it is to be a cyclist and not bother with traffic lights, and various laws that cagers are restricted to.

Anan1

And on that note I think we'll wrap this up.