Is it necessary to be agressive to cycle in a city

[Major Tom]

I don't think I need to.
Cutting out the second most important sense is the height of folly.
You might as well be blindfolded as well!

I do 20 to 30 miles a day in heavy traffic - and I do just fine, thankyou.

 

[Major Tom]

i wear headphones. but not that loud, and i think i'm aware enough. To be honest, traffic roar is so indistinct i depend on vision more than sound anyway

I agree - the whole argument baffles me

I'm not sure how hearing that there's a bloody great lorry behind you helps particularly - I'm always aware of what's around me - and signal regularly. Hence - not an accident in two years. If a lorry's gonna hit you - hearing it coming ain't gonna help much - or at all.

Two years ago I hit a car door in front of me. Not aware that not wearing headphones could have stopped that.

Two years before that I hit a car that pulled in in front of me - again - my sense of hearing was no help there. The wanker had done it deliberately to punish me and I just wasn't quick enough on the brakes.

And that's it - the sum total of all my accidents. And I've been cycling in heavy traffic for 30 years - wearing headphones.

I'd suggest that if someone can't ride with headphones on - they probabl;y shouldn;t be riding at all.

 

[ChrisFilter]

I used to wear headphones, never caused any problems because as Dub says, so much noise around that I rely almost solely on sight. I don't ride with them now because I like hearing my bike go fast and I enjoying riding more without them.

 

[Orang Utan]

I do 20 to 30 miles a day in heavy traffic - and I do just fine, thankyou.

You're a fool then.
What if something comes up behind you and you don't hear them beeping?
What if a shopping trolly's out of control and about to hit the road you're on and you can't hear people shouting warnings?
Fucking stupid risk to take.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

I must admit that i can't agree that it is a good idea to cycle with headphones in, I definitely use noises around me to make sure I keep safe on the road. It may not stop an accident but it can go a long way to avoiding one.

 

[tommers]

because I like hearing my bike go fast

do you have a playing card attached to your rear wheel with a clothes peg?

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

What if a shopping trolly's out of control and about to hit the road you're on and you can't hear people shouting warnings?

That made me laugh out loud. The old "out-of-control" shopping trolley scenario that I remember so well from my cycling proficiency days....

 

[Major Tom]

You're a fool then.
What if something comes up behind you and you don't hear them beeping?

then I've gone deaf - how loud do you think i have my headphones?
Anyway - what legitimate reason could a vehicle have for expecting me to respond to beeping from behind me?

What if a shopping trolly's out of control and about to hit the road you're on and you can't hear people shouting warnings?
Fucking stupid risk to take.

you sound like a bit of an idiot to me

 

[Orang Utan]

you sound like a bit of an idiot to me

Well I must be, becuase it's beyond comprehension to me why someone would so willingly and blithely risk their lives by wearing headphones whilst riding

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

Well I must be, becuase it's beyond comprehension to me why someone would so willingly and blithely risk their lives by wearing headphones whilst riding

Especially with all those random supermarket trolleys flying into the road, eh?

 

[Crispy]

Don't care how many accidents you haven't had. Being on the road is dangerous. More awareness = more safety. Wearing headphones = less awareness. Fucking simple - you genuinely can't be too safe.

I can see the point of view of not wearing helmets - the evidence is ambiguous, but they may actually be more damaging than life-saving (in that they magnify any turning moment on the head, causing neck injuries) - but there is absolutely no way that I can be convinced that it is safer to wear headphones than to not.

 

[Major Tom]

I must admit that i can't agree that it is a good idea to cycle with headphones in, I definitely use noises around me to make sure I keep safe on the road. It may not stop an accident but it can go a long way to avoiding one.

Well, don;t worry, I'm not going to force you to wear headphones.

But I feel perfectly safe with them on. As Dubversion said - there's just too much noise in London for it to act as any kind of guide. And Orang Utan's scenarios are just too bizarre . In fact they're arguments for not wearing headphones at all - not just cyclists. What if a meteorite was falling out of the sky and I couldn;t hear the warning shouts?

I can hear pretty well with headphones on - enough to hear sirens and unusual noises which I am always able to respond to. As I've said - I've never had an accident - even if two idiots did manage to assault me with their vehicles several years ago.

 

[Major Tom]

Don't care how many accidents you haven't had. Being on the road is dangerous. More awareness = more safety. Wearing headphones = less awareness. Fucking simple - you genuinely can't be too safe.
.

A good argument for banning stereos in cars.

 

[Major Tom]

Well I must be, becuase it's beyond comprehension to me why someone would so willingly and blithely risk their lives by wearing headphones whilst riding

I'm not risking my life - that's my whole point - it's you who keeps saying its dangerous.

 

[Major Tom]

Especially with all those random supermarket trolleys flying into the road, eh?

Maybe we can be provided with some national stats

 

[Orang Utan]

Especially with all those random supermarket trolleys flying into the road, eh?

Bad example granted, but it's not unusual to warn someone about an imminent danger by shouting at them is it?

 

[Orang Utan]

I'm not risking my life - that's my whole point - it's you who keeps saying its dangerous.

You ARE risking you life because you won't be able to HEAR

 

[Crispy]

A good argument for banning stereos in cars.

Did I say ban? No.

When I drive, I don't turn the stereo up so loud I can't hear anything. Besides, I'm already sat behind a sheet of glass, so my hearing isn't so important.

On my bike, with no rear view mirrors, with my greatly increased vulnerability, I need all the situational awareness I can get. Buggered if I'm sacrificing any of that for some music.

 

[gentlegreen]

A good argument for banning stereos in cars.

more so - and air conditioning - and children - and partners - personally I can't drive without the windows and sun roof open.

(I've cycled to work for 18 years wearing headphones - 36,000 miles)

.

 

[Major Tom]

more so - and air conditioning - and children - and partners - I can't drive without the windows and sun roof open.

(I've cycled to work for 18 years wearing headphones - 36,000 miles)

.

or ban cars?

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

A good argument for banning stereos in cars.

And talking on mobile phones whilst driving....oh i see, that's supposed to be illegal already

 

[Major Tom]

Did I say ban? No.
.

So you agree with me - live and let live eh?

 

[tommers]

quick bit of advice to you all - you can say what you want. he won't change his mind. I tried. he stubbornly refused to see sense.

 

[Crispy]

So you agree with me - live and let live eh?

Live and let me call you stupid?
Do what you want, but expect a really mean look off me if you see me on the road

 

[Major Tom]

quick bit of advice to you all - you can say what you want. he won't change his mind. I tried. he stubbornly refused to see sense.

And - where are the other, many cyclists I see wearing headphones very day? Come on you buggers, back me up

 

[Orang Utan]

I've already seen a mate brain damaged (and comatose for 2 weeks) and witnessed a poor young man being squashed by a car in the past two yearas and I don't really want to see it happen to anyone else. It is isn't a pleasant sight at all, so you risk-taking cyclists who crow on about how you are only putting yourselves at risk should be aware that you still might fuck with people's heads big time if they are forced to see your brains splatted on the tarmac.

 

[Rock Bottom]

Bicycles? Fuck the highway code...... That was designed for machines that have the capacity to kill. Anyhow, cycling should be encouraged in all its forms, even if it means turning a blind-eye to various indiscretions.

The best thing about cycling, is that the only real damage you cause is to yourself - give or take the few stray pedestrians, who should have compensated for my drunkeness anyhow.

I display my numerous bicycle injuries with pride - like battle wounds.

Throughout my life, I have refused to drive a car, or even learn, so when I get on the road with my bike, I feel that the road belongs to me.

People often forget about the damaging effect that cars bring to our society, and drivers deserve to be taxed to the max. No exceptions. I am totally with Ken Livingstone on this one - even regarding mothers driving their children to school.

A word about London. I have lived in various places in the world - big cities and small, and have always cycled. However, cycling in London has always been a rather terrifying ordeal - especially either side of London Bridge.

 

[Orang Utan]

And - where are the other, many cyclists I see wearing headphones very day? Come on you buggers, back me up

They are probably aware of the risks they are taking and are too embarrassed to admit it.

 

[ChrisFilter]

They are probably aware of the risks they are taking and are too embarrassed to admit it.

Orang, really no offence intended and I do see your point re: road safety, but isn't a bit rude to be claiming to know better than people who've been road riding for years when you've been at it a month?

In heavy traffic your hearing is next to useless anyway, and as has been said, any warning type noises such as car horns, sirens, shouts etc will be easily heard.

 

[Crispy]

Bicycles? Fuck the highway code...... That was designed for machines that have the capacity to kill. Anyhow, cycling should be encouraged in all its forms, even if it means turning a blind-eye to various indiscretions.

The best thing about cycling, is that the only real damage you cause is to yourself - give or take the few stray pedestrians, who should have compensated for my drunkeness anyhow.

I hope your tongue is in your cheek, cos that is a seriously irresponsible and anti-social viewpoint. As long as you share the streets with cars, you play by the rules (unless it's obviously dangerous, see my red light exception upthread)

And bullshit are you the only one at risk. If I hit a small child at 20mph, they'd easily die. Get your priorities straight.

And Chris, are you saying that headphones have zero impact on your ability to hear things? I understand it's the cyclist's call - but they must understand the impact on their awareness, however slight you may think it is.