Listening to Earphones while Cycling

[Upchuck]

Well what kind of dickhead wears earphones whilst cycling through London traffic? A selfish ignornant dickhead, that's what.

 

[Lemon Eddy]

That says a lot about why people are reluctant to get out of their tin boxes and onto two wheels per se. It's car drivers that kill cyclists - they should have spikes fitted to their steering wheels.

I don't think it says anything of the sort. It's a statement of fact. In a car you are in a metal box, so you're not going to be able to hear your surroundings well (especially when you add in engine noise), diminishing the value of hearing as a sense for keeping yourself safe.

Whereas on a bike - you aren't in a box, you don't have an engine making noise, you can hear. Considering you've got less protection, it's only sensible to use that advantage.

 

[Lemon Eddy]

Well what kind of dickhead wears earphones whilst cycling through London traffic? A selfish ignornant dickhead, that's what.

Nothing personal, but any chance you can stroll on? I'm trying to argue that wearing headphones is a bad thing to do, and having posts like the above from you really isn't going to help.

 

[kyser_soze]

So, as someone who has to wear glasses when they ride, I shouldn't ride when it's raining (the glasses get covered in drops of water), and I also should be required to purchase some wrap-around lenses, because my square lenses mean my peripheral vision from about 65degrees out is compromised.

 

[Upchuck]

Well I said it like it is. Wearing earphones and listening to music, whilst being in traffic on a bike with no protection is madness. It makes me angry that people do this cos it increases my chances of hitting them as naturally they will be less aware of their surroundings.

 

[gentlegreen]

The sheer attitude of 'I'm in charge, everyone else has to watch out for me'. Selfish prats

SMIDSY ?

To a certain extent, that is the case. We cyclists look out for pedestrians - especially children, dogs, squirrels .... we also have to try to get inside the heads of motorists ....if we're lucky, we manage a synthesis that doesn't distract from the pleasure of cycling.

That isn't to say that daily I want to yank certain cyclists off the road for endangering theirs and everyone else's safety .. the roads would be empty if one removed all the motorists whose biggest fear is losing their no-claims for "a little bump" ...

 

[Orang Utan]

So, as someone who has to wear glasses when they ride, I shouldn't ride when it's raining (the glasses get covered in drops of water), and I also should be required to purchase some wrap-around lenses, because my square lenses mean my peripheral vision from about 65degrees out is compromised.

you're missing the point yet again

 

[Upchuck]

I'm more worried about killing or maiming someone because they were so busy listening to their music that they didn't hear the apporaching scoot.

 

[gentlegreen]

you're missing the point yet again

Yes. Indeed We should all strive to become Shaolin monks before considering ourselves fit to participate in life.

 

[gentlegreen]

I'm more worried about killing or maiming someone because they were so busy listening to their music that they didn't hear the apporaching scoot.

approaching from where ffs ?

 

[Upchuck]

approaching from where ffs ?

Approaching from a safe and appropriate position in the road. To have a cyclist with their mind on whatever is coming out of their earphones as opposed to the traffic in which they are choosing to travel is dangerous to them, me, and anyone else on the roads, peds included.

 

[cliche guevara]

I do it occasionally, but then I live in Colchester, and I guess my attitude might be different if I had to cycle through the traffic in London.

I listen to Radio 4 - seems not to be as distracting as music and I can still hear the traffic. I don't get really into it like when I've cycled with music.

Very much this. I feel safe listening to a podcast as I can hear traffic noise, I don't feel as safe lsitening to music.

 

[dodgepot]

approaching from where ffs ?

from behind, probably.

 

[plurker]

this appears to be turning into 'I'm right', 'no I'm right'. 20 votes for 'is a silly idea' against 12 either 'fine or not too much of a problem' means the people have spoken

And on that note I'm off to cycle my 10m home, sans musique. Ride safe y'all.

 

[ymu]

Some piss-poor self-justification going on in this thread.

"But drivers listen to the radio." Yeah, but cars generally get seen by other large vehicles. Plus, as said, adding ambient noise is very very different from blocking out ambient noise.

"But deaf people are allowed to drive." Yeah, and I know people who are safer driving drunk than other people are sober - doesn't mean I think it's OK for them to take an unnecessary additional risk by doing so.

Read the owners' reviews of the Toyota Prius, or any other silent-in-town hybrid or electric car. A remarkably large number of them mention pedestrians and cyclists not realising they're there. Silence driving through town used to be a selling point of these vehicles - now they're adding noise-making devices to them because it's fucking lethal.

It's not illegal, but it's deluded to think there's little or no extra risk attached. If you must, low volume and left ear only. Ta.

 

[geminisnake]

My son has been cycling while wearing earphones for yrs but we don't live in a city and the roads he uses aren't too busy. He wouldn't be any more aware of reality if he didn't have them in so I gave up hassling (you'd need to know him)

 

[Mrs Miggins]

Can I just add that I've only just started listening to the radio on my bike and that it's an experiment and if I start to feel that it is making me unsafe, I will stop.

you can go back to bickering now

 

[editor]

Can I just add that I've only just started listening to the radio on my bike and that it's an experiment and if I start to feel that it is making me unsafe, I will stop.

you can go back to bickering now

Well, exactly. If you don't feel safe, don't do it.

 

[Biddlybee]

this appears to be turning into 'I'm right', 'no I'm right'. 20 votes for 'is a silly idea' against 12 either 'fine or not too much of a problem' means the people have spoken

And on that note I'm off to cycle my 10m home, sans musique. Ride safe y'all.

10 metres? You lazy bastard

 

[Biddlybee]

you're missing the point yet again

I don't know if he is y'know... tis a valid point.

 

[editor]

you're missing the point yet again

He's just dishing out the same daft absolutes as you.

 

[Diamond]

Well, exactly. If you don't feel safe, don't do it.

That doesn't really cut the mustard.

You're putting other people at risk as well as yourself so personal caluclations on safety which hinge on personal perceptions of safety are, in this situation, inherently selfish in much the same way that someone getting into their car after two pints because the feel they can still drive well is being inherently selfish.

 

[gentlegreen]

Some piss-poor self-justification going on in this thread.

"But drivers listen to the radio." Yeah, but cars generally get seen by other large vehicles.

Read the owners' reviews of the Toyota Prius, or any other silent-in-town hybrid or electric car. A remarkably large number of them mention pedestrians and cyclists not realising they're there. Silence driving through town used to be a selling point of these vehicles - now they're adding noise-making devices to them because it's fucking lethal.

So you believe, that, in addition to road positioning / signalling / seeing / being seen, I should be alert like a lemur - ready to spring into the gutter with super-human agility when a psychopathic driver appears from nowhere ?

(of course I would actually need a bat's hearing and the relative fitness of a flea)

Maybe you believe cyclists should also be in cycle lanes at all times - or at least close to the kerb, waiting to pull out when encountering a parked car. ?

 

[Diamond]

So you believe, that, in addition to road positioning / signalling / seeing / being seen, I should be alert like a lemur - ready to spring into the gutter with super-human agility when a psychopathic driver appears from nowhere ?

Maybe you believe cyclists should also be in cycle lanes at all times - or at least close to the kerb, waiting to pull out when encountering a parked car. ?

This is nonsense. Typical reductio ad absurdum.

 

[8ball]

Hmmm. I don't think it's a good thing to do (tried it, felt a bit unsafe), but then I have a stereo in my car so can't really talk.

 

[Orang Utan]

I don't know if he is y'know... tis a valid point.

people need to wear glasses to see. why do people need to wear earphones?

 

[gentlegreen]

This is nonsense. Typical reductio ad absurdum.

No. It is precisely this belief system that prevents (potentially) fit, young motorists getting out of their cars and onto bikes.

The moron who knocked me off my motorcycle and almost killed me in 1980 kept telling me how "his parents wouldn't let him ride a motorcycle because it was too dangerous "... not - "I'm a fucking incompetent wanker who didn't register someone in perfect lighting conditions, wearing a white crash helmet and well out of my car's blind spot"

I'd have decked the c*nt if it happened now - and I very nearly did the w*nker who clipped me on a mini-roundabout on my pushbike years later ..

It sticks in your brain, experiences like that.

A significant part of my defence these days is taking charge of the road - not just to defend me, but other cyclists I see being vulnerable.

 

[Diamond]

No. It is precisely this belief system that prevents (potentially) fit, young motorists getting out of their cars and onto bikes.

The moron who knocked me off my motorcycle and almost killed me in 1980 kept telling me how "his parents wouldn't let him ride a motorcycle because it was too dangerous "... not - "I'm a fucking incompetent wanker who didn't register someone in perfect lighting conditions, wearing a white crash helmet and well out of my car's blind spot"

I'd have decked the c*nt if it happened now - and I very nearly did the w*nker who clipped me on a mini-roundabout on my pushbike years later ..

It sticks in your brain, experiences like that.

A significant part of my defence these days is taking charge of the road - not just to defend me, but other cyclists I see being vulnerable.

I fail to see how taking charge of the road is consistent with riding while using earphones.

 

[gentlegreen]

people need to wear glasses to see. why do people need to wear earphones?

In my case it's partly a gentle filter to remove the annoyance of having to share the roads with self-centered incompetents who the state foolishly allows to "control" dangerous, inappropriate, obsolescent technology.

 

[gentlegreen]

I fail to see how taking charge of the road is consistent with riding while using earphones.

Come ride with me, I challenge you.