Music & Cycling: Am I crazy?

[Irulan]

Dear Ladies,

I am shocked that so many of you use headphones/music while riding.

It is not safe, no matter how low you have the volume. It ranks right up there with not wearing a helmet.

Please reconsider, so that you can hear that car sneaking up behind you, or your fellow cyclist trying to give you a warning.

If not for yourself, please do it for your mother/son/SO/brother/favorite pet.

I"m with you, I think it's a bad/unsafe idea.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I am shocked that so many of you use headphones/music while riding.

It is not safe, no matter how low you have the volume. It ranks right up there with not wearing a helmet.

I agree. I would never consider blocking out the sounds of the environment I am riding through. It's our responsibility to stay as safe as possible when riding - and keeping focused on the sights and sounds of the road is much more important than listening to your favorite music.

--- Denise

[Crankin]

Second that. I am sort of shocked that anyone would ride with music on. It's an accident waiting to happen. We wouldn't want to do anything that makes others think cyclists are irresponsible.... safety comes first.
I ride mostly on country roads and part of the fun when I'm alone is actually hearing and seeing the things you don't see in a car!

[caligurl]

profavelo... i disagree.... i CAN hear cars sneaking up on me.... i CAN hear people to talk to them....

you know what causes me not to be able to hear cars and people (and my music)? wind noise! wind noise is WAY louder than my music.... how do you propose we stop that?

i ride the same roads... day in and day out unless i happen to get in on an organized ride... i get bored.... there aren't other options for me cuz the roads i ride are the safe ones.... the only saving grace for that monoteny (spelling) of those rides is having that music playing faintly in the background....

[SadieKate]

From the UC Davis transportation site
http://www.taps.ucdavis.edu/bicycle/...cdcyclist.html

According the California Vehicle Code, every person riding a bicycle upon a street or highway has all the rights and responsibilities of the driver of a motor vehicle. On campus traffic regulations are strictly enforced . You may be cited for running stop signs, riding at an unsafe speed for conditions, riding on the wrong side of the road or on sidewalks, wearing headphones while riding, not having legal brakes, etc.

From the California DMV site
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27400.htm
Wearing of Headsets or Earplugs
27400. A person operating a motor vehicle or bicycle may not wear a headset covering, or earplugs in, both ears.

[SadieKate]

From the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
http://www.helmets.org/bcstudy.htm
#5

Background
Several deaths of cyclists have been reported in Ontario that were linked directly to the use of stereo headphones. We have all seen people riding bikes or driving cars seemingly completely in their own space and little aware of what is going on about them. Cyclist users of headphones, indeed any users who are engaged in an activity that may pose dangers to themselves or others through inattention to what they are doing, should be made aware of the dangers inherent in the use of these headsets in certain situations.

Recommendation
A study should be conducted into the incidence of stereo headphone use in conjunction with bicycle accidents with a view to supplementing bicycle education programs about the dangers of such use and, depending on the outcome of the study, consider recommendations for the prohibition of such use in certain circumstances.

[annerol]

Dear Slinkedog,
what is "leider"?
Anne

[SadieKate]

Dear Slinkedog,
what is "leider"?
Anne

Songs that you sing while wearing your "hosen" and drinking your brew. Wait for slinke's much more elegant (I'm sure) description.

[Irulan]

entry found for lieder.
lied Audio pronunciation of "lieder" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (lt)
n. pl. lie·der (ldr)

A German art song for solo voice and piano

[Pedal Wench]

The law and practical thinking both are opposed to 'stereo' headphones. When I'm on a bike trail, I'll use an earphone in my right ear only. My left ear is clear for approaching cars(at intersections), cyclists, sirens, etc. You can even wire the headphone cables to combine both channels into one wire, so you get a full mono signal in that one ear, instead of half of a stereo signal. When I'm on the road, I tend to want all my senses concentrating on my surroundings, but I'm riding on busier streets - I might feel differently if I was on rural roads. I do love my iPod on the trail though.

From the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
http://www.helmets.org/bcstudy.htm
#5

Background
Several deaths of cyclists have been reported in Ontario that were linked directly to the use of stereo headphones. We have all seen people riding bikes or driving cars seemingly completely in their own space and little aware of what is going on about them. Cyclist users of headphones, indeed any users who are engaged in an activity that may pose dangers to themselves or others through inattention to what they are doing, should be made aware of the dangers inherent in the use of these headsets in certain situations.

Recommendation
A study should be conducted into the incidence of stereo headphone use in conjunction with bicycle accidents with a view to supplementing bicycle education programs about the dangers of such use and, depending on the outcome of the study, consider recommendations for the prohibition of such use in certain circumstances.

[Irulan]

one could give the same argument against music use on the trail too... can't hear riders coming up behind you etc.

irulan

[SadieKate]

When I'm on the road, I tend to want all my senses concentrating on my surroundings, but I'm riding on busier streets - I might feel differently if I was on rural roads. I do love my iPod on the trail though.

You know, I am much more likely to zone out into the zen of riding on rural roads and on the trail. My ears are perked up all the time in the 'burbs, but I can constantly be surprised on country roads and on dirt.

[JasCali]

I used a full CD player for a while, which was problematic because on several hour rides I would have to switch over CDs and carry them with me -- now I just load CDs onto a shuffle and go with that, it's lightweight, small, and works great. I understand the obvious dangers with listening, but again, I only wear a single earpiece, and a lot of the time I ride on car-less paths. I try to keep it low enough to hear around me well, too, but anyone who listens to classical music knows that it's very difficult to enjoy (and even hear) at low volumes.

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one who sneaks in some music on their rides. Definitely fun, although I swear I feel guilty about it sometimes, only sometimes.

[Trek420]

wow, such controversy. here's my $0.02.

when I'm on the road alone or with a group no headphones for me. I'm slightly hard of hearing so I need every sound I can get plus...I wear a headet all day and once off work sick of the &^% things.

If you ride with me be forwarned I will sing for no apparent reason, just whatever comes to mind especially when climbing.

If I'm out in the boondocks I want to hear the birds, wind, creek etc. Don't do much off road riding but if I can hear nature I prefer that to any music, best soundtrack on earth.

[yellow]

I find this whole need to listen to music whilst engaging in physical activities baffling.

Don't get me wrong...I LIKE music, but when I'm outside running or cycling or skiing, I'd rather be fully in tune with my surroundings in a spiritual sense (as well as for safety reasons-we have very large kitties here ). Why block it out or distract from it? I just don't get it. I guess it's just one of those things that's WAY over my head.

Does it provide motivation? Does it distract from pain you might be feeling? Does it make the time go by faster? Does it enhance your wilderness experience? I mean, there has to be SOMETHING to it otherwise so many people wouldn't do it.

To use a non-cycling example, I've noticed over the last couple of years that ski resorts have really jumped on the must-have-music bandwagon, to the point of it being amplified across half the mountain. Plus it seems that the ski resort parking lots have really become a boom-boom fest, mostly younger people playing music very loudly that is hardly musical while they suit up. When I'm in the mountains, I want to listen to the mountains, not Popular-Rappuh-O'-Da-Month. So more and more I go into the backcountry and listen to the real music of the mountains.