Quote Originally Posted by Eden View Post
lph - I think that differing attitudes about driving between countries are also in play. I'm thinking that where you are the drivers are much more careful and courteous of you all on bikes.
Careful may be the case - oh, and Eden, I do appreciate you disagreeing with me in such a civil manner . I'm sure there are many places that have more aggressive traffic than here, and that are more unsuitable for riding with earbuds. For that reason also I would never ever recommend riding with earbuds to anyone else, not only because it does take practice and certain skills. But courteous no, Oslo is definitely not Amsterdam or Copenhagen. We do not have that many bike paths, and there is a definite view among many drivers that cyclists are a huge PITA. You especially have to keep your eyes open for drivers passing you closely, even though very fast reckless driving is uncommon.

I'm certainly not trying to defend earbuds as riskfree, or encourage anybody to wear them. There are occasions in which I prefer to ride without them, when I'm tired, haven't ridden for a long while or am in unknown areas and liable to spend too much time staring in the wrong direction, wondering where the hell I am . Earbuds do muffle sound, and I'm not denying it. All I'm saying is that I'm not necessarily a total blithering idiot for riding with them.

Personally I feel that sight completely trumps hearing when it comes to safety, and the single most important skill a cyclist riding in traffic should have around here is the ability to check their surroundings visually often, without swerving. You wouldn't believe how oblivious some people are, completely earbud-free.