Biking and Music

[Irulan]

Yes, and studies repeatedly show it's a bad idea. I do it, though. I also listen (with my airdrives) when I lumber (my version of jogging). But, not when I ride unless it's on a bike trail.

Maybe it's just me but I think ear buds on bike trails are the worst ( walkers, runners, bladers and bikers) I suspect people think that because there is no motorized vehicle traffic to worry about, they are safe. Wrong-o, imsho. The whole onyerleft onyerleft ONYERLEFT thing has been mentioned already.

[KBIKES]

Illegal in Florida.

[lovelygamer]

I considered using ear buds and quickly decided that would be unsafe. I need to hear everything. If I get bored, I listen for birds or the wind in the trees.

[Maye]

Illegal in Florida.

Didn't know that they were illegal here. I have seen a lot of people using them in the Orlando area trails and even on the road.

[GLC1968]

Illegal in Florida.

Wow, really? The state were there are no motorcycle helmet laws, no emission laws and no laws about talking or texting while driving makes it illegal to bike with headphones on?

Unbelievable.

[Irulan]

Laws, schmaws. It's not like these kind of laws get enforced very much.

I am convinced we could solve the local budget crisis if they'd just start writing primary offense cell phone use tickets in my state.

[Eden]

Laws, schmaws. It's not like these kind of laws get enforced very much.

I am convinced we could solve the local budget crisis if they'd just start writing primary offense cell phone use tickets in my state.

+++1 it is soooooooo sad how many people I see who still (hold a) phone and drive - even though it is *more* dangerous than drinking and driving - reaction times are actually slower..... (and that even goes for hands free, much less juggling the phone too).

[GLC1968]

Laws, schmaws. It's not like these kind of laws get enforced very much.

I am convinced we could solve the local budget crisis if they'd just start writing primary offense cell phone use tickets in my state.

Oh, I agree. Even with a mobile phone law, I see tons of people using them. Hell, we lost a tree in front of our house and our neighbors lost a fence due to texting accidents (two separate occasions) and no one was cited in either case. Laws don't change squat if no one enforces them.

My point was that in FL, they had an emissions law and a helmet law and both got revoked. In general, no one down there wants anyone else to tell them what to do. So how in the world did a 'headphone' law get passed?

[Eden]

My point was that in FL, they had an emissions law and a helmet law and both got revoked. In general, no one down there wants anyone else to tell them what to do. So how in the world did a 'headphone' law get passed?

Cyclists are a minority and are not considered to be relevant in politics.... I'd guess if you polled most Floridians they wouldn't care because it doesn't affect them or they'd hear "ban" and "cyclist" and the would be enough to make them think it was a good idea....

Emissions being revoked is a no brainer - more than enough people are motorists and selfish enough to not want to pay for emissions testing. Motorcycle helmets... well... even though most people are not motorcyclists I would guess there is enough cachet to capture people's imagination about the wind in their hair and taking away freedoms.... unlike headphones on cyclists where people don't put themselves in that place and probably just think - yeah stupid bikers jump out in front of me all the time, before they think about the government telling them what to do (cause unless I do it or think I might someday, or even imagine myself doing it, it's not relevant to anyone at all ya know).

Not that I'm defending anything here.... I don't think helmet or headphone laws are necessarily bad..

[PinkBike]

+1 to Veronica and lph.
Daily commute for the last 14-1/2 years gets boring.
It's much harder to hear when its windy than when I have earbuds.
Plus I listen to gospel and hymns so that gives me extra protection, right?

[TsPoet]

Maybe it's just me but I think ear buds on bike trails are the worst ( walkers, runners, bladers and bikers) I suspect people think that because there is no motorized vehicle traffic to worry about, they are safe. Wrong-o, imsho. The whole onyerleft onyerleft ONYERLEFT thing has been mentioned already.

Check out the AirDrives - they are little tiny speakers that you hang in front of your ears. Awesome....

story: I ride a recumbent highracer - which means I ride a battering ram with my chainring out front. I was riding to work a couple of years ago (to work at 7 am), and a guy staggered out of the marina, wearing his white boating slacks and weaved all over the mutli-use trail. I yelled "on your left!" and he weaved right, then lurched left, I rammed my chainring right up the middle of the back of his white pants. Not intentionally, and I was going very slowly since I'd already figured out he was drunk... but left quite a "skid" mark for him to figure out later.
Yep, I know what that's like!
I hate earbuds, I won't wear them while typing they are so disorienting to me.