Listening to music while riding - harmless or hazardous?
I have always wondered with this. Is it legal to wear your ipod while riding? What hazards does it place on other road users/peds etc.
I am a bit against it personally, as the ear phones with loud music can impede ones ability to listen and concentrate on traffic etc. especially if you are riding in a group scenario. Someone with ear phones rides off while people at the rear may have had a fall etc.
What are the legalities of this, pro's & con's? For or against? Please keep the discussion civil.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on -
I think it's very foolish in suburbia though some on here will say it's OK if you use only one ear plug, I have in the past used IPod when on solo long country rides but usually with a mirror on the bike
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Permalink Reply by Shav Bird on -
What about on the veloway for instance Clive? Is it a good thing having the ipod blaring and not hearing another bike riding coming up from behind ya?
I have also ridden past riders with portable speakers blaring their music out loud while riding too. Probably not as bad, but still would make it hard to hear.
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Permalink Reply by Andrew M on -
I don't know about right or wrong, but I often listen to music whilst riding solo, but not when in a group. Remember, it's possible to listen to music without having it so loud you can't hear traffic.
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Permalink Reply by Shav Bird on
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This is true. I admit that I have done this on solo rides, not loudly, but make it a habit not to if I ride with others out of courtesy and safety.
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Permalink Reply by Darren on -
Same here. I don't have the music blaring though. In fact, I notice little difference in terms of ability to hear traffic coming from behind compared with noise from wind rush. Don't see what the big deal is really.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Wetherley on -
Yes I use to listen to my Ipod while riding to work I found couldnt really hear it well over the wind noise. Could turn it up more but more concerned about my hearing then hearing the 2 or 3 cars that pass me.
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Permalink Reply by Tim B on -
Many years ago I used to listen to music while riding. Thought I could hear everything ok as I only listened quietly.
That was until I was scared by a couple of cars coming from behind that I didn't hear, one on a rural road in the hills and one on a local street.
Never listened to music again while on the bike, it's just not worth the risk.
I have no idea about the legalities of it though.
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Permalink Reply by Jase "Flatty" C on
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I'm pretty much the same. Used to listen to it. Not worth it now. In addition, I love the sound of my wheels rolling on the road while cruising through the hills.
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Permalink Reply by Tim on -
iPods and pedestrians are discussed here. There has been some hysteria regarding it:-
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2012/01/30/are-ipods-killing...
Not being able to hear is only likely to endanger yourself - if your iPod is blaring then you may well not be aware of dangers which your ears would have alerted you to. I only ever use an iPod at very low volume. People just assume that you can't hear them and this allows you to safely ignore officious types - even when you've heard them - and to smile and wave and point to the buds with a shrug when some idiot hater abuses you on a shared path - a very effective way to infuriate them even more!
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Permalink Reply by Martin Turner on -
I work in a job surrounded by technology...I go home and I'm surrounded by technology. When I jump on my bike the only technology I'm interested in is the stuff made by Bianchi or Camagnolo.
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Permalink Reply by Shav Bird on
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here here Martin. That's a sound most of us hear would love to hear on a daily basis.
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Permalink Reply by Patrick O'Kane on -
Would you hear the music over your freewheeling campy hubs?
I used to wear the MP3 player on the veloway when riding solo, no I find I don't need or want the distraction whilst I'm riding.
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