General Cycling Discussion - Is it okay to listen to music while riding a bike?

Would you say it's dangerous?

Lots of threads and lots of people on both sides of the fence.

I say no because I have damn near hit many other trail users (joggers/walkers) who didn't hear me yell that I was coming because Pearl Jam was more important!

Would you say it's dangerous?

In general I think it's a bad idea, although I'm certainly not going to push my preference to others... unless it causes them to crash into me. :rolleyes: In essence, some people are able to handle this safely, while others simply cannot. Unfortunately, it's difficult to tell them apart before the fact.

One notable exception, IMO, would be the stoker (aka Rear Admiral :)) on a tandem. Since they're not responsible for steering/stopping/etc., there's much less potential for conflict.

Um the mental image I get from your description is you hauling down the path at three times the speed of everyone else and getting ticked as you scream at everyone to get out of your way. Probably assuming things I shouldn't but I have seen a lot of people who are fully oblivious on bike paths without headphones as well, in fact I have seen more of these than the other. Usually I avoid paths with a lot of people and either take empty paths or roads.

Personally I listen, but at a low volume.

This topic seems is brought up over and over and over....Don't be stupid!

It's only a bad idea if you make a bad choice as to when to listen to music!

Why don't you ask an equally stupid question like....should I jump off the roof of a building!

...is you hauling down the path at three times the speed of everyone else and getting ticked as you scream at everyone to get out of your way.
Anyone riding that fast on a MUT/MUP needs a boot upside the head and listening to music won't be a factor in their stupidity or recklessness... as, you know, it's already too late for that.

Personally I'd like to hear bubba and his buddies gunning that beat up dually truck from a mile back so I can take evasive action or shoot back if they try to run me off the road. :D

This topic seems is brought up over and over and over....Don't be stupid!

It's only a bad idea if you make a bad choice as to when to listen to music!

Why don't you ask an equally stupid question like....should I jump off the roof of a building!

Depends on the building.

I'm not particularly concerned if others do it. I won't.

I don't do it, though I'm not opposed to it. There are plenty of situations where it's perfectly safe, and there are others where it's not a very good idea.

Yes........

Depends on the building....and the landing. :)

I ride with music. Sometimes it gets loud, but I keep the volume down or off when riding in traffic or near other moving objects.

- i wouldn't while riding on a multi-use street, but i routinely use a wideband transceiver while on the bike path on my road bike (2M ops via a repeater, and if using my comfort bike, high-frequency ops on bands such as 17M and 20M - best contacts so far are Venezuela, UK, and Costa Rica [besides stateside contacts])

- i don't use headphones though... i'm sweating enough as it is and i don't want my head to fill up with water (if it isn't already, right?)

:-)

p.s. the poll is disingenuous, as the topic is 180 from the poll question...

Would you say it's dangerous?

Only if your dumb enough to ride with a head set. Put speakers on your bike.
It ain't that hard or that expensive. ;) ;) ;)

I wouldn't do it while mountainbiking or on a busy bike path. But on the road, yes. How much can a cager hear with his windows up? then add a radio playing to that mix. What about man-children playing loud music? they can't hear anything.

"What about man-children playing loud music? they can't hear anything."

Yes, I thought of that but hey......ya can't help'em at that age. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I say "NO" because of a few reasons.

One is people cannot discern if someone "can hear everything" with their headphones on.....that leads to number two....traffic does not revolve around one single person....at that, if using headphones may make people around uncomfortable, don't do it.

The third is legality, but as it seems, lots of people here feel that the law does not matter unless it's a situation where the law is on their side. In my opinion either follow it, or work to change it....just ignoring it is just adding to a problem. Most states do say if you operate a vehicle (bikes are vehicles), you are to have either no headgear at all, or (this made to allow hands free phones) a earphone that allows for one ear to be open.

If I want to listen to music that badly, I would buy one of the many "bike-radio" solutions availible....some of these even support cd/,p3 players. The difference is they use speakers, not earphones

Basically no arguments will change my view, so let it rest.

When I am riding I use earphones in my bell ear muffs, I need the music so I don't get starled by the cars. I can't hear anything inless it right by my ear, so when cars come pass me I see them first, and when the sound gets up to my ears I jump most of the time. I have found out the hard way, also most smoked some cars. When on the tral keep them low or off, so I can hear other things. Also at night I have them on, no nosie at night gives me the creaps.

Good Luck,

Geek

I wouldn't do it while mountainbiking or on a busy bike path. But on the road, yes. How much can a cager hear with his windows up? then add a radio playing to that mix. What about man-children playing loud music? they can't hear anything.
But you see therse one thing here. If he crashes, it will hurt much less than if you do. And thats saying it lightly

I listen to music when I ride however...

I keep the volume set so I can still hear the traffic.

Feel free to listen to music while riding your bike...

...on a stationary trainer.

On the road or the trail, I think it is a very bad idea.

TO me it is a taboo..Hearing approaching cars is a part of our ability to keep safe. Headsets, no way..A little more tolerant of radio's attached to the frame on a low volume. But, still would no do that..I enjoy hearing cheerping birds, screaming hawks,etc.way too much. Not that the one aspect of bike commuting that I do miss, is not being able to hear KPRI FM . Jodina/Meg rock in the USA.

The third is legality, but as it seems, lots of people here feel that the law does not matter unless it's a situation where the law is on their side. In my opinion either follow it, or work to change it....just ignoring it is just adding to a problem. Most states do say if you operate a vehicle (bikes are vehicles), you are to have either no headgear at all, or (this made to allow hands free phones) a earphone that allows for one ear to be open.

- ya know, that's what i thought too, but it was pointed out to me that the deaf are allowed to drive...

:-)

i never ride around campus without my music, but i never ride a road with music. it's all about the situation. when i'm on campus, i'm 99% sure nothing will come up behind me, because I do my best to be the fastest thing there. Not so true when you throw motor vehicles in the mix.

I say it depends. If you wear headphones then yes it is because you can not hear what is going on around you. If you use external speakers, which allows you to hear what is going around you as I do then no it is nto dangerous.