Touring - Anyone stopped for listening to music?

I only insert one ear bud when I am riding my bike. I do this so that I can hear what is around me and I usually listen to books on tape so I don't actually miss anything.

The only place I insert the other one is when I am on the wide shoulder of a major highway and the noise from the cars is really bad (I'm visualizing Highway 101 north of Santa Barbara). I recently was told by a seasoned cyclist that the Highway Patrol will stop and cite you if they see you. Has this actually happened to anyone on this list?

Thanks,

Ray

Honestly, this is like driving a car with headphones on. I just wouldn't do it. You've got to be able to hear at all times, for obvious safety reasons :)

I ride with headphones (ear buds) all the time, all over the bay area. I see police officers frequeently but I've never been stopped. They're not that dangerous if the volume isn't too high, and you're otherwise mindful of where you ride. Also, a key thing with cars is that they produce low frequencies when approaching that I can still usually hear, even with music on.

The only time I won't wear them is on a crappy road with lots of blind curves; then you need all the hearing you can get.

I only insert one ear bud when I am riding my bike. I do this so that I can hear what is around me and I usually listen to books on tape so I don't actually miss anything.

The only place I insert the other one is when I am on the wide shoulder of a major highway and the noise from the cars is really bad (I'm visualizing Highway 101 north of Santa Barbara). I recently was told by a seasoned cyclist that the Highway Patrol will stop and cite you if they see you. Has this actually happened to anyone on this list?

Thanks,

RayIn California, you can use an ear bud as long as it's only in one ear. But Lankadragon is right, it's just not safe.

How well do you have to hear?

On highway 101 north of Santa Barbara, you are on a freeway with cars and semis zooming past at 65+ mph. What, exactly, should I be listening for?

Ray

The law only addresses your ability to hear horns and sirens from emergency vehicles. What the law doesn't address, but which is also important, is "driver" distraction. The louder the music, the more distracted you will be, and therefore, your reaction times will be slower.

Ear phones make my ears hurt after a short while.
I use a gizmo I got for under $20.
http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/iPod1.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/iPod2.jpg
They sell them at WallyWorld among other places, and sold under the name Digital Concepts.

"How well do you have to hear?

On highway 101 north of Santa Barbara, you are on a freeway with cars and semis zooming past at 65+ mph. What, exactly, should I be listening for?"

to hear your music you still need to raise it enough to be heard over whatever is going on around you. So if it's really loud you still need to screen out parts of it. Not good for you or for your enviro awareness. One thing I notice as a cyclist, because we often aren't heard, and people step out in front of us without looking, is how important sound is. There still have to be sounds like cars running over different surfaces coming too far right, or brake noises.