What is with the ever increasing number of cyclists that ride around totally obivious to their surroundings while plugged into their iPods. They hear nothing, are aware of nothing. How can think this is safe?

David

It depends on whether you wear a helmet or not!

I do not ride with an ipod, so I don't know how safe it is. I know many a road cyclist with lots of miles under their belt who wear ipods while cycling. Typically it will only be one ear, and they'll turn it off when there is a significant amount of traffic.

Generally speaking, if you oblivious to your surroundings, then you are not riding safely. However, I cannot comment on how oblivious one is of their surroundings while wearing an ipod. I imagine there is a continuum between safe and not safe depending on where/what conditions you use it, what volume, and whether you use both ear pieces or only just one.

Just out of curiousity, are you just trolling, or is there some specific reason you are asking this question?

What is with the ever increasing number of cyclists that ride around totally obivious to their surroundings while plugged into their iPods. They hear nothing, are aware of nothing. How can think this is safe?


It depends on whether you wear a helmet or not!

Just out of curiousity, are you just trolling, or is there some specific reason you are asking this question?

But whatta a successful troll! Look at the Whopper that took the first bite.

These 3 choices are not mutually exclusive of each other fully.

Is this legal in any states? I know it's illegal here in CA. I think it's a bad idea most of the time, but if I were on a long tour in the middle of nowhere I would be fine with it.

I don't like any of those choices...I ride with my iPod all the time, being aware is fairly crucial. For riding on bike paths, residential streets and the smaller city that I live in, it's no big deal. It's no different than someone listening to their stereo in their car at higher volumes.

The only time I use an iPOD while cycling is on a stationary bike.

Why ride with music? I love the sound of the rubber on the road.

wow, what a bad poll. Did you purposely word it that badly, or was it an accident?

Maybe I'll hop into the car free forum and start a poll:

I think driving a hummer is:

great
pretty cool
bad unless you use ethanol.

wow, what a bad poll. Did you purposely word it that badly, or was it an accident?

Maybe I'll hop into the car free forum and start a poll:

I think driving a hummer is:

great
pretty cool
bad unless you use ethanol.

Maybe the OP can start another poll about how only clueless jokers would ride a tandem and have stupid, distracting, unsafe chatter with their equally stupid, distracted and unsafe partner.:rolleyes:

There are lots of people without headphones that are oblivious to their surroundings.

Anyway I don't ride with music.

Oblivious *******s with Ipods are a pet peeve of mine. I've had two run ins with morons who were completely unaware of their surroundings because of their Ipods. I am really glad I no longer have to bike on a college campus anymore, because Ipod zombies were all over the place there.

The first: I was on my way home, heading down a bike only path where people regularly reach speeds in excess of 35 mph. A jogger is going the wrong way on the gravel side of the path looking down at his Ipod. I slow down a little as people who walk on this path are unpredictable, but at the last second he decides he wants to get on the pavement, so he hops right in front of me, still looking at his Ipod. I swerved enough so that I only hit his face with my elbow instead of a full on collision. The idiot had the nerve to tell me to watch where I was going.

Second: I was headed to a class and I was just barely going to make it on time. I turned right and a guy on a road bike who was apparently on my wheel without me knowing slammed into my right chainstay, sending us both to the ground. I had crashed earlier that week and my knee was swollen and scabbed over, so of course I slid across the pavement on it. It is now permanently numb, thanks to this *******. My bike was messed up too- wheel out of true, handlebars bent, brake caliper bent(!), and a large dent in the frame. He tried to blame it on me, saying "Well you could have signalled the turn!" Then he admitted he didn't see me turn because he was choosing a song on his Ipod and then promptly took off without leaving me any info.

sorry for writing a novel.

It depends on whether you wear a helmet or not!

Exactly. If you're wearing a helmet then you're impervious to all harm anyway. Why worry about any additional risk associated with using an iPod? My main concern in that case would be getting an iPod skin that matched my helmet.

Speedo

Second: I was headed to a class and I was just barely going to make it on time. I turned right and a guy on a road bike who was apparently on my wheel without me knowing slammed into my right chainstay, sending us both to the ground. I had crashed earlier that week and my knee was swollen and scabbed over, so of course I slid across the pavement on it. It is now permanently numb, thanks to this *******. My bike was messed up too- wheel out of true, handlebars bent, brake caliper bent(!), and a large dent in the frame. He tried to blame it on me, saying "Well you could have signalled the turn!" Then he admitted he didn't see me turn because he was choosing a song on his Ipod and then promptly took off without leaving me any info.



The roadie was 100% at fault (rear end driver/cyclist is always at fault), however if you weren't wearing an ipod, wtf happened to your situational awareness?

Just goes to prove that not wearing an ipod doesn't necessarily make you any more safe than wearing one.

Oblivious *******s with Ipods are a pet peeve of mine. I've had two run ins with morons who were completely unaware of their surroundings because of their Ipods. I am really glad I no longer have to bike on a college campus anymore, because Ipod zombies were all over the place there.

The first: I was on my way home, heading down a bike only path where people regularly reach speeds in excess of 35 mph. A jogger is going the wrong way on the gravel side of the path looking down at his Ipod. I slow down a little as people who walk on this path are unpredictable, but at the last second he decides he wants to get on the pavement, so he hops right in front of me, still looking at his Ipod. I swerved enough so that I only hit his face with my elbow instead of a full on collision. The idiot had the nerve to tell me to watch where I was going.

Second: I was headed to a class and I was just barely going to make it on time. I turned right and a guy on a road bike who was apparently on my wheel without me knowing slammed into my right chainstay, sending us both to the ground. I had crashed earlier that week and my knee was swollen and scabbed over, so of course I slid across the pavement on it. It is now permanently numb, thanks to this *******. My bike was messed up too- wheel out of true, handlebars bent, brake caliper bent(!), and a large dent in the frame. He tried to blame it on me, saying "Well you could have signalled the turn!" Then he admitted he didn't see me turn because he was choosing a song on his Ipod and then promptly took off without leaving me any info.

sorry for writing a novel.

You seem to crash a lot. Perhaps you should be more careful.

Dulling one of your senses intentionally can only decrease ones complete situational awareness.

Go ahead and argue how much dulling there is and if the resulting decrease is significant or not to be a safety issue. All that boils down to personal opinion.

The potential argument I see if one's visual situational awareness could be increased by replacing external aural information with planned/programmed noise, thereby compensating for the loss in aural environmental information. That's not an argument I'd make though.

Al

Dulling one of your senses intentionally can only decrease ones complete situational awareness.

Go ahead and argue how much dulling there is and if the resulting decrease is significant or not to be a safety issue. All that boils down to personal opinion.

Uh Huh. And of course the clued in cyclist would never cycle unless feeling 100% rested and in tip top physical shape in bright sunshine only. Presumably any cycling with less than ideal visibility by a cyclist in perfect health is "a safety issue."

I suppose some might also argue that only a clueless cyclist would ride with the sniffles since the sense of smell might be diminished, or the cyclist's complete situational awareness may be blanked out during a sudden sneeze.

Uh Huh. And of course the clued in cyclist would never cycle unless feeling 100% rested and in tip top physical shape in bright sunshine only. Presumably any cycling with less than ideal visibility by a cyclist in perfect health is "a safety issue."

I suppose some might also argue that only a clueless cyclist would ride with the sniffles since the sense of smell might be diminished, or the cyclist's situational awareness may blanked out during a sudden sneeze.

Like I said, personal opinion. Without testing, only the person doing the activity can know how these internal factors affect them. Yes, there have been times I've cycled to work with a head cold and it did affect my senses. I did feel more out of it and less in tune with my surroundings. It did diminish my safety, but not significantly enough for me to not start the ride or stop during the ride.

Al

Like I said, personal opinion. Without testing, only the person doing the activity can know how these internal factors affect them. Yes, there have been times I've cycled to work with a head cold and it did affect my senses. I did feel more out of it and less in tune with my surroundings. It did diminish my safety, but not significantly enough for me to not start the ride or stop during the ride.

Al

You think it would have been insulting or ignorant if some Safety Nanny described you or your behavior as "clueless" for cycling with that diminished capacity for complete situational awareness?

I have ridden with an iPod and only on long isolated solo rides, but it is very rare, haven't yet this season (since Jan). I actually have a one eared pod phone for the purpose.

As to being distracted: what I really don't get is with all the wind noise, I can't hear anything behind me anyway. And unless the iPod is loud, it is difficult to hear it over the wind noise too. I suppose if you turn it up just loud enough to hear over the background noises, than you should be okay, and it shouldn't be an impediment to "hearing" safety. But every rider has his own comfort zone and opinion on using one.

You think it would have been insulting or ignorant if some Safety Nanny described you or your behavior as "clueless" for cycling with that diminished capacity for complete situational awareness?

I hope you are not accusing me of this. I don't think I have ever said such nor agreed with someone who did. If I have in the past I feel differently about it now.

Al

Maybe the OP can start another poll about how only clueless jokers would ride a tandem and have stupid, distracting, unsafe chatter with their equally stupid, distracted and unsafe partner.:rolleyes:


Who said that there was any stupid, distracting, unsafe chatter on a tandem?
Would you be the on riding side by side in the bike lane blathering on with your buddy blocking the way for faster riders?

Uh Huh. And of course the clued in cyclist would never cycle unless feeling 100% rested and in tip top physical shape in bright sunshine only. Presumably any cycling with less than ideal visibility by a cyclist in perfect health is "a safety issue."

I suppose some might also argue that only a clueless cyclist would ride with the sniffles since the sense of smell might be diminished, or the cyclist's complete situational awareness may be blanked out during a sudden sneeze.

Well of course.

I also highly recommend a warm up period of no less then 30 minutes consisting of calisthenics and stretching exercises. This of course is followed up by a quick review of traffic training videos and a short chapter review of the appropriate cycling instructional manuals provided by the LAB.

Then I make sure the air in my tires is fresh by letting out that old air, and pumping in new fresh air.

Last I filter the water twice before putting in it my water bottle, and I always carry a spare filled bottle just in case disaster strikes while I am out there on the road.

Then I don my ANSI approved safety vest and my SNELL approved helmet, and my OSHA approved sun glasses before I jump on my Schwinn safety bike. Oh and don't forget the proper sunblock of at least an SPF of 20 (higher in the summer) and the gel equipped gloves.

Last, before leaving the driveway, I look carefully both ways and signal with 2 toots on the Airzounds before beginning my 2 kilometer trek.

Hopefully nothing will then go awry.... :rolleyes:

Would you be the on riding side by side in the bike lane blathering on with your buddy blocking the way for faster riders?

I've never seen a road with just a one way bike lane.

Al

Ipod in ears =cant hear squat
Car with windows up =cant hear alot either
Car with music Thumping = cant hear bugger all
A car running you over from behind has nothing to do with Your hearing
It has to do with poor diver awareness.
when riding do you ever just pull out in traffic without looking???
I dont
If you do maybe Ipod headphones or not you Deserve to be squished

My 14 mile commute consists of either bike paths (where it doesn't matter at all) or roads wide enough that even if I was stone deaf, it would not matter unless I was merging. And I turn it off when I merge.

And the Yolo Causeway is much more bearable when I have loud punk rock blasting into my skull.

I own an iPod and use it all the time on my motorcycle, but I only tried it a couple times on my bicycle. I don't like it when cars just appear out of nowhere without being able to hear them, and if I turn it down enough to hear cars, I may as well just ride without one. Don't really care if others do it, just don't feel safe with one of my primary senses turned off without being able to keep up with traffic. Might take it to the bikepath next time I go, though.

If it is a troll, it's not a very original one. Sucks 'em in every time though.

Me included. :p

I listen to music pretty much every time I ride. I like it loud. Suck on that, safety nannies.

The poll sets a new BF standard in worthlessness, too.

Well of course.

[Snipped of all the steps for maximizing complete situational awareness]

Hopefully nothing will then go awry.... :rolleyes:

You forgot checking the torque on the training wheel bolts.:eek: Ya never can be too safe ya know.

You seem to crash a lot. Perhaps you should be more careful.

?

I haven't crashed in a year and a half. None of the crashes I have been in have been my fault (getting rear ended by a biker, getting hit by an illegal left turner).

thanks for the concern though.

Who said that there was any stupid, distracting, unsafe chatter on a tandem?

You mean you don't chatter with your stoker about all those clueless cyclists? Or do you only chatter clued-in, intelligent, and witty prose while cycling?

Would you be the on riding side by side in the bike lane blathering on with your buddy blocking the way for faster riders?

The Serious Troller tosses out even bloodier chum. Lovely!

I hope you are not accusing me of this. I don't think I have ever said such nor agreed with someone who did. If I have in the past I feel differently about it now.

Al

You are innocent Al, the OP is the guilty party.

How about them damned deaf people! They're a freakin menace, riding around without being able to hear!
Then there's them mute folks who don't holler "On your left" or say "Good morning" - arrogant b@stards.
And don't get me started on folks who have less than perfect vision and...gawd it's hard to say it, actually use glasses with corrective lenses rather than staying at home with their red-tipped canes!

I ride with my MP3 player sometimes, I have other senses and gadgets (like a mirror) to compensate for my reduced hearing and keep my situational awareness at an acceptable level...but I guess such things are beyond the comprehension of safety nannies.

Good for you, I don't think its a problem if you pay attention to your surroundings and stay aware.
From my experience you are in a distinct minority, however.

How about them damned deaf people! They're a freakin menace, riding around without being able to hear!
That's right! Clued-in Serious Safety Nannies surely must think those clueless people are called deaf and dumb for good reason.

I'd vote but the poll needs the option of "This topic has been done to death. The OP needs to learn how to use a search function."

Good for you, I don't think its a problem if you pay attention to your surroundings and stay aware.
From my experience you are in a distinct minority, however.

Yeah, my experience is limited to only 40-some years, what do I know.
I imagine safety nannies were *****ing about us riding with transistor radios and earpieces back in the 70s.

You forgot checking the torque on the training wheel bolts.:eek: Ya never can be too safe ya know.
This is a thread about limiting your information about the potentially dangerous enviornment that we cycle in on a daily basis. Not acting high and mighty.
By the way, tandems make up 0.1% of bike sold in the US each year. You must be one lucky guy who's primary problem is dealing with tandem teams on your rides. Is it that you can't afford a high quality tandem to enjoy yourself? Or are you just too much of an a-hole that no body would ride with you.
By the way...does anything important happen in Iowa?

Is it that you can't afford a high quality tandem to enjoy yourself? Or are you just too much of an a-hole that no body would ride with you.
By the way...does anything important happen in Iowa?

Wow, intelligent cracks like that surely put you on the high road and prove your superiority.

So sorry, you lose, but thanks for playing. What kind of prizes do we have for this buttmunch, Johnny?

This is a thread about limiting your information about the potentially dangerous enviornment[sic] that we cycle in on a daily basis. Not acting high and mighty.
By the way, tandems make up 0.1% of bike sold in the US each year. You must be one lucky guy who's primary problem is dealing with tandem teams on your rides. Is it that you can't afford a high quality tandem to enjoy yourself? Or are you just too much of an a-hole that no body would ride with you.
By the way...does anything important happen in Iowa?

Incorrect.

I ride with my MP3 player sometimes, I have other senses and gadgets (like a mirror) to compensate for my reduced hearing and keep my situational awareness at an acceptable level...

Yup. Sometimes I take along an iPod and a few podcasts when I know that there won't be anything worth hearing (it'll be either wind noise, the noise of 60-mph traffic on the neighboring highway, or jet aircraft taking off), but at least I've got a mirror that gives me a clue about stuff that I wouldn't be able to hear even without anything in my ears.

Add my vote for "the poll sucks".

Are there any documented cases of bikers being killed while listening to an iPod? I can't recall any, which suggests that biking with an iPod may be safer than not listening to an iPod. It certainly seems to be of more benefit than wearing a helmet. Perhaps we should require bikers to wear iPods.

I ride my commute often with an iPod - and one earpiece on my left ear. I've been doing my commute for year, know every pothole and danger spot, and it doesn't distract me any more than listening to the radio driving.

Its safe for me - -and I believe that if someone is riding predictably and safely just leave them alone - without being the nanny police.

What's to happen when there are more (near totally silent) electric cars. . .?

What's to happen when there are more (near totally silent) electric cars. . .?

There's actually been talk of requiring cars to meet a minimum noise level so that they'll be heard more easily by people nearby, particularly pedestrians.

I remember cars getting quieter as the 1980s began, which resulted in my friends & I getting caught by surprise more often while we played in the street. We used to be able to hear them from half a block away, but more and more often, they seemed to sneak up on us in relative silence. Thankfully, it was more embarrassing then dangerous.

Still, a mirror doesn't need noise to see a car...

What's to happen when there are more (near totally silent) electric cars. . .?

Same as today. You can easily hear the tire noise.

I like to hear my environment. It doesn't necessarily lead to a notable safety improvement, but it does (for me) lead to better 'fit' into the environment as opposed to the more isolated feeling I get with programmed sound, like I am in my own little bubble. For me this is important as I find the more there is two way communication with others, the smoother everything goes.

Al

Oblivious *******s with Ipods are a pet peeve of mine. I've had two run ins with morons who were completely unaware of their surroundings because of their Ipods. I am really glad I no longer have to bike on a college campus anymore, because Ipod zombies were all over the place there.
....

....
Second: I was headed to a class and I was just barely going to make it on time. I turned right and a guy on a road bike who was apparently on my wheel without me knowing slammed into my right chainstay, sending us both to the ground. I had crashed earlier that week and my knee was swollen and scabbed over, so of course I slid across the pavement on it. It is now permanently numb, thanks to this *******. My bike was messed up too- wheel out of true, handlebars bent, brake caliper bent(!), and a large dent in the frame. He tried to blame it on me, saying "Well you could have signalled the turn!" Then he admitted he didn't see me turn because he was choosing a song on his Ipod and then promptly took off without leaving me any info.

sorry for writing a novel.

Seems like this one is your fault. apply the situation to cars (bikes are considered road vehicles and subject to the same rules of driving) You were in the left lane, and turned right across the right lane, without checking to make sure it was safe. Your fault. Not his. He could easily have been going fast enough to be passing you slowly and not just cruising so close.



Will i ride with my ipod? yes. but i bought a cheapy set of headphones to break and mount to the helmet, I plan to position them so they "float" a bit from my ears. It will leave plenty of space for surrounding noises to be heard. Certianly won't be attempting to change songs beyond hitting the skip button by feel. Mounted in a arm band it's impossible to read without stopping fully.