SlimRider

I've often seen people walking and and riding along listening to their MP3 players, iPhones, and what have you. A few times, I've seen people texting while listening to their MP3's.
I know this, because one time an elderly guy in a wheelchair was trying to pass some teenage girl walking quite slowly on the sidewalk. He repeatly screamed, "Excuse me!" , and the girl just continued walking and texting, completely oblivious to both him and the world around her.

The same thing can happen, if a portion of you're attention is given to electronic MP3 sounds, instead of being 100% focused upon your environment while cycling. Cyclists must always prepare themselves for the sudden approach of emergency vehicles, barking dogs giving chase, children playing behind barriers, etc.

MP3 players and iPhones are a both a distraction and a potential safety hazard while commuting. Cyclists must keep both their ears and eyes open. They should be ready to receive immediate environmental information at an instant.

- Slim

daredevil

Oh boy, here we go.

There is simply no combo like music and riding and I will never stop. Besides, sharing the road is a visual task. So, speak for yourself. I do fine with it. I know what you mean about some clueless folk though, they probably shouldn't.

And give me earbuds or cans too...not some player on the handlebar.

PedalingFool

I agree... I ride a local trail a lot and come across this so many times and it's so annoying. Just the other day I came across a guy riding his bike while wearing headphones and he was actually swaying back and forth to the music, taking up the whole trail (it's a 12 foot wide trail). After trying to get his attention many times I finally had to pass him by going off the trail and into a ditch... wanted to kick him into the ditch... lol

Papa Tom

As I mentioned in another thread, I use a cheap mp3 player on the handlebar (sorry, daredevil) and a good speaker I bought on eBay. Even with the thing at its loudest, I can hear absolutely everything around me. In fact, listening to music during my morning commute keeps me MORE alert than if I were just watching my front wheel spin around and around and around and around.

daredevil

If you're talking strictly MUP's, you better expect distracted trail users and act like they are all deaf whether they are listening to something or not.

PedalingFool

Can't argue with that...

chefisaac

love my air horn!

daredevil

really? you roll up behind somebody and blast them with that?

wphamilton

I enjoy my MP3 on occasion during my commute and prefer that everyone else leave them at home I rationalize it by only using one ear-bud.

The way I see it, someone who has sealed herself off from the world knows it and accepts the ramifications, and can't get upset by a necessary close pass or other minor consequence. I don't mind waiting usually a few seconds to get past her (more often female than otherwise). Live and let live.

daredevil

^^^nice to see sexism doesn't exist in bike forums....sheesh.

cehowardGS

cycleheimer

The MP3 player usually helps me maintain a faster cadence. I use mirrors, which I check frequently. I'll drop one bud out of one ear if the traffic is moderate, the thing goes off altogether anywhere near heavier traffic. You definitely shouldn't do it if it causes your focus to drift. I tried radios, but couldn't keep the stations locked in. A couple of distracting attempts at changing stations was all it took for me to toss that idea. Definitely not a good idea for people who can't maintain sharp focus.

wphamilton

Not. Just simple observation, and furthermore, sexism involves some sort of opprobrium of which you'll find none in my post.

e.g., Is it sexism to observe that females are more likely to wear dresses?

no1mad 

I love music. I have experimented riding with my MP3 while riding, back when my commute consisted of 8+ miles on a MUP. However, I no longer employ it while riding for several reasons:

-Cord management. Never failed that invariably the cord would unplug itself while underway...
-I'm visually impaired, so take a lot of my clues from using my ears.
-Since it's illegal to operate a motorized vehicle while listening to an iPod and the like through headphones on a public road, I figure that is extended to anyone who considers their self a part of traffic.

chefisaac

Short beep and I turn it down before I do it. I have three options: 1) Swerve and say on your left 2) air horn 3) if where I am riding is on a MUP and it is not wide, I can go off the path and go past them.

All of the choices have advantages and disadvantages. I pick which one is safe for me. I have watched many people say on your left just as the runner gets confused and turns left and hits the rider. I have taken option three before but last time my back tire slipped and I went down. The better option is 2. I do not blast them but give them a heads up. It what works for me.

chefisaac

I think Dare needs to chill out and not argue with the opinions of what others say.

no1mad 

****

wphamilton

I usually try to get out before the lock. So I'll hand it over to you

Over and out!

daredevil

dude, I asked if you blasted that on people, that's arguing? that would be mean to do wouldn't it? I was curious exactly how you used it. And the guy that automatically referred to clueless MUP users as female, he seems a bit of a chauvinist, sorry.

It would help if you were less sensitive too.

SlimRider

Ok folks!

Back to the originally scheduled program. No more advertisements please...

OMG! Don't ya just hate the advertisements?

daredevil

not in my state

daredevil

If we're back to talking about music use while on the road I've said it before, I'll say it again, you share the road with your eyes. You get a big 360 degree picture with a mirror and anticipate anything that can go wrong will. The only time I ever needed my ears was the single time a dog surprised me and it was no big deal.

If this task truly needed ears, deaf folks would not be allowed to drive but that should be obvious.

chefisaac

Sorry. Hard to tell tone over the net. Short beep. You can turn it up and down. I keep mine down all the time and I point it down too.

lhbernhardt

In Vancouver, BC, it is illegal to ride a bike wearing headphones or earbuds. Hard to enforce, though. I find that because of the wind noise, I have to really crank up the volume on earbuds on those rare occasions where I'm listening to the radio while riding (usually the Met Saturday afternoon opera, out in the countryside away from Vancouver!).

All in all, I don't think wearing phones is a good idea. I am finding it harder to hear traffic coming up from behind; I think a lot of it is technology (hybrid vehicles running on their electric motors, and just quieter engine technology, although owning a Jetta TDI has made me more sensitive to the sound of modern diesel engines). I think that if one is on public roads or MUPs, one has a responsibility to take a broader system view. I have a bell on the pump that I use to warn peds on MUPs, & it's always irritating to get no apparent response from people wearing phones, especially if they are blocking the MUP. (btw, my observation, too, is that it's mostly females that tend to either wear phones or walk in groups that block the MUPs, and who are less likely to move over if they even hear the bell). With the right to use the MUP comes the responsibility to be aware of other MUP users. This is the way society is supposed to work. But then it just takes a little selfishness before we start having useless confrontations.

Luis

SlimRider

Daredevil says:

And what state is that?...The total drunken state...The state of complete oblivion...Or Michigan.
*****************************
All kidding aside

So what if it's a speeding fire engine, police car, or ambulance? .....What if that dog that surprised you was in fact a rabid pitbull?

I think it just might be a matter of time for you, Daredevil. You appear to be rolling the dice...


Deaf people are inadvertently handicapped by nature. OTOH, cyclists who voluntarily decrease their ability to hear and focus, deliberately handicap themselves.

One person is totally forgiven, the other is not...Society makes an exception for the handicapped.

- Good Luck!

PS.

The deaf are still handicapped and they have to remain very diligent and ever so visually focused while driving or cycling, due to their handicap.