Nightshade

And you're a fricking expert? Ya, sure...........

Bob Nichols

I love the sounds of nature when I ride - the loud mufflers, screeching tires, semis, sirens, and etc.

gamecock

I don't care what you listen to as long as you are not my son, daughter-in-law, or grand child. I care about these people. I, however, just like to listen. If I had been listening to "music," last Saturday, I would not have heard the hawk just before it took the rat. That was a rush.

$ick3nin.vend3t

Although I can see where San Rensho is comin' from.

$ick3nin.vend3t

And the trolls that verbally abuse you...

$ick3nin.vend3t

Not my cup of tea. Whatever floats your boat fella.

Drewkog

Although it gives you a "boost" I wouldn't do it. Being unaware of what is going on around you is pretty dangerous. Unless the music is put at reasonable volume or perhaps only 1 ear, it is quite dangerous in my opinion. I am no expert, but if it is illegal in a car, then I wouldn't do it.

chipcom 

If music automagically makes you stoopid and unaware of your surroundings, by all means don't ride with it...or drive with it, or eat with it or have sex with it...

daredevil

Dang, chip beat me to it again!

I still want to see someone argue specifically against post 30.

chipcom 

You're obviously listening to music and not aware of what is going on in the thread around you.

alfonsol

I only wear earbuds in traffic. The surrounding noise drowns out most of my music anyway. And along with my music that noise drowns anything else out, like other cyclists. There's really no situation where an important noise that would be covered by my music wouldn't already be covered by *everything* else.

I take them off on MUPs and isolated roads. Things are quieter there and the important sounds (ding ding, "on your left", really, really distant cars) are more easily drowned out.

daredevil

One of your better lines I must say.

tatfiend 

Here.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27400.htm

Also to the person who stated that earplugs are legal on a motorcycle, see the same section of the DMV code, they are not.

As for the person who stated bicycles are not considered Vehicles in CA see the following section of the CA DMV rules listing bicycle specific regulations.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd11c1a4.htm

daredevil

I'm curious if some don't ride with music purely because of the legal issue. They would be comfortable riding with music otherwise. How about you tatfiend?
Do you think it can be done safely or are you simply referring to the law to somehow prove that it can't be done safely?

daredevil

I'm thinking based on the information in this thread that he knows a lot more about it than you without a doubt. How about you respond to the points in post 30? What do you see that is unsafe with what he does?

Some of you guys are like children in that when you are faced with undeniable facts, you don't know how to react other than to say "is too unsafe!"

iforgotmename

I wear my headphones everywhere except the MUP. It really drowns out the screams of people trying to screw with you as they pass...Damn teenagers. I still hear emergency vehicles and all the other "noises" that for some reason are critical to supplement my cycling skills. It's a mirrycle that I can see the cars coming from behind me. I like headphones but don't like helmets, someone have Scotty beam me up and get me out of the gene pool.

tatfiend 

I am not a noise/music lover and do not use the car radio either. I was trying to point out that it cannot be done LEGALLY. IMO this could have liability considerations if you are involved in an accident while riding or driving with earphones or earplugs on. As I have not tried it I have no opinion on riding with an MP3 player and headphones. I consider that it should be personal choice but did want to point out the legality of doing so.

Lots of dumb laws on the books. IIRC it is illegal in CA to drive a car on public roads while wearing a crash helmet but it is required for motorcyclists. Head injuries kill a lot of car drivers too!

daredevil

good point.

CB HI

So you can link to the law but cannot read it! "earplugs in, both ears" is different than your stated "headphones in the ear are illegal". The law never even mentions headphones.

Did you read paragraph (d) which does permit earplugs for hearing protection. (Point of fact: it was motorcyclist that got paragraph (d) added to the law for the express purpose that they be able to wear hearing protection)

And the headsets that the law was written for, are the earmuff hearing protectors. (regardless of the legislatures misusing the term headset; and of cops plus BF members not being able to understand this point in full context of the entire law).

SourDieseL

are there any road bike helmets with speakers in them?

BarracksSi

Not that I know of, but there are helmets for snow sports that have them.

$ick3nin.vend3t

DAMN Straight... Check out the Badboys below...




Although I'm wearing my plugs with no helmet, usually a cycling cap (back to front cos I'm dude) or wolley hat pending time of year/temperature. Still alive mind (just).

tatfiend 

Headphones ARE a headset. Different names for the same thing, at least per what I was told by CA cops when I lived there. The law did not just cover hearing protection headsets which will not fit in a motorcycle helmet anyway. I admit I did not read section D which is new since I lived in CA.

tadawdy

I can think of ways hearing can be useful to a cyclist. In the low-traffic, low-speed conditions I mostly ride in, it can be useful to hear the engine pattern of a vehicle coming from behind (and out of alleys). If you can hear the engine revving over your left shoulder, that gives you a good indication someone is passing or isn't going to let you over.

Of course, there are multiple ways to accomplish most things, and if you like mirrors use them. I feel more aware of my surroundings without headphones, and prefer looking and listening. I think that ought to be the real question here: is your attention to your surroundings altered by music? I feel that mine is, so I choose not to wear headphones.

chipcom 

I can hear that engine over my left shoulder just fine.

Question: If you feel that the attention to your surroundings is altered by music...or lack of hearing, do you keep your car audio system turned off and your windows down when driving? If not, perhaps your comfort level has more to do with being exposed and not surrounded by a steel cage, rather than with your attention level? (not trying to convince you to listen to music, just trying to understand your reasoning.)