Originally Posted by
ItsJustMe
In my state at least, riding with one earphone in is explicitly allowed.
In most states I know, 1 is allowed, 2 is not (both in car and on bicycle).
Originally Posted by
daredevil
I stand by what I've always asserted which is that sharing the road is a visual task. If you make any kind of maneuver based on audible evidence without confirming it with sight, you are making a mistake. That being the case, hearing doesn't provide much help other than making the nervous feel more secure.
I agree with your assertion that using sound clues without verifying them is a mistake. But that doesn't mean that auditory sounds are not useful, nor that its only use is
making the nervous feel more secure. I ride with mirrors which I do try and regularly check. I use auditory clues as a reminder to check.
Particularly if riding in a crowded environment, it is very useful to be able to hear other bicyclists and pedestrians.
Edit: To the OP: I recommend trying something like the cat ears to get rid of the wind noise. If you are listening to music, I sometimes use a small powered speaker. When there's traffic, I can't hear the speaker, but that's by design. When I'm riding and there's nothing around, I can hear it just fine.