I also listen to spoken word podcasts at a low volume in my curbside ear. I can hear traffic fine. On the rides I don't listen, or if I don't like the podcast and pull the earbud out I don't feel I gain any extra situational awareness. My guess would be that picking one horn out of the Manhattan cacophony of horns, and echoes off the buildings, would be daunting in and of its self.

Whats more, I feel that when listening to spoken word podcasts in my curbside ear at a low volume, I can hear traffic better than when I'm in my car with the windows up with no music or podcasts.

However, it's been my experience that when a music clip is played, even in one ear, I start to loose my situational awareness. I think it has something to do with the way the human brain works.

Seems to me NoGlider is correct that the cab driver implied that by beeping his horn, a cyclist ahead of his cab should some some how get out of the cab's way, which is wrong.

FWIW, The oddest thing that came out of my mouth automatically after an aggressively close pass a few years ago was, "What if I was your kid!?"

Of course, here in low-density Colorado Springs my main commuting challenge is squirrels.