I wore earbuds once. The traffic noise was so loud, I had to crank up the volume full blast to hear the radio. Not worth wrecking my hearing.

Now I carry my radio in my chest pocket or bag. It's also turned up full blast but it's not directed into my ear.

If traffic noise is still too loud, so be it. But on MUPs, pedestrians who aren't wearing their own ear buds or headsets can hear me approaching.