Originally Posted by EnigManiac
I'm with dbg: I've seen hundreds of cyclists trying to get around some 'zoned-out' guy who can't hear the passing cyclist's bell or horn and the only reason there wasn't an accident is due to the skill and patience of the passing cyclist. Cyclists who are listening to music on headphones are rarely even aware of the hazard they present or the extraordinary efforts others have to make to avoid them.
Nice hyperbole, hundreds of headphone wearing cyclists holding up the world, and causing accidents. Funny how there are no statistics to back up this assumption that cyclists are more at risk or more distracted by listening to music. I think this whole "cyclists need to be able to hear every little f'ing thing" to operate safely perpetuates the myth that cycling is inherently dangerous and that cycling on the road is some sort of privilege bestowed upon us by motorists. Don't wear your headphones you have to listen for those big bad cars. Even when rocking out I am much more aware of what's happening in traffic than any motorist, and I can certainly hear sirens, a car horn, or a City Bus coming up on me. Why on earth I would need to hear a child's voice is a ridiculous question. Can you hear a child's voice with the windows rolled up and the Air cond. on? The better question is what is a child doing in the middle of a city arterial travelling at 20 mph? And if another cyclist needs to get around me there is no reason for him to say anything to me, accelerate around me like all of the motorists seem to be able to do without giving an auditory warning.