Daniel4

This may or may not apply to other cities, but in Toronto a study has found that noise levels on the street and on subway platforms are so high they may pose a risk to hearing.

There is a special caution to cyclists.

"Cycling in particular was singled out as the most potentially damaging to hearing, exposing people to larger amounts of dangerous noise than any other way of getting around, with 14 per cent of measurements exceeding recommended levels."

https://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/toronto-commute-noise-damage-1.4414767

DrIsotope

"Even earbuds that you use to listen to music can be used as ear protectors," said Lin.

Check it out, safety people, my earbuds are good for me!!

Daniel4

Yes, but don't try to listen to music with them. I tried it once and had to crank the volume up full- bad idea.

fietsbob

Move. It's Quiet here.

adamhenry

Same here. I can hear bikes coming up behind me.

trainsktg

I do alot of riding along a 4lane highway. I wear an earplug in the traffic-side ear.

Keith

Sullalto

Wind noise is enough to be a problem. https://www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.go...ss-in-cyclists

So move and go slow.

Hoopdriver

Haven't read the actual study yet (can't find the full text), but I have to say that interpreting measurements of noise from either sound level meters or recording dosimeters to determine risk to hearing is a very complex endeavour. All noise measurements are integrated over time so how you measure affects the number you get. Integrating a source measurement over 8 milliseconds will give you a much higher noise reading than integrating over 25 milliseconds. Dosimetry is especially complicated because results are affected by the set up parameters. Throwing out high numbers and waving the "risky" flag is what news folks do and this results in skewed or misinformed perceptions. It's also what researchers do to seed the grant money clouds.

If anyone has a link to the actual publication, please post.

Machka 

Yeah ... the birds and sheep can get a bit noisy at times where I live.

catgita

I wish noise pollution was checked along with smog emissions. There are definite outliers, like Harleys (always modified and technically illegal), street racers, garbage trucks. But only the Hogs are actually painful. But I rarely have that sensation, what do you call it, where hearing is temporarily diminished.

Marcus_Ti

Or wear plugs. Or use products like CatEars.

Jon T

"Huh?? Would you repeat that, Please".
Jon