OK, so I was on a VERY narrow section (about 2-3 feet wide) of a path that follows part of the Charles river here in Boston. This area is on a bridge with cars zooming by at 50 mph on one side and a 15 foot drop into the Charles on the other. I see a runner up ahead (maybe 50 feet) and yell to let her know I'm coming up on her left. No movement. I yell again, this time a bit closer. No movement. I yell a third time, this time about 5 feet behind. You guessed it; no movement.

I start feeling a little bad because the thought crossed my mind that perhaps she's hard of hearing, but I try once again very loudly. She then seems startled, turns her head, and screams as I pass on the left. I noticed as she turned that she was wearing headphones turned up VERY loudly; I could hear them over the high winds today. Now, I wouldn't bother writing a post about this except that this happens almost every time I ride there. People running in the middle of the path/trail, blaring their headphones oblivious to the outside. And we bikers get a bad rap!!?? Thanks for the opportunity to vent.

I see that all the time- I don't mind if you are playing your music, but please.... KEEP IT AT A LEVEL THAT'S LOW ENOUGH SO YOU CAN BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!!!!! I've almost hit enough joggers, rollerbladers, and other cyclists for no other reason than they didn't hear me coming up, and I've been screaming bloody mary from a block away. One time, I was coming down a small hill at top speed in my top gear, and this guy on a bike who was crossing over the path had his headphones on. He saw me coming, but didn't think that I was going that fast. I began screaming as I was coming down, and I had to jump on my breaks and came to a screeching halt just inches from him- he stammered an apology, and I gave him a cursing that was so long and so vile and so disgusting, I don't think he soon forgot that one. I swear, when I get that mad (and it doesn't happen that often), I can scare the crap out of someone with that kind of language. He needed to understand how dangerous it was to wear headphones on the path, and how close he came to a serious accident.

Besides the accident waiting to happen, what would happen if that woman was about to get ***** by some guy running up from behind on her? She wouldn't even have a chance. Personally, if I had been you, I would have stopped and pointed that out to her. Scare the crap out of her and get her to see some sense!

Don't call it venting- this is a well-earned rant!

Koffee

Did you stop and talk to her? I would have... I would have explained that I yelled 3 times, and that wearing headphones turned up so loud could get you hurt.....

Yeah, I've been kicking myself all day for not speaking with the woman, but hindsight's always 20/20. What little of the woman's expression I saw though, she seemed quite razzled by the incident, so hopefully she got the point. I'm not holding my breath though...

I hear ya on the runner thing. I know when I run I am well aware of my surroundings. Constantly looking behind me in front of me etc to make sure nothing happens like that. I think it was lack of disrespect and cluelessness on her part.

Next time as you ride by just give her a good slap on the Butt.
That will take care of the job =)

in my younger days i was really into running ...70+ miles/week

i always ran with music...so i am sympathetic to the runners

it is the responsibility of the party overtaking a slower mover (be it bike around runner or car around bike) to take extra care to avoid injuring or startling the slower person




of course.....if you are the one getting hit...you tend to bleed more...so i am much more aware of my surroundings now


this for someone who almost got creamed by a cb&q freight train running, been hit by two trucks...without getting really hurt with either incident....until i fell off my bike a month ago...trying to be careful

Headphones are bad news when running outdoors. They are a distraction, can lead you into a false sense of security and can mask the noise of approaching traffic/bicycles and other pedestrians.

A running magazine I read reviewed a pair of headphones once, but added the advise that you should only wear headphones in the gym.

I very rarely see any runners in the UK with headphones, whereas almost every runner I've seen in the US wears them - why?

All road users clearly need to be maximally aware of their surroundings at all times. Oblivious runners, cyclists, and motorists are a genuine problem.

One of my brother's friends got hit by a truck while wearing headphones. It definitely was the driver's fault (drunk guy who ran a stop sign and was so oblivious he never even slowed down), but he might have heard him coming and had time to jump clear had he not been blaring music. Fortunately (miraculously) he came out ok, but spent some time in the hospital.

sounds like you were going too fast myself.

I've had more than one person who was riding too fast for the area get mad at me for almost causing an accident when they were the ones riding too fast.

as for the headphone wearers, if you don't stop to tell them they won't know any different.