Headphones while riding, good? bad?

[bergauk]

Well, I made new purchase and I decided to share it with you guys in the Show off your latest purchase thread. Starting with this post: https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showpost.php?p=3308058&postcount=4870

And the discussion continues down the page for a few posts.

Right, well we already know these members opinions on the matter. I'd like to see what the rest of you guy's and girl's opinions are on the matter.

My personal experience with riding has shown that riding with headphones on has never ever impaired my awareness of whats around me while riding. And I do understand that it is somewhat dangerous to ride without being able to hear the world around me. But while thinking about what the write for this thread, I thought I'd do a little bit of research hoping to find out some opinions and facts on it.

I found this article from 1997: http://www.bikexprt.com/bicycle/hearing.htm


Now, without further ado, lets commence on the subject.

EDIT: I should note that this is not to discuss the legality of wearing them, but more to voice your opinions on it.

EDIT2: Also, this just came as a second..errr third [?] thought. If you could state your primary source of getting around that would be a great insight as to which point of view you're trying to represent.

 

[Prosthetic]

As a advent biker while using headphones I agree.. it doesn't impact my awareness at all. I constantly look around me and am very aware of whats around me.

 

[Tornado]

I ride with headphones on all of the time (using sealed headphones, no less), but I also constantly watch my surroundings to the point where it can't possibly make any difference.
I have to wonder why it would be such a stupid idea when it is a frequently done practice in motorcycles, to the point where many motorcycles are designed with stuff to more easily facilitate the use of headphones while riding (even ignoring motorcycles with radios). Are bicycle's somehow that much more dangerous than motorcycles? Or, for that matter, walking?

 

[Prosthetic]

I ride with headphones on all of the time (using sealed headphones, no less), but I also constantly watch my surroundings to the point where it can't possibly make any difference.
I have to wonder why it would be such a stupid idea when it is a frequently done practice in motorcycles, to the point where many motorcycles are designed with stuff to more easily facilitate the use of headphones while riding. Are bicycle's somehow that much more dangerous than motorcycles? Or, for that matter, walking?

Most of the time as a biker you will be on the side of the road where a car has NO business driving on.

 

[boiltheocean]

I don't find it much of a big deal myself. I don't personally ride with headphones in as I like to listen to what the bike is doing, that gets more important when your offroading.

 

[TB]

When I'm cruising around with my wife and kids, obviously there are no headphones, but when I ride to work, I always wear them. Like others have said, I also look around constantly to see what is going on. Also, my route from home to work is only 4 miles and there are either nice, wide sidewalks or a walking/biking trail so traffic isn't much of an issue anyway.

 

[Jondot]

I have to wonder why it would be such a stupid idea when it is a frequently done practice in motorcycles, to the point where many motorcycles are designed with stuff to more easily facilitate the use of headphones while riding (even ignoring motorcycles with radios). Are bicycle's somehow that much more dangerous than motorcycles? Or, for that matter, walking?

Um, yes.

Motorcycles keep pace with the traffic (at 30, 40, 50, 70 mph). Ordinary bikes... do not. You're pedaling along at 10, 15, maybe 20 mph while everything else on the road wants to go at least twice that speed. Therefore, traffic will want to overtake, and therefore you need to be aware of it doing so. The suggestion is that wearing headphones prevents you from doing this quite as well. Also, don't forget that motorcycles (like cars) have mirrors, which help a bit.

Again, you can't liken cyclists to pedestrians either - pedestrians stay on the pavement, a relatively safe place. You could liken cycling to walking down a road with no pavements, I suppose.

 

[Lucas]

If you care about your life, never wear headphones. It doesn't matter if you can hear perfectly or what. Sometimes, you will find them distracting you. There was a very well known case that happened in Argentina. I don't want to be too graphic, but... Let's say that the guy landed with the wrong top of his body. And that's in order to not get too graphic, remember. The picture would scare the crap out of you if you saw it.

 

[Tornado]

Motorcycles keep pace with the traffic (at 30, 40, 50, 70 mph). Ordinary bikes... do not. You're pedaling along at 10, 15, maybe 20 mph while everything else on the road wants to go at least twice that speed. Therefore, traffic will want to overtake, and therefore you need to be aware of it doing so.

Which is all well and good, but you are not supposed to be riding your bike in the same area that cars go on barring circumstances where it is unavoidable.

Also, don't forget that motorcycles (like cars) have mirrors, which help a bit.

Its no more difficult to look behind you than it is to look in a mirror.

Again, you can't liken cyclists to pedestrians either - pedestrians stay on the pavement, a relatively safe place. You could liken cycling to walking down a road with no pavements, I suppose.

Cyclists pretty much ride in the same places as pedestrians, pavement or not. Any danger to a cyclist at least applies to pedestrians.

 

[Nicknamealguem]

I was unaware that deaf people could not ride a bicycle [/Irony]

So, if they can, why in hell, do using a Headphone would be a problem?
The only problem I can see, is you being distracted by the music itself, but yet again, even without music you can be distracted by something else…

So, I say, I see no problem. It would even be safer (if either or not you use headphones while riding) to put a side mirror to see incoming traffic (if you ride on the road).

 

[Lucas]

As I said, in Argentina, an accident happened around a year ago. Going into the explicit side of things, a truck ran over the head of a cyclist because as the truck was going to pass the cyclist, the cyclist blocked him unaware of the truck existence. The truck driver honked its horn yet the cyclist with headphones on couldn't listen.

 

[homeforsummer]

Um, yes.

Motorcycles keep pace with the traffic (at 30, 40, 50, 70 mph). Ordinary bikes... do not. You're pedaling along at 10, 15, maybe 20 mph while everything else on the road wants to go at least twice that speed. Therefore, traffic will want to overtake, and therefore you need to be aware of it doing so. The suggestion is that wearing headphones prevents you from doing this quite as well. Also, don't forget that motorcycles (like cars) have mirrors, which help a bit.

Again, you can't liken cyclists to pedestrians either - pedestrians stay on the pavement, a relatively safe place. You could liken cycling to walking down a road with no pavements, I suppose.

👍

Its no more difficult to look behind you than it is to look in a mirror.

Well... it is really. Looking into a mirror à la motorcycles is nothing but a quick glance. Even if you look longer, you still have forward peripheral vision. Looking back on a bicycle, even if it's just a quick "lifesaver" still slightly affects balance and significantly affects forward vision. And even then, you're not going to be able to process too much information from a brief glance, so for safety you'd probably need a couple more before committing to a manoeuvre.

Cyclists pretty much ride in the same places as pedestrians, pavement or not. Any danger to a cyclist at least applies to pedestrians.

Cyclists by and large use the road, pedestrians don't. The road is much more dangerous. It would be akin to hundreds of cyclists using pavements while pedestrians were still on them. It can be pretty intimidating cycling on a busy road, so it's safer to be able to hear as well.

I was unaware that deaf people could not ride a bicycle [/Irony]

So, if they can, why in hell, do using a Headphone would be a problem?
The only problem I can see, is you being distracted by the music itself, but yet again, even without music you can be distracted by something else…

Frankly, not a particularly intelligent statement. If you're deaf you already have no use of a sense. More emphasis is likely given to sight anyway. If you do have a sense of hearing and you're cycling with headphones, then it's taking away a sense that you'd normally rely on quite heavily.

Let's put it this way - if hearing wasn't useful in potentially dangerous situations, we wouldn't have it. As it is, we've evolved with hearing for a reason. Millennia ago, it was probably used to hear when a dangerous creature was sneaking up on you, brushing bushes and cracking twigs. Nowadays, it's quite useful for being able to hear when cars and 18-wheelers are coming up behind you so you have that extra time to decide what to do, as opposed to relying entirely on your sight.

 

[MTC]

I feel the need to question this, as it seems others are getting confused by this too:

you are not supposed to be riding your bike in the same area that cars go on barring circumstances where it is unavoidable.

In the UK, cyclists usually ride on the road, not the sidewalk (pavement), are you saying that’s not the case in the US?

On the main subject of the thread, I have never worn headphones while riding a bike, and this thread seems to have hit on exactly why that is.

 

[Tornado]

Well... it is really. Looking into a mirror à la motorcycles is nothing but a quick glance. Even if you look longer, you still have forward peripheral vision. Looking back on a bicycle, even if it's just a quick "lifesaver" still slightly affects balance and significantly affects forward vision. And even then, you're not going to be able to process too much information from a brief glance, so for safety you'd probably need a couple more before committing to a manoeuvre.

If I see a car coming up behind me, I don't need multiple seconds to determine the fact that I need to get out of the way. On that same token, if I hear something coming, I would have to take a second or two to figure out what to do to react.

Cyclists by and large use the road, pedestrians don't. The road is much more dangerous. It would be akin to hundreds of cyclists using pavements while pedestrians were still on them. It can be pretty intimidating cycling on a busy road, so it's safer to be able to hear as well.

If there is a sidewalk, you usually see a cyclist using it. Likewise, if there isn't one, its likely a pedestrian will walk along the side of the road. There is no difference between the two except that pedestrians are supposed to go against the flow of traffic.

Nowadays, it's quite useful for being able to hear when cars and 18-wheelers are coming up behind you so you have that extra time to decide what to do, as opposed to relying entirely on your sight.

Once again, most anything that would cause you to be in a bicycle accident with a car when you are following cycling laws would end up occurring regardless of if you could hear the car coming.

as the truck was going to pass the cyclist, the cyclist blocked him unaware of the truck existence.

So, what you are saying is that the cyclist was an idiot. Cutting out in front of traffic like a fool is no more safe without headphones than it would be with headphones; and that rider would likely be dead either way.

In the UK, cyclists usually ride on the road, not the sidewalk (pavement), are you saying that’s not the case in the US?

Bikers in the U.S. (in suburban and rural areas, cities make a big deal out of it) do ride on sidewalks. At the same time, roads in America are usually much wider than roads elsewhere, so there is usually a good meter or so between the side of the road and the side of the lane. As Prosthetic said, if you are being safe in where you ride there is usually no reason for a car to be anywhere near you.

 

[Danoff]

My personal experience with riding has shown that riding with headphones on has never ever impaired my awareness of whats around me while riding. And I do understand that it is somewhat dangerous to ride without being able to hear the world around me.

The second statement contradicts the first.

I was unaware that deaf people could not ride a bicycle [/Irony]

So, if they can, why in hell, do using a Headphone would be a problem?

Perhaps deaf people are more likely to be able to compensate for their impairment since they have to do it 24/7? Just a thought.

It's legal for deaf people to cross the street too, but it's more dangerous to cross the street if you're deaf.

I don't even like seeing pedestrians wearing headphones, since it means they aren't able to hear traffic. Cyclists - who are in traffic - have no business wearing headphones. Unless you have a dedicated lane, mirrors, and a reasonable assurance that you'll survive an impact with an automobile (ie: unless you're in a car), safety suggests that you pay attention to the road instead of your tunes.

 

[Sureboss]

As Prosthetic said, if you are being safe in where you ride there is usually no reason for a car to be anywhere near you.

You never trust your life on the common sense of others.

 

[homeforsummer]

If I see a car coming up behind me, I don't need multiple seconds to determine the fact that I need to get out of the way. On that same token, if I hear something coming, I would have to take a second or two to figure out what to do to react.

The difference is, you can hear something coming whether you're looking or not. When you look, that fraction of a second is the first moment you're aware that something is there. So logically being able to hear something and then take a look is a whole lot more beneficial for making a decision.

If there is a sidewalk, you usually see a cyclist using it. Likewise, if there isn't one, its likely a pedestrian will walk along the side of the road. There is no difference between the two except that pedestrians are supposed to go against the flow of traffic.

Perhaps in the States, but not over here, so I'll concede that maybe people will do things differently depending on where you live. I know when I went to the States there were some places - on what I'd consider to be main roads that in the UK would have sidewalks - that didn't have anywhere to walk. Which seemed idiotic in the extreme.

Regardless, over here I'd say that most cyclists use the roads, unless they're younger, in which case it's probably wiser they use the pavements.

Once again, most anything that would cause you to be in a bicycle accident with a car when you are following cycling laws would end up occurring regardless of if you could hear the car coming.

Not really. I think you're underestimating the importance of a sense of hearing. As I mentioned above, being able to hear traffic before you see it (even if it's a fair distance away... in fact, especially if it's a fair distance away) gives you much more time to consider your options (be this subconsciously or consciously) so that when you take a look behind, it's to check where something is, rather than if something is even there at all.

Cyclists and motorcyclists are potentially in enough danger as it is from ignorant drivers, without compromising their own safety by removing one of their vital senses.

Perhaps deaf people are more likely to be able to compensate for their impairment since they have to do it 24/7? Just a thought.

That's what I was getting at with my earlier post 👍 I agree with the rest of your post too.

So, if they can, why in hell, do using a Headphone would be a problem?

I just noticed this line in your post too. Having considered what Danoff already mentioned, how about the fact that wearing headphones is not only taking away your ability to hear what's already there, but it's providing a distraction as well by listening to music? Given that your life doesn't have a soundtrack like Peter Griffin, music is an additional distraction. This applies whether you're cycling, riding a motorcycle, driving or whatever.

 

[Prosthetic]

You aren't supposed to ride on the side walk only in the bike lane or in between the lanes and sidewalk.

 

[buickgnx88]

If I ever wear headphones while bike riding/walking/working/whatever, I keep them at a reasonable level so while I can hear the music, I can also hear what's going on around me...granted I do use earbuds.

 

[YSSMAN]

I suppose that there are a lot of factors that need to be checked in here:

1) What kind of riding are you doing?

2) Where are you riding at? Is it a "bike-friendly" area?

3) Do you trust yourself to handle it?

=-=-=-=-=-=

Back when I used to ride with a cycling team, some of us would wear our iPods during practice, and in some cases, even in races. The argument would have been that it helped get them "amped up" for the action. I'd care to think that it helped more with boredom when you're on those flat, open, sections when its just you and the wind.

If I'm just tooling around on my bike, sidewalks and trails, or perhaps in a more rural area, I'll bring the iPod to keep me busy. But if I'm in an urban area or competing, I leave them off. Its more important, in my opinion, to hear whats going on than actually being occupied by something.

 

[Blitz187]

Ive been riding a bike in Amsterdam with headphones on since I was little.... If you know how to properly ride a bike it should be no problems listening to headphones while riding. People who know Amsterdam know that Holland pretty much has more bikes than people... lol.. and Amsterdam, although a small city, can be VERY busy in the center of town..... so speaking from more than 10 years experience... ""No it shouldnt be a problem riding a bike with headphones on.""

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

I would not wear them with a motorcycle but you are talking about a bike so you are fine. As mentioned above its not like you are going 60mph or riding with traffic at all.

 

[Blitz187]

I would not wear them with a motorcycle but you are talking about a bike so you are fine. As mentioned above its not like you are going 60mph or riding with traffic at all.

I wasnt really sure if it was about a motorbike or normal bike... but from reading the previous posts I deduced that it was about normal bikes.... I couldnt imagine wearing those huge earphones (in the first post) in a motorbike helmet and I agree that on a motorbike its probably not a great idea to be blasting music in your helmet while going down the road at 60+ MPH...

 

[Prosthetic]

I would not wear them with a motorcycle but you are talking about a bike so you are fine. As mentioned above its not like you are going 60mph or riding with traffic at all.

Bikes ride with traffic...

 

[nick09]

There is no laws in the US that I know of says you can't ride bikes with car traffic. As far as I know bikes in the road are perfectly legal and some people may be fine with wearing headphones while riding a bike but another person like me can't focus on more than one thing at once.

 

[Prosthetic]

There is no laws in the US that I know of says you can't ride bikes with car traffic. As far as I know bikes in the road are perfectly legal and some people may be fine with wearing headphones while riding a bike but another person like me can't focus on more than one thing at once.

Bikes are SUPPOSED to ride on the street. They follow the same laws as cars.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

In the UK, it's illegal to ride a motorbike with earphones in, even though a lot of people do it. I wouldn't though. Hearing can be vital, why would you deny that tool to yourself?

 

[niky]

You never trust your life on the common sense of others.

+1.

Unless you're in traffic so bad that your bicycle is the fastest thing on the road, it's better to pay attention to what's around you, instead of having that attention split between the road and your music.

 

[TheBook]

I'll ride with headphones, no problem. Granted, I don't live in a very big town (population slightly over 9,000), but I'm pretty good at using my eyes to make up for what my ears miss.

 

[YSSMAN]

Bikes are SUPPOSED to ride on the street. They follow the same laws as cars.

Even though you technically should be riding your bike on the street in most places, that doesn't exactly assume that the traffic will be all that friendly to you. Technically bikes have the right of way, and by all means, are supposed to obey all traffic laws... But seeing as how you're own two wheels and moving under your own power, other drivers tend to ignore you, not give you enough room, or generally harass riders around here.

Its bad enough, in fact, that a friend of mine was attacked by a driver who was upset with him riding on the road. Not only did he get things thrown at him from a car, but he also was stopped by that driver, and physically beaten (spent a few weeks in the hospital). That's why I normally prefer to ride with someone other than myself, but it generally depends on where I am, what time of day it is, etc.

But, in general, most of the area I live in is otherwise bike-friendly. They have actually laid out a lot of great bike paths for us to ride on in my old neighborhood/town, and eventually its supposed to connect to some of the trails out where I live now. Problem is, the kind of riding I do (20+ MPH most of the time) is a bit more dangerous on paths where there are runners and walkers, not to mention driveways that cars are going in and out of. Normally, I'll choose to ride on the road versus a trail, but it depends on where I am.