Music... headphones or bluetooth speaker?

Music... headphones or bluetooth speaker? I stopped wearing the right ear headphone. 

Bluetooth speaker has been good. At stop lights, some people (most) smile and laugh - late 80's / early 90's dance music. Just because. Nothing obscure, just making other riders smile - like when they smiled when they went to a good movie like Life of Pets or whatever their Secret is. 

Anyway - those of you who wear full headphones... BOO on you!

Those who have a bluetooth and people can hear you and the music you like. Good for you! 

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Permalink Reply by Ernesto Lube on May 25, 2017 at 4:13am

2, only 2. 

Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on May 25, 2017 at 3:29am

Is it distraction or not being able to hear that makes earbuds "dangerous"? Certainly distraction an occur under any circumstance and is more akin to the individual. If it is dangerous to not hear then should we ban deaf cyclists and drivers from the road? When I ride/commute I have the perspective of the event as a "video game"; stay alive.... That means full attention on the events going on around me. Including behind me. I never liked rear view mirrors so I look behind me every few seconds. Sometimes I turn my head left and sometimes right giving lots of stretch and exercise to the neck muscles. On occasion I add a sound track to my video game but never do I stop playing the game for fear of dying.....

Permalink Reply by David Barish on May 25, 2017 at 5:31am

I think not being able to hear is what makes earbuds dangerous. If it was distraction it would not matter  whether you had earbuds or a speaker. You still have music allegedly distracting you. I think the distraction depends on the actor.  This is why there are questions about drivers using a speaker or talking to their mirror(as I do) still being distracted.  If you have  headphones you are missing sounds that will help you negotiate the real urban video game.

I think the argument that deaf people should therefore be kept off their bikes is eye opening but ultimately fails for two reasons.  One, people who have spent their life or a good part of it, without sound use their other senses with greater ability than the rest of us. Two, we should use all the tools we have. Deaf people simply do not have the tool of hearing. I can handle a bike pretty well when intoxicated. That is my rationalization. Yet, I am certainly not handling it as well as I do sober. I should be encouraged to bike sober. Everybody is safer. The same goes for lack of sound.

Could you still say that a deaf rider is not as safe as one with hearing?  Perhaps, but do we exclude them from the road? That is a policy decision that society needs to make and I would say it is ok for them to ride. I also say it is "ok" for people to ride with earbuds. I am not suggesting making them illegal. I am suggesting that it is not the best choice.

I get the video game analogy but have a problem with it for this reason- When you die playing a video game you come back to life and play another game. When you die on the bike it is simply game over. I also have some concern that looking at life as a video game is what desensitizes people in general leading them to fail to see the humanity around them. I am not accusing you of this and understand that this may be the observation of an old man failing to understand the references common to those who are a wee bit younger than he.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 25, 2017 at 7:02am

If you have  headphones you are missing sounds that will help you negotiate the real urban video game.

I think the argument that deaf people should therefore be kept off their bikes is eye opening but ultimately fails for two reasons.  One, people who have spent their life or a good part of it, without sound use their other senses with greater ability than the rest of us. Two, we should use all the tools we have. 

I agree. Being able to hear ambient sound and the direction of that sound can be critical in avoiding a crash.

Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on May 26, 2017 at 4:06am

Explain. Give a scenario.

Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on May 26, 2017 at 4:32am

I get the video game analogy but have a problem with it for this reason- When you die playing a video game you come back to life and play another game. When you die on the bike it is simply game over. I also have some concern that looking at life as a video game is what desensitizes people in general leading them to fail to see the humanity around them. I am not accusing you of this and understand that this may be the observation of an old man failing to understand the references common to those who are a wee bit younger than he.

You have it a bit inverted. It is to engage in the activity at hand - riding effectively, politely and safely. The point is to be ENGAGED! Not to see it as if you get run over by a car that you can simply hit new game: literally every sane person gets that!

It is the disengaged rider that is "dangerous" or in danger. When I ride I mostly cannot hear due to my tinitus and wind noise. It is possibly the shape of my ears that catches so much wind or the speed at which I ride but if I don't stay engaged by looking around I will be surprised by cars overtaking me, etc.. If I wear earbuds the wind noise actually increases and I really can't hear the music well either. Only in the winter when I wear a balaclava can I use earbuds because it cuts the wind noise to zero. In that case I can listen to music and still hear better than in summer conditions. I don't crank the music because then I can't concentrate on my riding. I actually don't do that much any more but simply because I choose to not hear music.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 26, 2017 at 5:14am

It is to engage in the activity at hand - riding effectively, politely and safely. The point is to be ENGAGED! ...It is the disengaged rider that is "dangerous" or in danger.

Well said. Thank you!

Permalink Reply by Ernesto Lube on July 12, 2017 at 6:25am

Riding around the Loop and the Lakefront Bike Path... I've had my share of idiocy now with pedestrians and cyclists - those who can't hear me coming when I say "on your left" because of their headphones, and those who simply veer diagonally without looking behind them on the crowded path...

I've resorted to just yelling at people and loudly skidding my rear tire. Next up, I think I might get one of those old honka honka horns on my bikes. 

Anyone else experience the "unaware" pedestrian or cyclist?

Permalink Reply by Mike TeeVee on July 12, 2017 at 11:34am

Anyone else experience the "unaware" pedestrian or cyclist?

Oh for sure. I find that a loud "heads up" works most of the time.

Permalink Reply by V W on July 12, 2017 at 1:52pm
I've taken to yelling "SURPRISE!!"
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 13, 2017 at 3:14am

Same here.

Permalink Reply by Marcelo Marcos on July 13, 2017 at 4:00am

And then we wonder why people hate cyclists huh? I can't blame you, it can be hard when everyone else is in YOUR way. Better yet, get a whistle like this guy ;)

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