The Chainlink

Prepare to be shouted at

To all cyclists who choose to plug-in to ear buds/headphones while biking in the city: Prepare to be shouted at by me (and maybe other cyclists catch my drift here).  Do not interpret my shouting as a symbol of my disrespect towards you.  I sincerely appreciate that you've chosen an oil-free form of transportation.  I also respect your right to die or inflict serious pain upon yourself.  But you see, I also respect my right to avoid you colliding in to me.

In a city of 3 million, where cars, buses, pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency & police vehicles are all sharing the narrow public ways, I personally believe that two hands, two ears, two eyes, and one uninterrupted brain are the minimum requirements to avoiding collisions, pain, and death.  Out on an empty country road, go ahead and plug your ears out until they bleed.  But in the city, I recommend you use every bit of your communication skills when using the public way.

Again, my shouting is not intended to disrespect you, so don't get mad when it happens.  I can learn to live with your reckless choice of plugging-out sound, but you'll have to learn to live with some shouting. 

I need to do whatever it takes for you to hear me.  I need you to not collide with me when I pass by you.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on August 5, 2010 at 5:10am
You're missing my point; it is a law that you can not drive with them because it shuts out to much noise and is a distraction in a care which is pretty convincing proof that it impairs your ability to hear the world around you.

Adriana said:
Forgive my misuse of the word "all"...I did not mean it literally oops. Or do I? I wear my headphones all the time, in the shower, while taking a dump, underwater, in space, while having sex...eating a sandwich and watching tv...oh but never while driving oh no. Seriously, I don't use headphone, earphones, earbuds while driving. I meant I use them so much it has impaired my hearing. Wonder how people here feel about consuming mood altering substances (yes, this includes alcohol) while riding?

but thank you for the polite clarification...I always appreciate constructive criticism.

notoriousDUG said:
It is illegal to drive a car with headphones, which also means ear-buds, because it is considered a distraction...

Just sayin.
Permalink Reply by cutifly on August 5, 2010 at 8:54am
From other people yelling at you ... :)

Adriana said:
I also respect your right to die or inflict serious pain upon yourself.

Why you are very welcome sir...and that's ok, shout all you want. I am already mostly deaf (which means I can slightly hear) from said headphones and loud concerts. Do you respect the right of the hearing impaired to die or inflict serious pain upon themselves? It's all about common sense, though sense is not that common. I'll make sure to grin from ear to ear as I see you mime your order at me from my handlebar mirror...which is great by the way.

"You seem a decent fellow, I hate to kill you." "You seem a decent fellow, I hate to die."
Permalink Reply by Moc Artsy on August 5, 2010 at 9:24am
Permalink Reply by Davo on August 5, 2010 at 9:52am
I can vouch for this. I was pulled over in Western Illinois for diong this on the highway. This happend right by some kids having fun jumping with their 4 wheelers no less than 10 feet from the road with no helmet.

notoriousDUG said:
It is illegal to drive a car with headphones, which also means ear-buds, because it is considered a distraction...

Just sayin.
Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on August 5, 2010 at 2:13pm
If you really must have music while you ride, sing. http://www.mybikeadvocate.com/2009/11/headphones-are-legal-but-not-...
Permalink Reply by Megan S. on August 5, 2010 at 5:21pm
Has anyone tried one of these before? I saw one on RAGBRAI and it seemed pretty effective (i.e, loud enough, good sound, and seemed to last multiple days). I tried slipping a portable speaker and ipod into the back of my jersey, but the speaker was cheap and blew out pretty fast. Hey, gotta keep it loud enough to block the headwinds, right?

I like the link Moc Artsy posted too. It seems like these provide a happy medium for listening to music and still using your ears for the road.
Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on August 6, 2010 at 10:09am
I'm pretty much wearing the headphones and screaming all of the time anyway so I don't know if it'll help.

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