I just got my new (used) bike, and I’m also a big music nerd and love to listen to music when I’m traveling. Do you personally listen to music while you’re cycling, and in your opinion is it safe?
Congrats on the new bike, hope you have a great time riding it.
As for the question, no I don’t listen to music. I generally ride in two very different environments, either very busy roads or quiet country roads/trails. I’d love to drown out the noise on the busy roads but with the craziness that goes on there, I find my hearing a valuable sense to have and wouldn’t feel safe blocking that out. On the quiet country roads and trails where it’s peaceful and the birds are chirping away, I’d rather be taking in whats around me fully anyway :)
In Quebec, it’s illegal to have even a single earpod while riding a bike. So unless someone builds speakers into the helmet, I won’t listen to music while biking.
Nope, I can’t risk not being fully aware of my surroundings.
My thoughts exactly. I rode a bike for years; commuting to work, groceries, errands, appointments. I rode to everything. No idea how many times being fully aware of my surroundings saved my skin, it probably happened multiple times a day.
There’s a good reason listening to music while biking is illegal many places; they just had to look at the numbers, and it was glaringly obvious that it ups the danger to an unacceptable level. DO NOT DO IT! Your favorite tune will still play just fine when you get home, safely.
And, as for the people suggesting an external bluetooth speaker, think long and hard about becoming that special guy.
Nope, much too easy to get lost in a good jam and get en a very real jam.
I think it is dangerous, although I like music as well. The only thing I would consider are bone conducting headphones that leaves your ears open and don’t block the outside world.
I use Shokz bone conduction headphones, which allows me to hear music and background noises.
Depends. If im commuting and have bike on dedicated bike path and the road, then absolutely not.
If im going for a ride along a bike path or through woods, fields and other non-city-street environments, then yes, I might pop in my earbuds
I used to. I’m also a music nerd and when I started commuting, I’d wear my headphones with the volume low to offset the stress of traffic and stuff and just make the journey more enjoyable. But after a few years, I enjoy the sounds of the city and nature around me now.
No, never. I sing sometimes or whistle.
Never - i want the hear the sound of the nature on one hand and the risks of cars etc on the other.
Yep ! Got some open run from shokz and my commute include 10 km cycling path removed from car trafic where I rarely see anyone, so some high beat music is good to keep the pace.
