I've never had a problem with headphones keeping me from hearing traffic. Usually the problem is not being able to hear what I'm listening to over the traffic noise.
I've actually experimented with and without headphones, and in neither case could I tell the difference between a car right next to me and a car a lane over, at least with enough of an advance warning that I would have any hope of dodging if a car did happen to be right behind me. In fact, if there is a headwind sometimes you don't even hear the car until it's right next to you. I do however use mirrors, which offer much better awareness of dangers around me. With literally thousands of miles under my tires wearing headphones, often on highways and other car heavy roads, I've never felt that headphones have increased my personal danger in any substantial way. My greatest risk is an inattentive or sleepy driver drifting over a couple of feet into the shoulder, and while a mirror may offer me a chance to spot that and dodge, my ears would never have the spatial awareness to recognize that slight change in direction. I'm not sure what makes anyone think someone wearing headphones is more likely to serve though. Holding a line is more an issue of cycling experience than awareness. Perhaps headphone wearers are more likely to be casual riders, but that's no fault of the headphones. On Nov 29, 2012 6:45 AM, "Troy Thiel" <[email protected]> wrote: > good point...but I think my thought is if a bike is not on a path but > using a roadway > > > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Eric White <[email protected]> > *To:* Troy Thiel <[email protected]> > *Cc:* Kris Niemann <[email protected]>; "[email protected]" < > [email protected]> > *Sent:* Wednesday, November 28, 2012 3:06 PM > *Subject:* Re: [Bikies] Courtesy or Nuisance? > > What about those folks jogging or walking on the path wearing > headphones? They also would likely be more aware of their > surroundings and those coming and going by them if they weren't > wearing headphones. > > On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 2:56 PM, Troy Thiel <[email protected]> wrote: > > and I say it at a point where I am already passing them on their left > > side...to give less time to have them jump the wrong way...plus sending > out > > good karma is something we could all do a little more often...and I agree > > with an early post today..its time to move onto some other topics. > > > > How's this for one?....people cycling wearing headphones....its extremely > > dangerous to others...and to them...if your passing on the left and they > > swerve..they put YOU into traffic...no bueno...should it be illegal? > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Kris Niemann <[email protected]> > > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > > Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 10:14 AM > > > > Subject: Re: [Bikies] Courtesy or Nuisance? > > > > Of course, if someone has the gall/stupidity to pass on the right, they > > shouldn't be allowed on the bike path, anyway. ;) > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Patrick Lenon <[email protected]> > > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > > Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 9:56 AM > > Subject: Re: [Bikies] Courtesy or Nuisance? > > > > That sounds nice, but when you're coming up from behind someone it's > good to > > let them know WHICH side you'll be passing on. Not that everyone > processes > > "On your left" uniformly, but it does give the pedestrian more info. > > > > ------------- > > Patrick Lenon > > > > > > ________________________________ > > Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2012 05:00:53 -0800 > > From: [email protected] > > To: [email protected]; [email protected] > > CC: [email protected] > > Subject: Re: [Bikies] Courtesy or Nuisance? > > > > same as Tom here..."Good Morning" is the same syllable count as "on your > > left" and much more pleasant...why not be? Its not like we're racing in > the > > tour. > > > > > > Troy Thiel > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Tom Held <[email protected]> > > To: Mark Shahan <[email protected]> > > Cc: bikies <[email protected]> > > Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 8:52 AM > > Subject: Re: [Bikies] Courtesy or Nuisance? > > > > Great discussion and I thought Robbie had an excellent approach. I would > > add this: I try to greet people first - good morning, good afternoon, Hi, > > how are you - to let them know I'm behind them. Then announce my > intention > > to pass. It gives people time to react. > > > > Tom > > > > On Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 12:41 PM, Mark Shahan <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > Bob, > > > > The problem is most people don't know that when they walk against > traffic on > > the left, they are suppose to move off the path when on-coming traffic > > approaches. The result is I have had some close calls when people, > > especially dog walkers, won't move to the side of the path. This most > often > > happens on my way to work when I turn left from the ramp onto the > Pheasant > > Branch Creek path to go under Parmenter St. in Middleton. As I turn onto > > the path under Parmenter St., sight distances are limited and reaction > time > > is further limited by the fact that people are moving toward you instead > of > > away from you. Despite having to slow way down due to a sharp turn onto > the > > path, I have nearly hit a couple of dog walkers who would not step off of > > the path. > > > > At night on the SW Path, it can be difficult to tell if someone is coming > > towards you or moving away from you. The result is again decreased > reaction > > time once you determine they are moving towards you. > > > > And as John Rider has said on this list, what do you do when 2 bicyclists > > moving in opposite directions each meet a pedestrian walking against > > traffic? This situations happens on the SW Path resulting in a traffic > jam > > as everybody comes to a complete stop. > > > > Mark > > > > > > On Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 5:23 AM, [email protected] < > [email protected]> > > wrote: > > > > I apply the same rule as I use on any other > > multi- > > user intermodal paved transportation facility (i.e., STREET, ROAD, > HIGHWAY) > > that > > lacks separate sidewalks. I walk on the left, facing the direction of > > traffic > > for safety. I know we go over this from time to time, and someone > > inevitably > > trots out the party line doctrine that you follow OPPOSITE pedestrian > rules > > when > > the wheeled shared user is a bicycle rather than a motor vehicle. I'm > not > > convinced by the nonsensical party line doctrine anyway, but the real > test > > (and, > > indeed, the only one that matters) is that I feel much safer on foot if I > > can > > see what's approaching and can move to the side as needed. And when a > > bicyclist, I can also proceed with more certainty knowing that the other > > person > > sees me as well and can adjust my speed and shift my position as needed > > just as > > when I am approaching from behind a pedestrian. > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > mail2web - Check your email from the web at > > http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Bikies mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Mark N. Shahan ------ __o > > 607 Piper Drive ------- _`\<,_ > > Madison, WI 53711-1338 ---- (*)/ (*) > > (608) 274-9367 > > [email protected] > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Bikies mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Bikies mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Bikies mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Bikies mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Bikies mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > >
_______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
