Comments on: are you an ipod zombie?

By: Nev

Nev — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:05:45 +0000

Too quiet? Dale Vince’s ‘Nemesis’ prototype electric car sounds like a Tie Fighter. Jump to 25:25 here: http://zerocarbonista.com/2009/10/02/car-pool-with-robert-llewellyn/

By: Niall

Niall — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:00:27 +0000

I tend to only cycle with earphones in on the greenway (or similar path), but even then miss the occasional bell from a faster cyclist overtaking (assuming of course that it’s one of the few who seem to have figured out what that object on the handlebars is for in the first place!).

Am getting a bit weary of the CTC’s stance on pretty-much everything: “cyclist to choose”. Feels a bit like an anarchist’s charter …

By: Austin

Austin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:54:14 +0000

Most of the time I do wear my iPod while cycling. The majority of my cycling is away from much traffic. I dont cycle in the city, and its mostly on long, stright open roads.

As such, I cant really see a problem. I can see cars coming towards me, and while I may not hear cars coming from behind… one has to hope that cars coming from behind arent going to ram into you anyway.

Regardless, I do most of my riding early in the morning and on long straight roads with very little traffic. I wouldnt be happy be to told that I am “not allowed” to listen to music as I do feel its safe.

I did notice, however, that a few weeks back when a group ride caught up with me, i was gettin some really nasty looks from one or two of the riders directed at me that Im pretty sure was because I was listening to music.

By: John Girvin

John Girvin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:42:51 +0000

I think the differences with having your car radio on is that, even then, you can still hear cars (and certainly motorbikes) to a good extent and also that they are much larger and easier to see so hearing them isn’t such an important detection method. On a bike, facing forward, listening out for traffic approaching from behind is much more important.

By: John Girvin

John Girvin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:40:23 +0000

There is some genuine concern that hybrid and electric vehicles are too quiet and pose hazard to pedestrians, especially blind and deaf. There was talk of manufacturers adding noise generators to their vehicles in fact.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:13:07 +0000

While I agree that it is dangerous to listen to music while cycling/walking, can’t the same be said for listening to music while driving? Perhaps the AA should ask the DfT to include all motorists in their campaign.

By: redbikes

redbikes — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:32:36 +0000

It’s amazing just how many people walk out infront of you when you’re on a bike because they haven’t heard you coming. They can’t hear anything coming so they don’t bother too look.

I can foresee loads of people getting squished when electric (silent) cars become popular.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:52:28 +0000

I ride 75% trail and 25% road and with my ipod most of the way. I can still hear traffic & while on the trail good music makes trail riding a pleasure.

By: Joby

Joby — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:49:09 +0000

I stopped listening to music as I was getting into all sorts of scrapes (listening to System of a Down whilst having an argument in a car driver isn’t good!).

If I was cycling on quiet country roads, I may think differently, but with the sheer amount of traffic I have to navigate every day – its not worth the risk to me or fellow commuters.

By: Lee Blackwood

Lee Blackwood — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:39:35 +0000

I don’t listen to music on my bike at all. Probably because I live in London and I value my life. As a pedestrian I listen to my Ipod all the time but take care to look around a lot when crossing roads. Its also worth bearing in mind that the vast majority of people in cars listen to music and even if the didn’t, they wouldn’t be able to hear cyclists or pedestrians anyway.