Which do you think is more dangerous?

[Riverman]

Listening to music through headphones whilst cycling or listening to them whist walking along a pavement, alongside a road?

It will depend upon how careful the person is however, there does seem to be this perception among the public that cycling with headphones on is inherently dangerous, yet many of these people seem to have no problem listening to music whilst walking.

Personally I find it's a lot more dangerous to listen to music when walking than when cycling, as there's this tendency to step out onto the road to get past people and cross the road without realising cars are coming.

On a bike the cars are a lot more aware that you're there.

 

[gbb]

If the pedestrians on the path...and staying on it, i don't see a problem. Once crossing the road etc...well thats a risk, there's no denying.

Potentially, i'd have thought cycling with earphones was far more dangerous. Personally, i use my ears a lot to guage traffic behind me. A slight cock of the head can tell you a lot, and it allows you to keep your eyes on the road.

Take the ears away (while wearing earphones) and there's going to be more turning of the head, less time spent looking in front and more potential to wobble as you look behind.

Mind, i'm not a music person anyway, so have no desire to listen while riding.

 

[Riverman]

Perhaps at a high volume it may be more dangerous but I think cyclists generally are more likely to turn the volume down.

 

[Willo]

I would've thought it more dangerous whilst cycling. Whilst I love listening to my i-pod generally, I don't like the feeling of not being aware of what's around me when running or cycling. In particular when cycling, for me it's important to hear cars coming etc.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Aren't there more pedestrians walking on the pavement killed by cars, than cyclists are killed by cars on the road? Dangerous place to be.

 

[Mark_Robson]

I often listen to my iPod whilst cycling but I do believe that doing so increases my chances of having an accident. Therefore I always cycle with only one earphone in place and the volume set at a sensible level.
Touch wood I have never had any near misses or accidents because of impaired hearing.

 

[Arch]

It's an unanswerable question. For every cyclist like me and Mark (low volume, one ear only) there's a fool in full on headphones. For every ped stepping into the road oblivious, there's someone like me still following the Green Cross Code.

 

[Arch]

It's an unanswerable question. For every cyclist like me and Mark (low volume, one ear only) there's a fool in full on headphones. For every ped stepping into the road oblivious, there's someone like me still following the Green Cross Code.

 

[marinyork]

It's unanswerable because some people are just unaware of the bat radar cyclists have whilst others are and others yet will just say it to have a go at cyclists. Plenty of people criticised peds in the 90s for having headphones on, it just seems to have gone out of fashion.

 

[marinyork]

It's unanswerable because some people are just unaware of the bat radar cyclists have whilst others are and others yet will just say it to have a go at cyclists. Plenty of people criticised peds in the 90s for having headphones on, it just seems to have gone out of fashion.

 

[Jamesb]

I do like listening to my i-pod when cycling, but i only do when i am on the cycling track. When i am out on the road i dont trust other motorists at the best of times. I think it is more dangerous while riding a bike and listening to music, the cars can see you but you cant hear whats around you.

 

[Jamesb]

I do like listening to my i-pod when cycling, but i only do when i am on the cycling track. When i am out on the road i dont trust other motorists at the best of times. I think it is more dangerous while riding a bike and listening to music, the cars can see you but you cant hear whats around you.

 

[2Loose]

I think listening to iPod or whatever is more likely to end in an incident of some sort on the pavement (notice I don't say dangerous). On the road there are rules to follow, therefore shoulder checks, signals etc. are done where relevant based on visual clues. On the pavement no such rules exist.

Personally, I can't ride, walk or run with headphones and feel safe, but I appreciate that others can. Imho, headphones are the same as a loud car stereo on the road.

 

[2Loose]

I think listening to iPod or whatever is more likely to end in an incident of some sort on the pavement (notice I don't say dangerous). On the road there are rules to follow, therefore shoulder checks, signals etc. are done where relevant based on visual clues. On the pavement no such rules exist.

Personally, I can't ride, walk or run with headphones and feel safe, but I appreciate that others can. Imho, headphones are the same as a loud car stereo on the road.

 

[DavieB]

Im going to have a bash tomorrow while the roads are quiet and see if im as confident with one bud in and the volume low, if not they will be staying in the house.