Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More - View Single Post

06-13-2004, 08:18 AM

Depends on how you listen to it.

In many states, it is illegal to operate a vehicle (bicycle included) on
the streets while wearing headset or earphones. ANY type of headset ear
phone, even "open air". The argument being that it decreases the ability
to hear potential hazards, such as traffic A single ear plug (one ear)
is OK in some of these states.

Yeah, I know. That makes a lot of sense in these days of automobiles
that are advertized to be so well sound proofed they can practically
silence a jackhammer right outside the car, and that which makes it
through can be easily overridden by the gazillion watt sound system that
comes standard! BUT, the law's the law. I actually stumped an El Lay
city police chief who had come to give a talk on cycling safety at a
club meeting with that one! LOL

SO - what I did for my commuting bike was to buy a couple of battery
amplified speakers (Radio Shack) and tuck them into a handlebar bag (I
use the side pockets, so the rest of the bag is still useable). Hook up
the walkman or mp3 player and boogie on down the road, as legal as can
be. They are a lot more comfortable than trying to get a headset under a
h****t, too.

- -

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

06-13-2004, 08:18 AM	#42 (permalink)
Chris Zacho The Wheelman Posts: n/a	Re: Ride with music or not? Depends on how you listen to it. In many states, it is illegal to operate a vehicle (bicycle included) on the streets while wearing headset or earphones. ANY type of headset ear phone, even "open air". The argument being that it decreases the ability to hear potential hazards, such as traffic A single ear plug (one ear) is OK in some of these states. Yeah, I know. That makes a lot of sense in these days of automobiles that are advertized to be so well sound proofed they can practically silence a jackhammer right outside the car, and that which makes it through can be easily overridden by the gazillion watt sound system that comes standard! BUT, the law's the law. I actually stumped an El Lay city police chief who had come to give a talk on cycling safety at a club meeting with that one! LOL SO - what I did for my commuting bike was to buy a couple of battery amplified speakers (Radio Shack) and tuck them into a handlebar bag (I use the side pockets, so the rest of the bag is still useable). Hook up the walkman or mp3 player and boogie on down the road, as legal as can be. They are a lot more comfortable than trying to get a headset under a h****t, too. - - "May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills!" Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman" Chris'Z Corner http://www.geocities.com/czcorner