New York wants to outlaw iPods for cyclers!?!?

02-10-2007, 02:27 AM

WTF is this...

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02-10-2007, 04:09 AM

"Gorgeous George" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1171106831.734099.195910@p10g2000cwp.googlegr oups.com...
> WTF is this...
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
My libertarian streak makes me think this is a bad law, however anyone that
wears earphones playing music while cycling on a road shared with other
vehicles is quite foolish.

A modest proposal: Perhaps there should be a law that requires anyone
injured while engaging in this particularly stupid activity should only get
medical treatment if they pay for it themselves. This would achieve the
goal of protecting the public at large from this person's poor judgement but
would not infringe on individual freedom with the only goal of "protecting
people from themselves".

Please do not respond unless you agree with me.

Ready, set, and go.

BobT

02-10-2007, 04:56 AM

"BobT" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:arjzh.57293$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> "Gorgeous George" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:1171106831.734099.195910@p10g2000cwp.googlegr oups.com...
>> WTF is this...
>>
>> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>>
> My libertarian streak makes me think this is a bad law, however anyone
> that wears earphones playing music while cycling on a road shared with
> other vehicles is quite foolish.
>
> A modest proposal: Perhaps there should be a law that requires anyone
> injured while engaging in this particularly stupid activity should only
> get medical treatment if they pay for it themselves. This would achieve
> the goal of protecting the public at large from this person's poor
> judgement but would not infringe on individual freedom with the only goal
> of "protecting people from themselves".
>
> Please do not respond unless you agree with me.
>
> Ready, set, and go.
>
> BobT
>

Sorry, Bob, but I'm going to respond(and doesn't your request negate your
'libertarian' streak?). Wearing earphones while cycling is already illegal
in most places, but that doesn't mean the activity is "stupid". I fail to
see how a cyclist wearing earphones removes him from the environment any
more than a motorcyclist wearing a helmet, or a motorist in a luxury car
with the radio turned up. Cyclists are more likely to be hit in
intersections than from behind. Even IF you happen to hear a car coming up
behind you---what are the chances one can dodge to the right to avoid the
hit?

02-10-2007, 04:59 AM

I fail to
> see how a cyclist wearing earphones removes him from the environment any
> more than a motorcyclist wearing a helmet, or a motorist in a luxury car
> with the radio turned up.

It's because the motorist is protected by a steel cage and the cyclist is
many times more vulnerable. That's what makes it "stupid."

02-10-2007, 05:50 AM

"Pat" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> I fail to
>> see how a cyclist wearing earphones removes him from the environment any
>> more than a motorcyclist wearing a helmet, or a motorist in a luxury car
>> with the radio turned up.
>
> It's because the motorist is protected by a steel cage and the cyclist is
> many times more vulnerable. That's what makes it "stupid."
>
>

Moreso than the MOTORCYCLIST? People on Harleys with loud pipes and helmets
can't hear a thing.

02-10-2007, 06:32 AM

On Feb 10, 7:56 am, "Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> "BobT" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
>
> news:arjzh.57293$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
>
>
> > "Gorgeous George" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> >news:1171106831.734099.195910@p10g2000cwp.googleg roups.com...
> >> WTF is this...
>
> >>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> > My libertarian streak makes me think this is a bad law, however anyone
> > that wears earphones playing music while cycling on a road shared with
> > other vehicles is quite foolish.
>
> > A modest proposal: Perhaps there should be a law that requires anyone
> > injured while engaging in this particularly stupid activity should only
> > get medical treatment if they pay for it themselves. This would achieve
> > the goal of protecting the public at large from this person's poor
> > judgement but would not infringe on individual freedom with the only goal
> > of "protecting people from themselves".
>
> > Please do not respond unless you agree with me.
>
> > Ready, set, and go.
>
> > BobT
>
> Sorry, Bob, but I'm going to respond(and doesn't your request negate your
> 'libertarian' streak?). Wearing earphones while cycling is already illegal
> in most places, but that doesn't mean the activity is "stupid". I fail to
> see how a cyclist wearing earphones removes him from the environment any
> more than a motorcyclist wearing a helmet, or a motorist in a luxury car
> with the radio turned up.

You're not thinking hard enough, then. It's virtually impossible to
use headphones at a reasonable volume when you have to overcome wind
noise, so the vast majority of cyclists wearing 'phones have them at a
volume that's the equivalent of a car stereo that's so loud that it
would get you pulled over. That's right--most sane cities have laws
against egregious car stereo volume as well.

Oh, and Bob, suggesting the withholding of medical treatment to
somebody that's stupid enough to wear headphones and get hit makes you
an *******. Bragging about a "libertarian streak" beforehand makes you
pitiful. Perhaps you should stick to the Ayn Rand and Push-Up
creamsicles, and stay off the Usenet.

The whole headphone debate is not a bit different from listening to a
drunk stagger to the door and slur, "but I'm fine to drive, hic."

02-10-2007, 07:57 AM

Pat wrote:
> I fail to
>> see how a cyclist wearing earphones removes him from the environment
>> any more than a motorcyclist wearing a helmet, or a motorist in a
>> luxury car with the radio turned up.
>
> It's because the motorist is protected by a steel cage and the
> cyclist is many times more vulnerable. That's what makes it "stupid."

Ah, so not wearing headphones makes the rider impervious to this imbalance?
I use a mirror, and even that will very likely not prevent me getting hit
from behind should some dolt driver drift to the right. Cars /sound/ the
same whether they're in their lane or about to cream me.

Bill "I use ear buds, bud, but not the type that block out all sound" S.

02-10-2007, 08:24 AM

"Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:45cddbb1$0$18853$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...

> Moreso than the MOTORCYCLIST? People on Harleys with loud pipes and
> helmets can't hear a thing.

People on motorcycles have already demonstrated their stupidity.

The jury is still out on us.

R

02-10-2007, 09:07 AM

On Feb 10, 9:50 am, "Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> "Pat" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
>
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
>
>
> > I fail to
> >> see how a cyclist wearing earphones removes him from the environment any
> >> more than a motorcyclist wearing a helmet, or a motorist in a luxury car
> >> with the radio turned up.
>
> > It's because the motorist is protected by a steel cage and the cyclist is
> > many times more vulnerable. That's what makes it "stupid."
>
> Moreso than the MOTORCYCLIST? People on Harleys with loud pipes and helmets
> can't hear a thing.

Loud is safe.

The louder the hawg, the more that the motorists are aware of its
presence.

I've found that a booming voice is far more effective than a measly
bell when notifying a moron behind the wheel as to their errant ways.

Airhorn, anyone?

-bdbafh

02-10-2007, 09:18 AM

Bill "I use ear buds, bud, but not the type that block out all sound" S.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

I do too. They are Sennheiser and are the best and cheapest going.

Talking about the medical system though. How many cars do you see blocking
traffic when an ambulance is coming. I can hear them a mile away but
drivers are always getting in the way. I bet there is a law about that but
no one gets ticketed. It would solve all the manpower problems police have
if they could. Just follow an ambulance all day. hahaha
Who is saving us from them.