http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: The Darwin Accessory - the i-pod en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 03:44:30 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-97026 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:12:25 +0000 Morningsider 97026@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't listen to music on the bike as I find cycling in rush hour city traffic is as close to sensory overload as I am happy to get. The odd occasion I get out on a big cycle I like the quiet monotony of grinding out the miles down roads in the back of beyond.</p> <p>What a boring place it would be if we all acted like me though. So, hats off to those brave/crazy souls who like a tune as they cycle.</p> <p>I draw the line at texting pedestrians though, happy to walk right out in front of you - hanging's too good for 'em I say... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-97021 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:51:21 +0000 Smudge 97021@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Lol, your description of my physique clearly indicates I have successfully avoided being spotted! :-0 :-)) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96994 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:00:37 +0000 Pocopiglet 96994@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Smudge, must be because your normal racing snake physique is ruined by the non aerodynamic dod of plastic plapped atop. Must ruin your keen balance too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96993 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:44:11 +0000 Smudge 96993@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Funnily enough one of the things I find really irritating when I wear a helmet is the extra wind noise. Must be the shape of my head/lugs as it doesn't seem to affect others. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96985 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:27:51 +0000 Cyclingmollie 96985@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I tried listening to music with a Walkman once but I couldn't hear anything above the wind roar. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96953 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:37:07 +0000 TractorFactory 96953@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I listen to stuff on the bike on commute. I have podcasts and books that I like to listen to on the journey much in the same way I would in the car and it's the perfect timeframe of having nobody else around and time doing nothing more than putting miles under my wheels.</p> <p>However, I do also know that I need to know what's going on around me. I only ever put the pavement side earphone in, never both. I am always very careful to make sure I know what is going on around me. The case of being hit at a level crossing sounds like the person assumed nothing was coming rather than the more obvious reverse. I always assume there is something bigger than me on the road and cycle accordingly regardless of whether I'm listening to something or not. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96922 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 08:03:35 +0000 Darkerside 96922@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Whilst I agree that a good chunk of fault lies with the cyclist in the RAIB report, there were other factors at work as well which it's slightly unfair to miss out of the summary post. The crossing itself was unsuitable for the volume of traffic using it (after recent promotion as part of an adventure trail), sightlines were below the allowable level and risk assessments had been done incorrectly.It was also regularly difficult to hear the train whistle due to various reasons, even without earphones, and the report claimed the cyclist generally rode with only one ear in to allow him to hear. </p> <p>Personally, it felt more likely that this was a chap who used the crossing twice daily to get to work, knew the times of the local trains (which I think were only twice daily as well), and was caught out by familiarity causing carelessness and a late running train. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96919 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 01:21:26 +0000 kaputnik 96919@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've on occassion used my MP3 player (don't have an ipod) when cycling, largely when touring. I have "sports" earbuds with a little rubber wing that holds them in your ear but just out of it, so ambient sound gets in quite well. I always keep it on low anyway, lower than I would have if I was sitting at my desk at work, but it's nice when you've got a long, monotonous bit of journey, and not much to keep your brain occupied to have something to hum along to. It helps to have a well-developed paranoia that results in checking over your shoulder every few minutes.</p> <p>Riding with an ipod up so loud that you can't hear the train that's about to kill you, or people's warning shouts, that's dangerous. But the ipod itself can (and should) be used in a way that isn't.</p> <p>I cringe a bit when I see people with trendy "cans" headphones on, that completely cover the ear and have a nice foam-rubber cushion that conforms to the side of the head and helps further to keep ambient sound out, although I guess if they aren't up too low it's no worse than earmuffs.</p> <p>Sometimes it's the cables hanging freely and swaying around ever so close to moving parts that makes me suck in my breath.</p> <p>Having seen the amount of computer gadgetry now installed in car dashboards, I think this is a far more worth Darwin device than an ipod. There's a mind-boggling array of car performance, environment and entertainment electronics packed in to the modern car, all synchronising with ipods and iphones. And by the looks of it, frustratingly difficult to master.</p> <p>I like my old Sony MP3 player and rate it far above an ipod for functionality as it has a positive-feedback tacticle user interface (buttons!) Meaning that you can change volume, tracks, albums, fast forward, etc. without having to look at the thing or even take it out your pocket. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96915 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:06:05 +0000 cb 96915@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In the car I sometimes switch the radio off and wind the windows down a bit if coming out of a junction/driveway with poor visibility. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96914 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:38:44 +0000 Instography 96914@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>No one would say you were foolish and deserved to die for wearing sunglasses on your bike although they might if you wore a blindfold. And so with iPods - it's not so much whether you use it but how. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96904 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:06:18 +0000 Roibeard 96904@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Given the presence of In Car Entertainment and the development of double glazing for cars (deliberately to make the interior quieter), is it really that different?</p> <p>Is it stupid to have the radio on in a vehicle? Is it stupid it have it loud enough to drown out all exterior noise?</p> <p>There was a recent <a href="http://rideons.wordpress.com/2012/07/09/an-ear-on-the-traffic/">experiment performed in Australia</a>.</p> <p>I'd say that the absolute prohibition is unlikely to be proportionate, but it would appear to be prudent for road users to be able to use all their senses...</p> <p>Robert<br /> (who doesn't use portable music devices at any time, so probably isn't representative of anyone) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96900 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:13:30 +0000 steveo 96900@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As a colleague of mine once said; level crossings, when in doubt treat as give way... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96898 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:10:02 +0000 SRD 96898@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I presume that people with hearing impediments learn to check carefuly when crossing, whether on foot, cycle or car. The problem with headphones is that it insulates, rather than making you aware if your limitations. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96897 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:08:38 +0000 gembo 96897@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The lottery we play on our daily commute can have adjustments to alter the odds.</p> <p>No matter how you struggle and strive, you'll never get out of this life alive. </p> <p>As Hank said.</p> <p>I say, don't get lost in music, don't get caught in a trance, wait a minute, that was sister sledge </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96895 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:01:13 +0000 Nelly 96895@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>One view is its daft - another is its personal choice.</p> <p>It might seem to you a daft thing to do (and I happen to agree; I want to hear whats going on around me and dont listen to music)</p> <p><em>But</em> unless its against the law or potentially endangering another, how each of us goes about our business / ensures our own safety is a matter of personal choice. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96888 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:19:14 +0000 Smudge 96888@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I listen to music sometimes when I'm in the car, I wear a crash helmet when I am on a motorbike, sometimes may choose to listen to music when cycling, that in itself does not make me stupid, and it only puts me at risk if I do it in a stupid or careless way.<br /> &lt;activate devil's avocate mode&gt; I assume those who condemn all headphone wearers also believe deaf or hearing impaired people should not be allowed to cycle? &lt;devil's advocate mode off&gt;</p> <p>Edited to add; perhaps the true Darwin factor is negotiating rail crossings without checking it is clear or despite barriers and warnings? Maybe I've led a sheltered life but every road crossing I've encountered in the UK has visual as well as audible warnings of the approach of trains?!? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96885 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:53:34 +0000 cc 96885@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When I was young and foolish I listened to music while cycling. I'm glad I got to be middle aged. I get so frustrated seeing other people being just as foolish as I was when I was younger. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96884 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:30:41 +0000 DaveC 96884@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I used to listen to music on my commute on the bike but now I don't as I need to hear whats is going on around me. It is frustrating that other shared path users do appear not to hear me ringing as I approach and pass them due to headphones. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9277#post-96877 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:46:10 +0000 Tulyar 96877@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There have been 3 RAIB reports on cyclists killed in collisions with rail vehicles on level crossings the latest has just been released, and is even more damning than the previous two because of the presence of 2 pedestrians at the same crossing "We shouted for him to stop but he obviously didn't hear us"/"His i-pod was still playing loud music" and CCTV on the train "his hood was up and he was not looking or reacting to the train horn at all"</p> <p>At the other 2 incidents i-pods and earpieces were recovered with strong evidence that these were in use by the deceased parties.</p> <p>How much more does it take to make people realise that you need the full function of eyes and ears to ride a bike and drive a car</p> <p>Report d/load here <a href="http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/reports_2013/report012013.cfm" rel="nofollow">http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/reports_2013/report012013.cfm</a> </p>