OT:kinda: Ear buds

[IcySwan1]

Completely agree about not eliminating the sense of hearing while riding or walking. I never used ear buds but now use bone conductions headset, specifically Shokz. I can listen to books while riding and still hear traffic. In fact, on most roads I can hear a car approaching before it even shows up on my Varia. My wife doesn’t bike but she now uses them when she walks.

This is not an answer to those folks that use ear buds and are oblivious to their surroundings but it is an option if you want to listen to books or music and still be aware.

Mike

[Rpoole8537]

I have had two distracted runners do a sudden 180 turn into my path. One caused me to almost go down and I was moving pretty fast. On this particular trail, there are numerous signs that cyclists must call out passing on the left. If they are using headphones, it doesn’t help! Frustrating

[C40_guy]

When I'm riding in the woods, I encounter a lot of walkers, many with dogs. I consider it my responsibility to slow down before I get to them, so that if they *do* something silly, or a dog makes a sudden move, I can react accordingly.

If you're on the road, go for it. If you're on a multi use path, ride responsibly.

[benb]

It's getting a little fuzzy with all the people wearing Airpods.

In certain circumstances with certain settings you can hear better than unaided.

They are getting closer and closer to getting them approved as hearing aids.

Just saying this because it's going to get harder and harder to tell who is oblivious and who isn't and you're going to see more and more people with them in.

I would rather encounter oblivious people with Airpods than oblivious dog owners with their dogs illegally off leash on the trails.

Of course the less the trail is interesting the more likely you are to encounter airpods and/or unleased dogs. It tends to remind me I should be riding the "good places".