Is listening to a radio while cycling illegal?

Hi there,

Im just about to get kitted up so i can cycle to work but I wanted to listen to the radio
whilst cycling.

Is this legal? I have a little pocket radio and headphones - provided it is secure surely there is
no problem?

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

Lee

"Lee" <gnipspamer@btinternet.com> wrote in message news:vhv8l4bt3uhab3@corp.supernews.com...

> Im just about to get kitted up so i can cycle to work but I wanted to
listen
> to the radio whilst cycling. Is this legal?

Yes, legal but not very sensible.

--
Guy
===

WARNING: may contain traces of irony. Contents may settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.com

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <spamdump@chapmancentral.com> wrote in message
news:bfo996$nrd$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk...
> "Lee" <gnipspamer@btinternet.com> wrote in message news:vhv8l4bt3uhab3@corp.supernews.com...
>
> > Im just about to get kitted up so i can cycle to work but I wanted to
> listen
> > to the radio whilst cycling. Is this legal?
>
> Yes, legal but not very sensible.
>
> --
> Guy
> ===
>
> WARNING: may contain traces of irony. Contents may settle after posting.
> http://www.chapmancentral.com
>
>

Agree with Guy.....I reckon at least 30% of my personal protection system is subconciously listening
to what's going on out of view, i.e. behind me, round the corner etcetc. As much as I love music and
listen to the radio/tape in the mdgh, I would never listen to anything whilst on my bike. Dave.

>Yes, legal but not very sensible.

I completely agree. Whilst cycling my ears are used to detect traffic - especially stuff coming up
behind me (ooher missus...) or stuff at junctions where the junction has poor visibility.

Cheers, helen s

~~~~~~~~~~
This is sent from a redundant email Mail sent to it is dumped My correct one can be gleaned from
h$**$*$el$**e$n$**$d$**$o$*$t**$$s$**$im$mo$ns*@a$**o$l.c$$*o$*m*$ by getting rid of the
overdependence on money and fame
~~~~~~~~~~

"wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX" <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote in message
news:20030724060417.09715.00000309@mb-m11.aol.com...
> >Yes, legal but not very sensible.
>
> I completely agree. Whilst cycling my ears are used to detect traffic - especially stuff coming up
> behind me (ooher missus...) or stuff at
junctions
> where the junction has poor visibility.
>

Yup, not really recommended. I'm not sure, but I reckon any insurance company would try and get out
of any liability if you use a stereo whilst on the road. You'll generally find the stereo
manufacturers stipulate that the product should not be used whilst on a cycle or whilst driving.

I use mine when I cycle around Richmond Park, but have to look over my shoulder for other people
passing me. (There are some people who go stupidly quick uphill, I'm going to give them loads of
bags of sugar to carry around with them. )

"Lee" <gnipspamer@btinternet.com> wrote in message news:vhv8l4bt3uhab3@corp.supernews.com...
> Hi there,
>
> Im just about to get kitted up so i can cycle to work but I wanted to
listen
> to the radio whilst cycling.
>
> Is this legal? I have a little pocket radio and headphones - provided it
is
> secure surely there is no problem?

I have mine on every time I go out - if I didn't, I would never commute to work at all -it would be
too boring. I prefer not to put too much emphasis on aural clues anyway, I rely mainly on sight.

In fact, if you look at the antics of pavement lemmings, you can easily see where relying too much
on sound leads you. Dozens of peds, who since they can't hear a motor, will walk out into the road
directly in front of you without looking.

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

LOL (ooher missus)

"wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX" <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote in message
news:20030724060417.09715.00000309@mb-m11.aol.com...
> >Yes, legal but not very sensible.
>
> I completely agree. Whilst cycling my ears are used to detect traffic - especially stuff coming up
> behind me (ooher missus...) or stuff at
junctions
> where the junction has poor visibility.
>
> Cheers, helen s
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~
> This is sent from a redundant email Mail sent to it is dumped My correct one can be gleaned from
> h$**$*$el$**e$n$**$d$**$o$*$t**$$s$**$im$mo$ns*@a$**o$l.c$$*o$*m*$ by getting rid of the
> overdependence on money and fame
> ~~~~~~~~~~

"wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX" <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote in message
news:20030724060417.09715.00000309@mb-m11.aol.com...

> I completely agree. Whilst cycling my ears are used to detect traffic - especially stuff coming up
> behind me..

That's why i hate those long busses with the engine at the rear, when the loom up next to your right
shoulder with no audible warning at all.

"Dave" <no-one@nowhere.org> wrote in message
news:NZNTa.49218$Df6.46421@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
> "Just zis Guy, you know?" <spamdump@chapmancentral.com> wrote in message
> news:bfo996$nrd$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk...
> > "Lee" <gnipspamer@btinternet.com> wrote in message news:vhv8l4bt3uhab3@corp.supernews.com...
> >

>
> Agree with Guy.....I reckon at least 30% of my personal protection system
is
> subconciously listening to what's going on out of view, i.e. behind me, round the corner etcetc.
> As much as I love music and listen to the radio/tape in the mdgh, I would never listen to anything
> whilst on my
bike.
> Dave.
>
>

Yeah i guess u are right, the path i will be taking into work is all cycle paths tho so we shall see
how i get on.

Thanks for the swift response guys.

"Simon Mason" <simon@simonmason.karoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:vhve3e9givhvbb@corp.supernews.com...
>
> I have mine on every time I go out - if I didn't, I would never commute
to
> work at all -it would be too boring. I prefer not to put too much emphasis on aural clues anyway,
> I rely mainly on sight.
>
> In fact, if you look at the antics of pavement lemmings, you can easily
see
> where relying too much on sound leads you. Dozens of peds, who since they can't hear a motor, will
> walk out into the road directly in front of you without looking.
>
> --
> Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net
>
>

my concern is that ill get bored too - just have to see how it goes i guess!

"Lee" <gnipspamer@btinternet.com> wrote in message news:vhvgrtt5tvo78@corp.supernews.com...

> my concern is that ill get bored too - just have to see how it goes i
guess!

My commute is nearly all off road anyway, so having a radio on is not much of a hazard there and
riding for nearly 2 hours, day in day out with no radio, especially at 0530 and 2230 would be
unthinkable. I find strong headwinds much more of a detriment to my hearing than quiet speech
radio anyway.

The only times I take them out fully is when I have to cross dock lock gates when I have to listen
for the siren to tell you if they're about to open, but since I can hear a police car's siren from
half a mile way, it's not really necessary.

If you've any doubts about your safety with earpieces in though, then don't use them.

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

"Simon Mason" <simon@simonmason.karoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:vhvhqc9sip4nca@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Lee" <gnipspamer@btinternet.com> wrote in message news:vhvgrtt5tvo78@corp.supernews.com...
>
> > my concern is that ill get bored too - just have to see how it goes i
> guess!
>
> My commute is nearly all off road anyway, so having a radio on is not
much
> of a hazard there and riding for nearly 2 hours, day in day out with no radio, especially at 0530
> and 2230 would be unthinkable. I find strong headwinds much more of a detriment to my hearing than
> quiet speech radio anyway.
>
> The only times I take them out fully is when I have to cross dock lock gates when I have to
> listen for the siren to tell you if they're about to open, but since I can hear a police car's
> siren from half a mile way, it's not really necessary.
>
> If you've any doubts about your safety with earpieces in though, then
don't
> use them.
>
> --
> Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net
>
>

Well my coinmute is pretty much all offroad anyway - all cycle paths - im sure I will be alright -
would drive me crazy to commute and not have a radio to listen to!

Lee wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> Im just about to get kitted up so i can cycle to work but I wanted to listen to the radio whilst
> cycling.
>
> Is this legal? I have a little pocket radio and headphones - provided it is secure surely there is
> no problem?
>
> Any input would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
>
Get a single earpiece - best of both worlds. That's what I do - no problem hearing the radio or
traffic. I too get very bored if I forget it or the batteries go or something.

"Stephen (aka steford)" <R_e_M_o_V_Esteford.usenetS_p_A_M@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:bfokas$h5sju$1@ID-62064.news.uni-berlin.de...
> >
> Get a single earpiece - best of both worlds. That's what I do - no problem hearing the radio or
> traffic. I too get very bored if I forget it or the batteries go or something.
>
>

Thats a plan - my fave station is on AM anyway so i wont miss anything is super stereo.

Thanks

"Simon Mason" <simon@simonmason.karoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:vhve3e9givhvbb@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Lee" <gnipspamer@btinternet.com> wrote in message news:vhv8l4bt3uhab3@corp.supernews.com...
> > Hi there,
> >
> > Im just about to get kitted up so i can cycle to work but I wanted to
> listen
> > to the radio whilst cycling.
> >
> > Is this legal? I have a little pocket radio and headphones - provided it
> is
> > secure surely there is no problem?
>
> I have mine on every time I go out - if I didn't, I would never commute
to
> work at all -it would be too boring. I prefer not to put too much emphasis on aural clues anyway,
> I rely mainly on sight.
>
> In fact, if you look at the antics of pavement lemmings, you can easily
see
> where relying too much on sound leads you. Dozens of peds, who since they can't hear a motor, will
> walk out into the road directly in front of you without looking.
>
> --
> Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire.

Funnily enough Simon, I wasn't thinking of subconsciously listening to the pavement lemings ahead,
silly!!...I'd use my eyes for that.....No, I was thinking more of mdgs, 40 tonners, busses etc. I
think I'd find headphones similar to a chiffon blindfold to the eyes. Can see through it, but not
quite clear enough to feel comfortable. Funny how I'm happy enough to drive the mdg with music loud
enough to make yer ears bleed (I wish!!)......guess I haven't quite sorted it all out in me head
yet ;-) Dave.
p.s. - OP said all commuting being done off-road, so wouldn't imagine it'd be too dangerous,
except as another contributer said, if someone comes up from behind and attempts to overtake,
just as he's getting another swoosh to the right, across the path, to the next rousing piece
in his ear.