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February 09, 2006
Mass. Legislation Seeks to Ban Headphone Use by Cyclists
On bicycling, the sense of hearing and headphones:
"All in all, a bicyclist's decision whether to wear headphones, particularly, open-air headphones -- and of how loudly to play them -- ought to be of as little concern in the law as is the question of how loudly a motorist may play a radio inside a car, or whether a motorcyclist may legally wear earplugs to avoid hearing loss due to wind noise and engine noise. "
When I wear headphones when riding my bicycle (which is seldom), I can still hear the birds chirping, and the pebbles under my wheels. That is more than I can say for some of the entertainment, cell phone distracted motor vehicle operators I encounter on a daily basis. This is a matter of personal responsibility and safety, not something that should be legislated. Can a deaf person ride a bicycle safely and legally?
Write laws banning that bass thumping car stereo that penetrates the walls of my house, and cell phone use while driving, and then you might get my support for these worthwhile infringements on people's liberties. This legislation is bogus.
Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Related reading:
The Legislation: House, No. 1867
John S. Allen: Cycling and headphone use
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cycling, bicycle, cycle, Massachusetts, headphones, Cape Cod, bike, law, legislation, ride
Posted by capecodcyclist at February 9, 2006 05:45 AM
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Comments
I don't know that I agree with you on this one. Too many riders, runners and yes, drivers are completely oblivious to the environment around them as they travel about in their own sonic universe. What happened to the rule of it you can't hear the ambulance it's too loud and illegal? Isn't that a law already?
I'd agree with you that there are much bigger issues at hand than another piece of questionable legislation. I'd likely start with enforcing the traffic rules that already exist! Maybe a few tickets here and there for double parking, aggresive driving, blocking intersections, running crosswalks and not stopping for peds. While we're at it, I'd gladly support giving tickets to cyclist running the lights in Kenmore Square, those idiots!
I'll write this rep a quick note and suggest that a better law with more life saving affect on the streets would be banning cell phones in moving vehicles. Why isn't this a law already?
Here is something I wrote on the issue a while back: http://bikenerd.blogspot.com/2005/11/ipods-destroy-city.html
Thanks for the update.
Posted by: Knox at February 9, 2006 07:43 PM
Thanks for your thoughts Knox.
I shot an email off to my Rep. this morning, and he had responded within a couple of hours! His take was that this legislation would most likely never see the light of day. Personally, I hope he is correct.
I agree, we need more enforcement of existing traffic laws.
Posted by: Drew at February 9, 2006 07:59 PM
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