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Video: Cyclist collides with headphone-wearing runnerCyclist collides with headphone wearing runner - image via LiveLeak

Video: Cyclist collides with headphone-wearing runner

A very real demonstration that wearing headphones can be dangerous whether you're a cyclist or a runner...
by Elliot Johnston
Sat, Jun 04, 2016 12:35
34

The dangers of cycling while wearing headphones have been widely debated here at road.cc. We don't often talk about the dangers of running while wearing headphones though; we're not a running website after all.

This, though, is an indiscriminate example of the dangers of depriving yourself of one of your most valuable senses. It doesn't matter whether you're a runner or a cyclist, if you're a vulnerable road user, you're going to need all the help you can get - especially from your own ears.

This video was uploaded to LiveLeak the day after the incident took place. The cyclist in the video, whose identity is unconfirmed, gives the 'on your left' call to warn the runner of his presence.

Either due to the runner's use of headphones, or the low-volume warning issued by the cyclist, the runner doesn't check for traffic before making a surprise left turn into the cyclists path.

- Read more: Nine in ten people back cyclist headphone ban

The fall out is noisy and sounds painful, though there are no details about injury to the runner, cyclist, or the bike.

We hope all make a full recovery and explore alternative options - like bone conducting headphones - for listening to music while exercising.

- Read more: road.cc's Aftershokz Bluez 2 bone conducting headphone review

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34 comments

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only1redders | 8 years ago
10 likes

Agree with @unconstituted

My old man told me many things over the years, many of which I disagreed with, but one thing that stuck with me was that when you are driving/cycling/walking, it helps to make eye contact, so you have an idea of what other people are doing. None of us can control the behaviour of others and therefore we have to make allowances, to protect ourselves and to protect them from ourselves. 

This guy is, in my mind, going way too fast (especially given that he's coming up from behind and therefore unsighted) and whilst he doesn't purely have himself to blame, I think it's rich to simply label the runner 'a douche', even though he should have looked first

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tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
26 likes

Nah. I treat situations like this like the same as in skiing/snowboarding. Person behind is responsible for making the safe pass, which means slowing down or giving a really wide berth. No way I'd be trying to pass this runner at that speed on such a narrow path. I don't take a bell with me usually, but I have one and so does the missus. If we know we're going to take a shared path, which we usually avoid, then we'll take the bells. They're more piercing, though you shouldn't need them if passing slowly and safely and shout out in good notice.

 

Regardless, the cyclist shouts when it's too late and he's too close. He's the douche going too fast and uploading vids of people he's riding his bike into.

 

He could see that guy half a mile away and he still bombed into him. Guy just wants his cake. Treat people like animals, they do random stuff. What if the runner is deaf? Trips? 

 

I never have problems with pedestrians, had some step outs between cars etc, but I'm aware that can happen, eye people up and travel at a speed I can react to. Just as cars should be responsible for what happens to us, we should be responsible for what happens to pedestrians.

 

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Username replied to tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
6 likes

unconstituted wrote:

I never have problems with pedestrians, had some step outs between cars etc, but I'm aware that can happen, eye people up and travel at a speed I can react to. Just as cars should be responsible for what happens to us, we should be responsible for what happens to pedestrians.

 

 

Hear hear. I have not had a problem with pedestrians since a number 24 bus driver stepped in front of his bus at South End Green and I ploughed into him. Luckily he had a big belly which cushioned the the blow, (no kidding). That was thirty years ago (he was getting into his Routemaster's cab).

I learnt my lesson and have never cycled that close to parked vehicles since.

 

I agree with your skiing analogy; it is the person behind who is responsible.

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brooksby | 8 years ago
6 likes

Pedestrians wearing headphones are one of my personal hates... They'll not hear you (even if you ring a bell or call out), and you know that they will will suddenly  stop or turn without even looking.   Makes "shared space" a very stressful experience.

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