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Police warning for iPod users
theage.com.au — Police have warned that cyclists should never listen to an iPod while riding unless they have a death wish.
Holmes89- 1326 diggs
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- Chris_F, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2If they're on the road, no kidding.
- thenativeraver, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Front page material for sure.
- TheJosher, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"It was unusual to see people using walkmans on bikes and the reason is the iPod can store 400 to 500 songs"
Last I checked, my iPod could hold 7,500 songs (albeit at a low bitrate, but still.)
"He said people were misjudging the risks of listening to music and commuting: "You don't get onto your house roof and stand on your hands. You're taking a huge risk," he said. "People have just got to take some responsibility.""
What does standing upside down on the roof have to do with listening to music?
While I'll agree that its a bad idea to listen to music while riding, this guy is just stupid. - schwit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I will second this. I commute on a bike and train for triathlons. These IDIOTS are dangerous to themselves and others on the road/bike paths. This danger is one reason that headphones are not allowed in organized triathlons for biking or running.
I would also add a new dangerous trend and that is cyclists and runners using cell phones. - moisie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I read about this in the Telegraph, they mentioned the iPod about 3 times as if the iPod is the only one that's dangerous. Of course the article probably wouldn't have been as catchy if it had been a sony bean or something.
- arunforce, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Common sense?
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http://arunforce.blogspot.com - e3mw, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Common sense prevails, yet there are people who buy iPods for this exact purpose.
- anthrt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0did they use those exact words?
- jherubin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Um...duh?
- rockintom99, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Heh, no kidding. I used to ride my bike to school, and i took my mp3 cd player one day. I was changing the song, and ended up in a ditch, and lost my bike key. Bad times.
- papaia, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Nothing about my Creative MuVo - I should be OK with drive-by-listening
- adml_shake, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Common sense?"
Something sadly missing from about 98% of the population. - vernsan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Should of looked before crossing the street.
- spin-docta, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0I hate when people blam just the iPod. Its for ANY music player, device that would distract hearing. Just like the hearing lost situation, it could happen on any device.
- vernsan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Also to add, once my dad told me that if common sense is so common why don't the rest of the world have it. I completely agreed with him.
- DrWho, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0please, keep wearing them
- tsupersonic, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Australians
- MrHolla, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0On a related note, police have issued a statement declaring that toking and riding should be encouraged. The best way to fight heavy traffic is by getting happy. :)
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http://www.hollaforadolla.com - bonlebon, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2Just Remember: Policemen are friends to nobody.
- sketchstudios, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1if anyones familar with george carlin, in one of his comedy stand up specials he explains to us about these "dumb" people. and he actually encourages them to go about their life in their own stupid way, that way we can weed out the population of these crazy less intelligent people. -- people, dont listen to your ipod when on your bike. and while were on the subject, get off the damn cell phone in the car too.
- 0Troy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This just in: "Cyclists should pay attention when riding on the streets unless they have a death wish"
You could really just swap out iPOD with any other distraction. Cell phones, hot chicks walking by, sneezing... Oh, they should come out about that whole sneezing thing. That s*** is dangerous... - greedonever, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The thing they are not mentioning is that in most cases you shouldn't listen to headphones while you are walking either. I don't understand why people are so anxious to lower their awareness of their surroundings.
- dv8withn8, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Oh Darwin, your spirit is still with us.
- NtroP, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1iPod?
Just to hazzard a guess, I'd say it's pretty similar for ANY MP3 player. ...or DiscMan, or Walkman, or... anything that screams into your ears louder than ambient traffic noises.
NO! Let's pick on the iPod.
C'mon people! Take some personal responsibility and use some common sense for once.
Hey, d'ya think it might be dangerous for me to watch a movie on my Video iPod while riding a bike? Someone better warn me - I don't think I can figure that out for myself. Maybe I should sue Apple for not warning me about that. Hey, sounds like Class Action (tm) to me. - schrags, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Ill just use a Dell DJ instead.... seriously, i frekin hate people that use ipod as the name for an "mp3 player".
- joseph, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0They also say you're at a big risk if you drive with two hands, but who does that?
- sandwichpants, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I wonder if there's a potential for earbuds/headphones designed for activity and balancing exterior noise with the sound from a device. Something more like having sound from regular speakers at a sensible volume traveling through the air and mixing with environmental sound. Not that I have any idea on the plausability of such an idea.
I wonder how much of that effect could be obtained by simply turning down the volume, though the music is certainly less enjoyable that way.
Or, we could have a government mandated frequency that has to be broadcast from all cars and bikes and stuff that allows audio devices to detect incoming danger and alert the user. That sounds TOTALLY practical...I have good ideas...and my mom says I'm the most handsome boy in school.... - MrTea, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0sounds like a thread to me :s
- Rice, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0No *****?
- Rice, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0And I'll add, why the hell did they try to contact Apple? Careless drivers and bicycle rides aren't Apple's fault. And if they are, please correct me.
- yagoogaly, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0lame...
- andreizilla, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Can I still listen to my iPod in my car? (Using the supplied headphones)
- Wamzlee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I am always afraid to run around town with my ipod because I am afraid I won't hear things that I need to hear. Also..I don't run because I am afraid I will look like an idiot
- bloodclox, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0isnt it so ***** gay how people now refer to music players as ipod? let me go shoot my ***** self
- NewEvolution, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Clearly we need to build accelerometers into our MP3 players. Speed > walking = low enough volume to hear ambient sounds.
In other news, it's outright illegal to wear headphones while driving. I would figure the same regulations apply to cycling, as they need to follow the same "rules of the road" and all that. - a1532b, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Ha, this is funny. I was riding my bike and listening to my ipod earlier today. Sure, it was on the bike path, but I still see their point.
- Dragonis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Why add regulations? Just like the law that says Bike Helmets are mandatory... Don't force dumb adults to do smart things. It 's a way of thinning the herd.
- joelmole, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"What does standing upside down on the roof have to do with listening to music?
While I'll agree that its a bad idea to listen to music while riding, this guy is just stupid."
What's not to get here? Listening to headphones while you're riding a bike is as dangerous as walking on your hands on the roof.
"Can I still listen to my iPod in my car? (Using the supplied headphones)"
Hell no. - infectedRoot, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0How the ***** did this get to front page?
- nerdherder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0That's what i love about living in a rural area. I can ride a bike or run for several miles and not see a single vehicle, i dont have a problem with headphones while doing this in my area because of that.
- mexter, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Alright! I don't use an iPod! I can listen to my MP3's on the road in perfect safety!
- diggerido, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Police ought to warn bicyclists that failing to stop at red lights and stop signs is illegal. Constantly amazing how many (95%? 99%?) just breeze on through like they're Lance Armstrong in the final leg of the Tour d' France.
- Seumas, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Yeah, you shouldn't listen to music while riding your bicycle because you're likely to get killed by the careless idiot listening to music driving his car.
- evil-doer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1i hardly ever ride my bike without my ipod on. i dont see what the problem is. i dont change songs on it before checking my surroundings, and i dont play it so loud i dont hear things. how is this any different than it off?
- brutimus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I just get annoyed that everything is "iPod". I've got nothing against apple or anything, but lets at least just generalize the terminology - mp3 player, or just, "headphones".
- diggerphelps, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1iPods (or mp3 players) are not the problem.
I wear my iPod on my bike to work everyday, and I don't wear a helmet.
I see other riders wearing helmets and no iPod, yet they run stop signs and red lights.
Who is a bigger danger on the road? - zenscope, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1so cyclists are suddenly in full control of their own lives (by not using headphones) when a car is barreling down on them from behind?? that makes zero sense. volume control? drivers who can see what's in front of them? this is a ridiculous article... once again, a blanket statement from the police to protect everyone.
i've got a better idea. stop giving 16 year olds the ability to drive. - nerdherder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@zenscope
some 16 year olds are excellent drivers, they just need to make the driving test harder to weed out the morons - Boondoggle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Actually it is good for us all when stupid people die.
- Googled, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"It was unusual to see people using walkmans on bikes and the reason is the iPod can store 400 to 500 songs,"
Who I must be some l33t h4x0r because I've managed to get around 2,000 on mine. =) -
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