Bike commuters - do you listen to headphones while riding?

I commute 12 miles each way to work and back and the peace and quiet is nice but there are times I would like to listen to the news or maybe music or something while I ride. But I ride on traffic roads so I'm concerned about the safety of having headphones on.

Do any other bike commuters listen to headphones while riding? What if I just used one ear to listen?

The issue is not sound level, but processing. While listening to music, or whatever, your brain tends to ignore, or react more slowly to, other sensory inputs. That's fine if nothing unusual happens, but if someone cuts you off, or there's a pothole that wasn't there yesterday, your reaction time is seriously impaired.

Then there's the repetition factor. You're on a familiar everyday route, so you run the risk of turning in front of a car without looking, hypnotized by your audio input.

Your choice of course, but I wouldn't do it. Pod zombies are just another speed bump on the road of life.

I travel about 16 miles every day just generally on my bike offroad etc. And i always wear headphones with music. I wear them in both ears. It helps me focus on other things rather than just whats ahead of me. Although if you like the peace and quiet, maybe putting on some slow music in one ear is good as it contrasts with the scenery, making it more relaxable.
One ear is a good way of listening to music as you can still be aware of traffic and other pedestrians etc. Although some pedestrians are annoying
Hope i helped

Nope - its unsafe as hell. Besides not being able to hear traffic and other warnings, you would be distracted.

When I bike out on the miles of endless blacktop boredom, I do plug in and jam from time to time. One tip I would give would be to use a large saftey pin to attach the cord to your shirt near your neck. I make a simple overhand loop in the cord to put the pin thru. That way if I come across a situation where I need to hear immediately, I can just yank the buds out of my ears without worrying about the cord getting caught in the chain or otherwise causing a problem as they dangle.

I used to wear headphones while riding but realized how dangerous it is. Even at a low volume you cannot hear cars as they approach you from behind. You can't hear dogs if they are chasing you. They distract you in situations where you need a sharp mind when riding through busy intersections or coming around blind curves where your sense of hearing is critical.

This is kind of a debate on many bike forums, many swears up and down that it is like running with scissors when listening to music when riding and some would say its perfectly OK.

Make your own judgment: If you feel in control and aware of your surroundings, by all means. If you are partially not sure, or in a new route/environment then no.

My own rule: In traffic, even in my common commute, I would not wear it so I can hear cars. Definitely not in an urban environment, but OK in my own neighborhood.

In a bike path or MUT, and riding casually would be OK.

On a hard/fast ride, no. Because of the effort and wind noise.

Riding with others? No, especially in a group ride when needing to talk to people.

Spinning class and home trainer? Definitely Yes.

headphones are nice. on my phone i can receive radio and listen to that sometimes, but only in one ear. there are the problems of being sidetracked by the music, but also the legal problems. in california it is illegal to ride your bike with 2 ear phones on. one is fine two is illegal and lie a 250 dollar fine. i dont know where yo live but this may be the case for your state as well

Nope. Thought about it, but for the commute into downtown, nah wouldn't work. There's too much going on already!

As cyclists who are considered automobiles when on the road and pedestrians when off - we have too much responsibility to be aware of our surroundings.

Now... on a weekend ride on a lonely country road... well that's a different story!

No I don't. Experience has taught me I need to be focused solely on what is happening on the road and music would be a distraction to me as well as preventing me from hearing vehicles coming up behind me.

I bmx. while i bike to get at the local skatepark i have usaly 1earphone on from my ipod. when im at the skatepark i put them both on.

ipod for life:)

I thought about it one time. Then I realized that you need your ears to pay attention for what's going on around you. Especially behind you.

yes all the time because the music helps me pay mind to my rpm and speed and not what ahead

i bmx so when i ride i have headphones on