On 27 Mar 2003 at 11:37, Trampel, Dan wrote:
> Mike- I couldn't disagree with you more. And if you check the code, the
> restriction is to MOTOR vehicles, NOT bicycles. I ride both with and
> without and it doesn't deter your ability to hear any more than wind noise
> does IF you are using over the ear sets that lay across your ear as opposed
> to in-ear sets. I find that visual attention is much more acute and
> necessary than the hearing aspect for safety......especially since
> motorcycle helmets severly restrict noise levels and continue to get quiter
> and quiter each year. I don't mean to start a firestorm of controversy on a
> subject that always seem to incite it, but let's not go out of our way to
> "legislate" our opinions on others as we try to increase, not lessen, the
> ridership in the club. Thanks.
Dan:
There may be cyclists who won't join NBC because we require helmets. If our main interest is increasing ridership perhaps we should consider dropping this rule.
While it may indeed be true that "motorcycle helmets severly restrict noise levels and continue to get quiter and quiter each year" (or even quieter and quieter), we're not riding motorcycles. As you know when cycling in a group verbal signals are regularly passed between riders. "Slowing", "Hole", "Flat!", "Car Back", "Glass", etc., are frequently heard. Notwithstanding my earlier comment about deaf cyclists, verbal communication is important.
There are cycling courtesies to be observed such as, "No riding on aerobars in a group". I think riding with headsets in a group, if not blatantly dangerous is awfully rude. The law doesn't require wearing a helmet, yet NBC does. Perhaps we should have a rational discussion about adding this to our list of rules-of-the-road.
jeverett3@earthlink.net (John V. Everett)