Wearing headphones while sitting on a bicycle – initially doesn't sound suspicious. Whether your bicycle is your sports equipment or you're using it in everyday life... music, accessibility, or information gathering are natural and ubiquitous for us.
Many athletes like to listen to music while training because the preset rhythm is a good source of motivation and makes covering kilometers less boring. Music, audiobooks, podcasts, or phone calls with hands-free devices or headphones are also simply part of driving a car or walking today.
But what about on a bicycle? Is it allowed to ride a bicycle with headphones?
What does the law say about headphones on a bicycle?
The traffic regulations stipulate that as a vehicle operator, you are responsible for ensuring that “hearing and sight are not [...] impaired” (StVO § 23, Abs.1).
So there is no clear legal regulation that explicitly prohibits or allows headphones. You just need to make sure, that you are aware of everything happening around you.
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What is absolutely prohibited is handling the phone while riding. |
If you are caught with the smartphone in your hand, there will be trouble. Here, a phone holder and headphones with a hands-free device provide relief. The type of headphones doesn't matter, so it doesn't matter whether you wear Bluetooth headphones, wired headphones, earpods, or something else.
No bicycle helmet, but with headphones on the bicycle... that could go wrong! Image © Julian on Unsplash
Headphones on the bicycle – the two most important points
There are two conditions that must be observed if you want to wear headphones on the bicycle:
- Whatever you're listening to on your headphones, whether it's a phone call, music, or a podcast, it must not distract you from the traffic around you!
- The volume of the headphones must be set so that it does not completely drown out the traffic. Despite headphones, the cyclist must hear bells, sirens, or car horns! Even warning shouts from pedestrians should not be drowned out.
Can there be trouble if you wear headphones on the bicycle?
Even if it is not directly prohibited, you can get into trouble if you wear headphones on the bicycle. If an accident occurs and it turns out that you were listening to music too loudly and were involved in the accident or even caused it, legal consequences may ensue. In this case, you might face a Partial fault awarded or even bear full responsibility for the accident. This can reduce or completely eliminate claims for damages or insurance benefits. But even if there is no accident and you are only caught with loud music, you can be slapped with a fine . If you ignore a siren and do not immediately clear the way for an ambulance, fire brigade, or police, or if you endanger the operation, it can become very expensive.
Headphones on the bicycle are allowed, but not recommended!
Even if the volume is reduced and the headphones do not drown out the road traffic , the risk of distraction is simply too great.
| Even if wearing headphones is not directly prohibited, it is therefore explicitly not recommended by cycling associations, major cycling magazines, or lawyers. |
The denser the traffic around you, the more likely it is that you will miss a source of danger. Exciting news or an engaging podcast can distract you so much that you do not react appropriately.
And not only in city traffic is distraction by headphones a danger, even when you are on the trail with an MTB or riding a road bike at top speed , you can become a danger to yourself and others. Therefore, it is recommended not to get on a bicycle with headphones – and if you do, then only with low volume.
Can you ride a bike with headphones – FAQs
Here we answer some frequently asked questions about wearing headphones on a bicycle.
Does it make a difference if I wear headphones on a bike or listen to music in a car?
Of course, there is a difference between headphones when cycling and the system in a car! In the car, you hear music, news, or your conversation partner through the car's speakers, leaving your ears free. Headphones, on the other hand, always block out a certain amount of ambient noise. Many headphones are even specially designed to block out noise and allow for undisturbed music enjoyment, known as noise cancelling, or “noise cancellation.” This essentially makes you “deaf” to your surroundings and is particularly unsuitable for road traffic.
In-Ear or Over-Ear, which is better?
On the bicycle, in case of doubt, In-Ear headphones recommended. The reason is quite simple: With on-ear (or over-ear) headphones, the headband prevents you from wearing a helmet. Additionally, with in-ear headphones, you usually have the option to block only one ear . A free ear ensures that you get much more awareness.
Are wireless headphones recommended?
It is strongly advised against wearing wireless headphones like Airpods, as there is a significant risk of losing them on the go and the associated distraction is particularly high.
Podcast or music – is there a difference?
If you completely immerse yourself in the world of an audiobook or an engaging podcast, your attention may suffer. Music, on the other hand, entertains you with a variety of acoustic stimuli at different frequencies. This can lead to you simply overhearing the warning signals of other road users. In the end, both are dangerous!
In-ear headphones or over-ear headphones – both are only partially suitable for cycling. Image © Leon Seibert on Unsplash
If you don't want to cycle with headphones – there are alternatives
The development is still in its infancy here, but there are already some helmets with built-in speakers or with an integrated hands-free system. There is also the option to retrofit a hands-free system to the bicycle helmet. Here too, the volume must be reduced so that it does not shield the sounds of the outside world, and it must be ensured that cyclists are not distracted.
It is not necessarily needed to play music via headphones or the helmet on the bicycle, a small speaker box on the handlebar or the speaker of the phone also provides you with music, information, or helps with phone calls on the go... and the whole world listens in. Certainly not everyone's cup of tea, but definitely not forbidden. But even here, the sounds of traffic must not be drowned out or distract you.
Is it allowed to ride a bicycle with open-ear or bone conduction headphones? There is no legal regulation on this, but since the ears remain free, they are an alternative for cyclists. Image © Shokz
There is a good alternative to common headphones, specifically designed for athletes. Open-ear headphones transmit sound to the cheekbones, they do not cover the ears. The risk of distraction naturally remains, but the ears stay free and the chance of missing important signals is minimized – this is a major advantage of bone conduction technology.
Important! As of January 2023. Please note that despite careful research, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of statements regarding the current legal situation!
Sources:
www.bussgeldkatalog.org (accessed on 21.12.22)
www.adfc.de (accessed on 21.12.22)
dejure.org (accessed on 20.12.22)
Title image: Mark Rohan on Unsplash
