Cycling and Music: The Safety Debate Over Wearing Headphones While Riding

On long rides, music can make monotonous stretches of road feel far shorter. Many cyclists get in the habit of plugging in earbuds, letting their favorite songs or podcasts become the soundtrack of the journey. Yet this seemingly harmless habit has long sparked an ongoing safety debate within the cycling community.

What Does Taiwan’s Current Law Say?

Under Taiwan’s Road Traffic Safety Rules, cyclists “may not hold and use a mobile phone, watch television or other electronic screens, and may not use headphones.” In other words, wearing headphones while cycling is prohibited under Taiwanese law, and violators can be fined.

In practice, however, enforcement is quite lax — many riders still habitually wear headphones on the road, and cases of actually being fined for it are rarely seen. But the fact that the regulation exists is a reminder that this behavior is considered risky enough to warrant a rule in the first place.

Why Do Headphones Pose a Safety Risk?

Headphones block out more than just noise — they also block many ambient sounds that are critical while riding:

• Vehicle horns: When cars or motorcycles honk to overtake or warn, it’s one of the most important danger signals a rider can receive
• Engine sounds from behind: Even without a horn, experienced riders can judge the distance and speed of an approaching vehicle just from engine noise
• Unusual sounds from tires and the road surface: A flat tire or a rim rubbing against a brake pad can often be detected by sound before anything else
• Warnings from other riders: “Car left!” “Pothole!” “Turning right!” — in group rides, verbal cues are an essential communication tool

Studies show that headphones covering both ears can significantly lengthen a rider’s reaction time to ambient sound. In a sudden emergency, that extra 0.5 to 1 second of delayed reaction could be the difference that determines whether a crash occurs.

Comparing the Safety of Different Listening Devices

Bone Conduction Headphones: The Compromise Option

In recent years, bone conduction headphones have become increasingly popular among cyclists, largely because they work on a different principle from ordinary headphones: sound is transmitted to the inner ear through vibrations in the bone, without needing to seal the ear canal. This means riders can still hear ambient sounds from their surroundings.

The drawback of bone conduction headphones is that sound quality is relatively average — bass response is especially weak, and clarity suffers in noisy environments. Still, as a compromise that lets you “listen to music without fully blocking ambient sound,” it is genuinely safer than conventional in-ear headphones.

Popular brands such as Shokz (formerly AfterShokz) and Sony’s Open-Ear series have earned a solid reputation within Taiwan’s cycling community.

Open-Ear Air Conduction Headphones: An Emerging Option

Another option that has emerged in recent years is the “open-ear air conduction headphone,” represented by products like the Sony LinkBuds. These headphones don’t sit inside the ear canal and don’t seal it off — sound is transmitted through the air, theoretically allowing riders to enjoy music while still perceiving outside sound.

That said, at higher volumes they can still interfere with perception of ambient sound, so riders should still keep the volume in check.

The Safest Alternative: Wireless Bicycle Speakers

For safety-first riders, the most recommended option is a Bluetooth speaker mounted directly on the bicycle. The market offers many waterproof, shock-resistant Bluetooth speakers designed specifically for bikes, which can be mounted to the handlebars or top tube. Since the sound travels directly through open air, it doesn’t block any ambient sound at all.

The downside is that outdoors — especially at higher riding speeds or on noisy roads — the volume usually needs to be turned up quite a bit to hear clearly, which can be disruptive to nearby pedestrians or other road users. On quiet mountain roads or rural lanes, the effect works much better than on city streets.

Practical Advice: Finding the Balance That Works for You

• In urban areas and busy sections: It’s best to avoid using any listening device at all and stay fully focused
• On quiet mountain roads or bike paths: If using bone conduction or open-ear headphones, keep the volume low enough that you can still clearly hear ambient sounds
• Group rides: Regardless of the situation, not wearing headphones while riding with others is basic etiquette as well as a safety requirement
• Solitary stretches on long-distance tours: Some riders choose to use bone conduction headphones on long, vehicle-free straight roads, but must still remain highly alert

Conclusion

Music can make a journey more enjoyable, but no song is more important than arriving safely at your destination. On Taiwan’s roads, keeping your awareness of ambient sound intact is an important line of defense for protecting yourself as a rider. Choose a listening method that complies with the law and preserves your perception of the surrounding environment — or simply enjoy the sounds of riding itself: the wind, the tires, your own breathing. That, too, is a kind of music.

Related Reading

• Cycling and Music: A Guide to Headphone Use and Culture While Riding
• Cycling and Music: Should You Wear Headphones While Riding? Balancing Safety and Enjoyment
• Cycling and Music: Playlists and Rhythm Pairings for Your Ride
• Music Choices for Cyclists: BPM Recommendations Matched to Training Intensity