Remember kids... always wear a helmet. (The almighty bikeradar helmet thread)

Let me start that I don't think earphones should be banned otherwise Ed Scoble must be banned, too. But I must ask: I've found myself riding and have for whatever reason had to call/shout to the person riding in my vicinity rockin Dr Dre Beats like a moody footballer in their own world (maybe because I wanted to pass them or they were about to swerve into my path or something) but they couldn't hear a word I said. How do you justify this as sensible?

I don't mind headphones but I'm yet to see any of the wearers ever substitute their loss of sense by looking around them even more. Kinda grates me.

I don't wear earphones or headphones and wouldn't advocate their use but would not see them banned.

The fallacy in the oft rolled out argument against them by people who contribute to the comments section of The Daily Mail is interesting. Earphones, the received wisdom is, deny cyclists the opportunity to hear cars.

Those very cars and lorries, however, often drive with windows shut and music playing as well as the sound of their own engine obscuring other sound. They cannot hear the shouts, whistles or bells of cyclists or the screams of pedestrians. In my experience cars and lorries are more danger to others than bicycles are.

Before banning earphones, The Daily Mail should ban music, radios and telephones in cars and oblige them to drive with their windows open.