Ban Proposed On Walking, Listening To iPod

sevenoneeighty · February 2007

Ban Proposed On Walking While Talking, Listening To iPod
Ban Would Apply To MP3 players, Blackberrys

http://www.wnbc.com/news/10948106/detail.html

A state senator from Brooklyn said on Tuesday he plans to introduce legislation that would ban people from using an MP3 player, cell phone, Blackberry or any other electronic device while crossing the street in either New York City or Buffalo.

NewsChannel 4 reported that Sen. Carl Kruger is proposing the ban in response to two recent pedestrian deaths in his district, including a 23-year-old man who was struck and killed last month while listening to his iPod on Avenue T and East 71st Street In Bergen Beach.

"While people are tuning into their iPods and cell phones, they're tuning out the world around them," Kruger said. The proposed law would make talking on cell phones while crossing the street a comparable offense to jaywalking.

Some pedestrians said they were not worried about their safety while using their electronic devices while walking.

"I look for the light," said Venus Montes of Williamsburg.

"I'm still looking," said Lance Gordon of Far Rockaway. "It's not like I'm not paying attention."

Others said the proposed ban would not work.

"I don't think anyone's going to be up for this," said Patricia Lewis of Staten Island. "I don't think anyone wants this."

Other pedestrians said they thought the proposal was a good idea.

"It's too dangerous," said Nicole Lake of Jersey City. "Drivers don't pay attention and pedestrians don't pay attention."

carnivore · February 2007

I guess I'd have to break out the old walkman or discman.

shishkab · February 2007

and don't forget the roller skates, sweatbands, and short shorts!

don't these politicians realize it's darwinism's natural selection at work? if a person is stupid enough not to be able to listen to music and cross the street at the same time then being a stain in the road may just be the best thing for all involved!!! :twisted:

carnivore · February 2007

This could also trigger the return of the boombox.

alafairnadia · February 2007

I've actually almost gotten nailed crossing vandy at park while typing away on my bberry. I doubt I'd pay attention to a ban, though. I mean, if I can't pay attention to traffic, why pay attention to a ban?

whyfi · February 2007

Can we still chew gum?

alafairnadia · February 2007

banned for chewing gum

carnivore · February 2007

banned for banning in the wrong thread.

whyfi · February 2007

Banned for starting this whole banning nonsense in the first place!

carnivore · February 2007

Banned for preaching against it even when you know you love it.

shishkab · February 2007

hey! get your hineys over to The Lounge if yer gonna play Banning! we're talkin' about iPods here. focus, people! focus! :P

alafairnadia · February 2007

I actually prefer iPod headphones that don't fit too well. I once had a pair that were very snug and it was totally disconcerting to not hear any background noise. I think I missed my subway stop because I was so immersed in the music and my book and I didn't hear the doors opening and closing or the people moving around.

whyfi · February 2007

Get some Grado headphones - they sound great, they're open air, so you can still hear what's going on around you, and they're based in Brooklyn! What's not to love?!

*Full disclosure - the store that I work for sells Grado products, but I don't financially benefit unless they're bought from me, personally. Go buy'em from whoever you want - they're good.

shishkab · February 2007

alafairnadia wrote: I actually prefer iPod headphones that don't fit too well. I once had a pair that were very snug and it was totally disconcerting to not hear any background noise.

huh. that's interesting. y'see, i'm the exact opposite. i love the fact that i've got form-fitting, somewhat noise-cancelling headphones (they're kind of like those foam earplugs you squish to get in your ear, then they expand inside the canal for a tight fit). my reason? well, the fact that i can hear the music so well over the zillion decibels of the subway means that i can play the tunes at a much LOWER volume. better on the ears, so to speak! added benefit: no one around me has to listen to what i'm listening to (a big pet peeve of mine is when i'm half a car away and i can hear what some inconsiderate doo-dah is listening to loud and clear. argh!).

but i can totally see your point.

boygabriel · February 2007

i can see the police getting off their fat asses now to write tickets for this.

caaahyoko · February 2007

shishkab wrote: and don't forget the roller skates, sweatbands, and short shorts!

don't these politicians realize it's darwinism's natural selection at work? if a person is stupid enough not to be able to listen to music and cross the street at the same time then being a stain in the road may just be the best thing for all involved!!! :twisted:

:twisted: Yes! I subscribe fully to this theory as well.

Anyway, I think this would be enforced about as much as jaywalking is. Has anyone ever gotten a ticket for jaywalking? Ever?

pitu · February 2007

looks like one b'klyn state senator is looking for a little attention...
*nothing* ever happens in the NY State Senate!
Of the thousands of bills they propose every year,
they usually enact about twelve . . . .

idlewild · February 2007

WhyFi wrote: Get some Grado headphones - they sound great, they're open air, so you can still hear what's going on around you, and they're based in Brooklyn! What's not to love?!

*Full disclosure - the store that I work for sells Grado products, but I don't financially benefit unless they're bought from me, personally. Go buy'em from whoever you want - they're good.

I love Grado's. I bought them for my first Ipod. They proved too bulky however. I just received my Uber Ipod today. I bought a pair of Shure's to go with them. I'm waiting for this 80gb monstrosity to charge thru my USB port.

idlewild · February 2007

pitu wrote: looks like one b'klyn state senator is looking for a little attention...
*nothing* ever happens in the NY State Senate!
Of the thousands of bills they propose every year,
they usually enact about twelve . . . .

We have a two war front, with a possible third and fourth looming over us, a Constitutional case of eminent domain abuse, hospitals and firehouses being shut-down. Of course banning Ipod use during pedial intercourse takes precedence. WTG, Bubble Head.

carnivore · February 2007

I agree with pitu. This will never happen.

I've also got a pair of Grado SR-80s that I love, but I agree that they're too big for just normal walking around. They're the best ever for in-flight entertainment. FYI: although they're made in Sunset Park, they don't sell them there, or anywhere in Brooklyn. I got mine at turntable lab on 7th St in the EV (but I didn't know that WhyFi sold them when I got mine). It's funny when I use them with my nano, because the headphones are so much bigger than the player it's almost ludicrous.

anonymous · February 2007

Will there be a ban on the deaf walking city streets as well?

Ban Proposed On Walking, Listening To iPod

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