In December, we published an article with the fifteen best songs to ride hard to. We mentioned that sometimes you just feel like 'riding your own route, at your own time, at your own pace, and without having to talk. Just put in your earbuds and go.' But is that actually allowed? I looked it up for you.
The most important thing is that rules about earbuds differ per country. So always make sure to check whether earbuds are even allowed in the country where you are cycling! For example, in the Netherlands, it is permitted to have earbuds in both ears. However, there is a catch, as stated on the police website:
“It is not prohibited, but it can lead to dangerous situations because it distracts you. You are responsible for your own safety on the bike, but you must not obstruct or endanger other traffic. If you cause a dangerous situation, you may receive a fine.”
In most countries, there is a sort of 'general clause law' that states you must not behave dangerously while cycling. The police can always refer to this law, even when it comes to listening to music, if you create dangerous situations for others in traffic.
Below, we have compiled an overview of some of the most important cycling countries in Europe, supplemented with the United States and – because the UCI World Championships take place here this year – Australia.
| Country | Are headphones allowed? | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Allowed. | But you can still get fined if it leads to dangerous situations. |
| Belgium | Allowed. | However, the police advise against it. |
| Germany | Allowed. | As long as you can still hear surrounding sounds. |
| France | Not allowed. | Fine around 130-200 euros! |
| Italy | Allowed in one ear. | The other ear must be completely free. Fine 160 euros. |
| Spain | Not allowed. | It is also prohibited to wear a helmet with built-in headphones. Fine 200 euros. |
| Switzerland | Not allowed. | |
| Croatia | Allowed in one ear. | |
| USA | ? | Regulations vary by state and even city. In most states, two earbuds are prohibited, but one is allowed. Be careful, as it is completely banned in cities like Chicago. |
| Australia | Allowed. | A few years ago, there was a proposal to ban it, but it did not pass. |
As you can see, laws and rules vary greatly by country and even region or city where you are cycling. However, the common rule is that cyclists must always behave safely in traffic. This generally means you should be able to hear surrounding sounds. While this can be difficult to assess, most countries have a general clause law that allows police to fine you if you create dangerous situations with your earbuds in.
There are no explicit distinctions in the laws and regulations of the countries between traditional earbuds and bone conduction headphones, such as the well-known Shokz. In France and Italy, this appears to be a gray area in the legislation since the wording mentions 'a blocked ear.' Since bone conduction headphones do not block the ear, you might assume that this type is allowed. However, in countries like Spain, these are explicitly prohibited, and the rules even mention helmets with built-in speakers. Shokz addresses this on their own website (primarily for the US, but applicable in all countries):
“Because open ear headphones aren't recognized by current laws, we can't guarantee you won't be cited if pulled over…”
Finally, what about speakers in your backpack or elsewhere on your bike? Unfortunately, there are no specific laws or regulations about this, much to my personal annoyance. Personally, I would favor a general ban on this—I really don’t want to be subjected to other people’s music. The only rule in the Netherlands related to this is that you must not disturb public order. Playing loud music often falls under this category, even temporarily while cycling.
Ultimately, all laws and rules around 'earbuds in and go' are primarily aimed at ensuring road safety for yourself and others. So just be sensible. Turn off your music when entering a city or village. Make sure you can still hear your surroundings in all other areas. And always pay close attention to what is happening around you. Although I always ride without earbuds and music, I don’t always strictly follow this principle. Sometimes I’m lost in thought or fascinated by a bird I can’t immediately identify, and my attention isn’t always fully on the traffic.
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