Just a comment on plugging your ears

With reference to my last post I must say that even in cities it annoys me to see everyone walking around with their ears plugged listening to something from their ipods or talking on the phone. As a cyclist I have to pass pedestrians frequently and a bell often will not do the job of warning them of my approach. Yelling at the pedestrian does work mostly but that does not make me a pleasant companion on the trails. Admittedly, I had a time where I'd go jogging with plugs in my ears but I eventually came to the conclusion that it is much nicer to just listen to nature. Sure, walking around a city and even on some of the river valley trails in Edmonton there is not much nature to hear because the road is right there along the trail or sidewalk. Still, for safety's sake it's no good to pull yourself out of your immediate environment by listening to music while walking, or worse cycling.