Barcelona, like many others, is a city of runners, so everyone has raised their ears with attention these days after a controversy that has raised a question: is it forbidden to run with headphones in the city?
It all started with a video that went viral, where a runner claimed to have been warned by agents of the Mossos d’Esquadra that she could be fined if they saw her running with headphones on the street again. The video, with nearly half a million views, aroused doubts and controversy.
Runners with headphones, yes or no
From Barcelona Secreta we contacted the Guardia Urbana to ask about the issue, and a few days after her video went viral, the same runner made another publication where she explained that the Mossos d’Esquadra had contacted her to give explanations.
Both police forces explain that there is no regulation, neither municipal nor state, that prohibits pedestrians or runners to use headphones while doing sports on public roads. They specify, however, that it is not recommended to run with noise-cancelling headphones, but beyond that, there are no prohibitions in this regard, so the reason for the agents’ warning is unknown.
However, the regulation does affect drivers of vehicles, cyclists and users of electric scooters, for whom the use of headphones is expressly prohibited for road safety reasons.
For runners, it also points out the need to use common sense and avoid using headphones or paying special attention in traffic areas or areas with a large number of people, so as not to lose perception of the environment and avoid accidents. In sporting events, races, etc., the regulations of the event itself may prohibit the use of headphones.