Ever plugged headphones into your iPhone while riding a bicycle? You’re doing it wrong.

The Allo, a bike-mounted case with a speaker that gives cyclists headphones-free access to directions on their iPhone 5 or 5S –– might be the right way. But not all cyclists agree.

Benji Miller, a 17 year-old high school student from Santa Monica, Calif. who invented The Allo, wanted to "create a way for cyclists to use their smartphones while still being safe," he said on the device's website.

Miller's device, currently running a Kickstarter campaign, has an adjustable quick-release mount, a loudspeaker and a hardened plastic case to protect the smartphone. Riders can adjust the mount to decide their optimal viewing angle when using it.

Biking with headphones isn’t a new trend, but it has claimed many cyclists' lives over the years. States such as Florida and Rhode Island have banned the use of any headphones. California, Delaware and Maryland only allows cyclists to use headphones in one ear only.

In the UK, Transport for London, the city's main agency for transport services, is considering an all-out ban on using headphones after six cyclists died in two weeks. Lawmakers said they believe that headphones prevent cyclists from hearing sirens or horns, thereby causing accidents and endangering others on the road.

A study by scientists at the University of Groningen found that “listening to music worsens auditory perception, in particular if in-earbuds are used." However, there is debate about whether or not such laws and studies are sound, since car drivers can crank up the stereo, and are still considered safe drivers.

The Allo speaker and case is powered by two AAA batteries. The sound it produces ranges from 80 to 90 decibels, which is as loud as a freight train or power mower, so hearing navigational directions while in traffic should be easier.

Still, The Allo may not sit well with seasoned cyclists who believe riders should focus solely on the road, and ditch any type of device that can cause hearing damage and distraction. Neil Bezdek of Bicycling.com notes that with hearing loss, "permanent damage can begin at 85 decibels," making the Allo's 80-90 decibel range (not counting the added decibels of traffic noise) problematic.

The company began its Kickstarter campaign in March and has a little over two weeks left to raise its $24,500 goal. The deadline is April 13th, and more than $14,000 has already been raised.

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