A novel approach to commuting

[BentMikey]

You, know, mr_hippo, I take it back. The video you uploaded in the last day or two was great, and I particularly enjoyed your commentary. I hope you believe me now that I wasn't being sarcastic when I said I'd like to see you do more videos.

 

[Origamist]

You mention you report the drivers involved. Which raises several questions:

You report some drivers. On what do you base your selection?

Generally, I report people who drive egregiously badly and endanger me. This happens very rarely. I also tend to focus my attention on professional drivers.

In what way are you qualified to make judgement on a driver's behaviour?

I'm not. I leave that to the police and CPS to determine.

Do you speak to RLJing cyclists if you happen to catch up with them at a suitable point?

As a rule: no. However, I have had words with cyclists who have clipped me or nearly hit me when jumping red lights. I can recall only a handful of incidents over the years though.

Do you report RLJing cyclists if the opportunity allows? I realise this is difficult.

No. I also don't report speeding drivers, those on mobiles etc. I also don't report motorcyclists who contravene ASLs...

Pedestrians? How do you deal with them?

I try to avoid them. I was lucky here:




Surely there should be equality in your approach to all road users? It is after all what cyclists want.

I believe that there should be a greater duty of care for those that pose the greater threat on our roads.

Do you not feel there is a slight element of the "vigilante" here? ( not quite the word but all I can think of right now). That isn't meant to be a criticism of you but a general remark on the culture.

Perhaps. Interestingly, the noun "vigilante" in Spanish means "watchman" - which seems apposite.

I don't understand this cam-culture. Another poster said it helped improve his riding. He is the only person I've seen comment on this aspect, which seems an excellent use to me. I have far better uses for my time than poring over video images to report bad drivers. Seems a very strange pre-occupation to me. Sorry but that's how I view it.

It's not only about improving your own riding - videos can be used to aid and educate other cyclists and road users.

I'm not sure how long others spend each year uploading videos, but I'd estimate that I wasted spent about five hours last year on YouTube and Vimeo. I'd hazard, I spent more time picking my nose in the same period. I'll leave you to decide which is more constructive...


I don't get it.

 

[growingvegetables]

I like that set of questions, PaulSB. Made me think a wee bit - interesting to see different perspectives expressed so clearly. Fwiw - I answered them off line for myself, but having done it, may as well put them up here too - aye, and they're based on urban Leeds, not London

You mention you report the drivers involved. Which raises several questions:

You report some drivers. On what do you base your selection?

a) For a commercial vehicle/professional driver, if it's been careless/dangerous driving – report the incident to their company.
b) For cars or commercial vehicles, if their driving has required me to take emergency action (as in - panic ), or if there's an element of aggression (eg winding down the window for an argument) – report to the police. These seem to meet local police criteria for a response – by letter, visit, or even a visit to the guy's boss.

In what way are you qualified to make judgement on a driver's behaviour?

Judgement on the driver's behaviour – that's for the police or the driver's management, not me.

Do you speak to RLJing cyclists if you happen to catch up with them at a suitable point?
Do you report RLJing cyclists if the opportunity allows? I realise this is difficult.

I haven't done – my experience around Leeds matches yours, PaulSB.

Pedestrians? How do you deal with them?

Call out “Mind your backs” with a smile ; sounds daft, but if you can “hear” a smile on the other end of a phone, I figure the same for calling out. And apologise if my brake squeal has made them jump in panic.

Surely there should be equality in your approach to all road users? It is after all what cyclists want.

Sorry – I'm not sure what you're getting at?

I value road users who show me courtesy, and respect my space and safety, and that I'm trying to get somewhere on time. I expect myself to show at least the same. That's not quite equality?

90% of my time on the road it's safe negotiation - give and take, by both me and other road users (I don't buy the generalisation that “cyclists give, and cars take”). Again, that's not quite equality. If for no other reason that there's times I do just take – and assert lane position at pinch points. And sometimes “give and take” breaks down, when a driver takes far too many careless or dangerous liberties.

Do you not feel there is a slight element of the "vigilante" here? ( not quite the word but all I can think of right now). That isn't meant to be a criticism of you but a general remark on the culture.

A slightly uncomfortable question ..... hmmm.

Is it slightly “vigilante” to report a vehicle you suspect is being driven under the influence of alcohol? I don't think so – it's just reporting a possible danger to the competent authorities. It might be slightly “vigilante” to actually take the car keys off someone who shouldn't be driving ... I've done that in the past, but ... thought it was just common sense?

If you mean “watchful” - yes, definitely. Watchful of others, and of myself. More than a bit embarrassing if First Leeds respond to my wee video of a bus cutting me up, and their bus videos have caught me RLJing! Several of their drivers recognise me – as a passenger and a cyclist, so it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

And it's not just about “catching drivers breaking the law”. I'll use some of my videos to pressure the council to improve the safety of a local road; I have already used a video to help me comment appropriately on a road improvement scheme the council were proposing. A couple of other camera users do the same.

I don't understand this cam-culture. Another poster said it helped improve his riding.

I don't know who it was – but +1. Partly - just riding better on the road. Partly - taking the time to reflect and analyse afterwards. And of course - learning from others' comments, strengths (aye, and their mistakes).

I have far better uses for my time than poring over video images to report bad drivers. Seems a very strange pre-occupation to me.

Most days it's a matter of a few seconds – plug the camera in to charge, and delete the video; on average, once a week I spend 5-10 minutes, clipping a video and uploading it.