BBC helmet cam film to explore cyclist-motorist conflict

[Bassjunkieuk]

When I see this sort of comment, it makes me

Wellbi got accused of pretty much that with the Porsche incident, that I'd intentionally hit them as they have a posh car to prove a point. Clearly these idiots haven't seen my other 3 clips where I manage to avoid being taken out....

 

[gaz]

Gaz, as you are now marketing yourself as a TV cycle cameraman, can you honestly say you have never engineered or exacerbated a conflict... in the same way that the Police clearly do to sell their footage?

I'll let you into a little secret.. The whole thing is fake. We put out job roles at the job centre, asking for people who can drive to act for us in our videos. We have a team of writers putting out storyboards like nobodies business.

 

[Archie_tect]

When I see this sort of comment, it makes me

I am curious to know if Gaz [or any cycle cameraman is paid for either the footage or by the website sponsors- just looking at it as entertainment rather than public service]... sorry if that offends, it's not meant to.

 

[jarlrmai]

The really nasty stuff (the stuff featured in the BBC doc trailers) often only occurs after a driver is challenged by a cyclist for a dangerous bit of driving, close overtake, on phone etc, especially if you give the car a knock, this sends people crazy.

Is it completely counter-productive to challenge drivers? I've done it and most of the time it results in aggression from the driver (half shouted road tax / get left argument while the lights are changing) or just a complete ignore/shrug shoulders (mainly bus drivers). Only twice have I had an apology and a few times I've had a guy get out of his car and start with the physical threats (I rode off and made a turn that they weren't making)

I believe it's the helplessness + the adrenaline from the dangerous situation that makes us challenge, i've started down the ultra polite, calm down, smile "excuse me, sorry to bother you, would mind awfully just giving me a little more room, thanks" line which is pretty hard when your heart is thumping and it's 2 degree's C and your mouth is frozen.

The 'war' in the BBC documentary is the camera footage of small people reacting to being challenged for there own poor behaviour, people believe they are untouchable in their cars

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

I am curious to know if Gaz [or any cycle cameraman is paid for either the footage or by the website sponsors- just looking at it as entertainment rather than public service]... sorry if that offends, it's not meant to.

Well some of the more popular uploaders on YouTube do have AdSense enabled...and I don't want to speak for them but there is money made via that but not a lot. You have to have some serious view and like counts to make anything significant.

 

[jarlrmai]

Gaz and the other popular youtubers may get some money from ads, but I guess this doesn't or only just covers the costs of the cameras etc.

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

Gaz and the other popular youtubers may get some money from ads, but I guess this doesn't or only just covers the costs of the cameras etc.

Yes as I said it probably isn't a whole lot. Although I don't have personal experience.

 

[gaz]

I am curious to know if Gaz [or any cycle cameraman is paid for either the footage or by the website sponsors- just looking at it as entertainment rather than public service]... sorry if that offends, it's not meant to.

If anyone goes out and puts them selves in situations where they could get seriously hurt for a bit of money, then they need a slap in the face.

 

[benborp]

It doesn't help that I have actually done some stunt work. Where funnily enough you do tend to get a slap in the face.

By the way, being run over deliberately by a skilled driver on set is a lot more comfortable than being skimmed by some clueless cretin in an Audi that thinks he's a 'skilled' driver while out on the road.

 

[Devonshiredave]

I'm pleased that the footage is posted. Not because I enjoy this sort of thing, but from an educational viewpoint. I don't have the years of experience some of you guys have to draw on, the last time I regularly used a bike to get around petrol was about £2 a gallon (44p Lt) and the roads seemed less busy.
Cycling is a skill I'm learning again after a long time in a car and seeing what dangers can be present is a sobering aspect to what I find is a pleasurable pursuit. It gives you something to think about and hopefully make you more aware of what to watch out for and help keep you safer.

 

[BentMikey]

I'm pleased that the footage is posted. Not because I enjoy this sort of thing, but from an educational viewpoint. I don't have the years of experience some of you guys have to draw on, the last time I regularly used a bike to get around petrol was about £2 a gallon (44p Lt) and the roads seemed less busy.
Cycling is a skill I'm learning again after a long time in a car and seeing what dangers can be present is a sobering aspect to what I find is a pleasurable pursuit. It gives you something to think about and hopefully make you more aware of what to watch out for and help keep you safer.

It's not just you - I think most of us enjoy the pressure cooker of learning that is the collective YouTube experience. Many situations have particular nuances and don't come up all that often, for example, so seeing someone else's experience helps me to deal with it more quickly and better myself, I'd like to think.

 

[BentMikey]

I am curious to know if Gaz [or any cycle cameraman is paid for either the footage or by the website sponsors- just looking at it as entertainment rather than public service]... sorry if that offends, it's not meant to.

That's a fair question, quite unlike the "engineered a conflict" type of comment you first made. IME there's very little money to be made, just about breaking even for the cost of the cameras. It's not about that for me anyway, it's about the power of one, and the ability to make things a tiny bit better for everyone.

I'd say it'd be very obvious if any conflict was engineered, and the collective YouTube audience would soon descend on that and apply the clue-bat vigorously.

 

[400bhp]

Will it have an Eaffect on people?

I doubt it, people that deep down don't want to cycle will use it as an excuse not to cycle.
Those that want to, will still cycle.

In my team at work I have gotten 5 of my colleagues to cycle (not all year but when it's nice), they've seen the worst of my footage and are not put off by it in the slightest.

Yup-it's telly. If you can't vote for someone to leave then no-ones interested

Perhaps if it gets people talking about cyclists on the road thay might go into peoples' subconscious and make the roads safer for one night.

Glass half full.

 

[RhythMick]

I'm just hoping the missus doesn't watch it. She's paranoid enough about my cycling on the roads anyway.

 

[Archie_tect]

If anyone goes out and puts them selves in situations where they could get seriously hurt for a bit of money, then they need a slap in the face.

...not the cycling bit [obviously, unless one's an idiot] but definitely the frank and direct exchange of views on the merits of fellow road users....