Bob The Nob

[Jim_Noir]

Re the vids. Sure they can be of use, the incidents that I have had, and I am sure a lot of you are the same, are Vans/buses/taxi/lorry driver, so it seems their company need to look at how they are driving I.E safety to other road users and attitude to the general public. I’d be interested to see someone with a head cam video their commute to work but using a car as I bet you still see the same amount of bad driving, all be it not as life threatening. My only issue with the vids on youtube is that it doesn’t show the enjoyable side of cycling, and will put people off.. I know my OH looks at them and doesn’t want to cycle on the road... but hey, who is going to watch a video of a enjoyable cycle to work

 

[hackbike 666]

Watch the rides out in Bagkok, they are not what they might seem... and if you do film it, best not show it to folks

I've already rode a bike out there,I even posted of a pic of the bike I bought .I found the driving fine and more bike tolerant (only one dodgy pass at speed by a cab).Then again there are loads of motor cycles/mopeds out there as well (and tuk tuks) .

I didn't take my atc2000 last time must look for it as it's disappeared again.

 

[Crackle]

Cameras highlight the idiotioc behaviour that people wouldn't believe unless they saw it, and yes, there have been prosecutions using helcam footage.

They are going to become more and more common, thank goodness.

You know I'm not convinced they wouldn't believe it without a camera. I don't need to see knife crime to know it happens. You just need to look at the roads to know what happens on them.

Do you have any links on stories about helmetcam prosecutions, are they truly as a result of the headcam or other evidence as well?

I'm not sure your last statement is something to look forward to, I'd really rather not see the spread of cams everywhere.

Ah plaster work. The work of the devil himself!

It's not all about prosecution, anyway, nothing has happened to me that would require prosecution (thank goodness). It's about learning. As I said, I know a lot of people have learned from my videos and thanked me. I have learned a lot from my own videos and improved (hopefully) my cycling accordingly, and I know that sensible drivers (not the loons) take something out of my videos.

I should also add, that you shouldn't generalise all camera wearers (just as you shouldn't generalise about those ruddy cyclists!). We all do it for different reasons and have different aims etc. I certainly don't think filming and posting is for everyone, but if done propely (i.e. my way ) it can be a useful tool.

I take your point on learning. I guess I've learnt something too, I've learnt some interesting tips, I've learnt doing something the right way is no substitute for common sense and I've learnt I don't ever want a headcam. I think I'll refrain from commenting on vids from now on and also stop watching them. I think I'll also take less of an interest in commuting as it serves little purpose to me as I don't commute and don't need to vent my spleen occasionaly, though I fully appreciate that others do.


As for plasterwork Still I've cracked the crack covering technique now, full on application tomorrow.

 

[CotterPin]

No but seriously what is the point of putting up this video or other videos like it. Nothing was done, nothing really happened and nothing was resolved, so what's the point? Now if Mr.C had pursued the miscreant onto his drive and battered him with a copy of cyclecraft it might have been interesting but otherwise I'm left thinking, and.......so what?

Barring an actual full on Bollo, cameras are a complete and utterly frustrating waste of time and just result in footage that makes you more frustrated at your inability to change the habits of idiots like that. Not only that but they just present a bleak and negative view of cycle commuting when the exact opposite is true. I mean if stuff like this bothers you or you're not anticipating it you shouldn't be on the road, right?

I am still a bit of newby at this filming lark. However I made this one for our local cycle campaign group to argue for improvements to the junction. We have had a partial success here.

(Note that the filming was done from an upstairs window and not on a flying bike)

 

[magnatom]

None of that tells me if you've had a net positive effect or a net negative effect. You'll also recall I don't agree with everything you do on the road so people changing things to match you is not necessarily something I may see as good.

Every time someone deliberately cuts me up on a bike I'm left wondering if some militant cyclist has not previously pissed off a guy in a two tonne killing machine or just translated what he's seen on a vid in one situation to a completely wrong one in another.

Now the bus campaigns are good but they're pretty limited and they're also an easy target. Beyond that nothing you've said convinces me of the efficacy of cameras. In fact I remain convinced footage from them is more negative than positive, it definetly makes me feel more negative than positive.

Now, apologies if I don't reply right away now, I'm away back to my ceiling to build up another head of frustration.

I certainly don't know if it is positive or negative overall. Personally I think it is positive, otherwise I wouldn't do it, but I am biased and not the best person to determine the net effect.

I should point out that a good proportion of my videos are positive. Look at my videos from the last few months. I do also post about the periods when I don't have any incidents (see recent thread).

I understand that the videos make you feel negative, but (and I am not meaning this personally) is that a reflection of my videos, or of your attitude towards videoing in general?

 

[thomas]

Do you have any links on stories about helmetcam prosecutions, are they truly as a result of the headcam or other evidence as well?

I think it helped with someone's insurance claim on here.


annnd, slightly different vain:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...etly-film-dangerous-drivers-head-cameras.html

Those caught flouting the law, failing to stop for a school crossing patrol will be fined £1,000 and get two penalty points on their license.

I (obviously) use a helmet camera at times and don't really see people's problems with them. Mine has helped companies take complaints a bit more seriously.

I know they show a bad side to cycling, but I think people have to take them with a pinch of salt and realise you get many hours of nice cycling for ever nasty few seconds.

Whether or not I had a camera on, the close passes and things would still have happened, but with the camera I've got the confidence that if anything serious did happen I'd be able to back it up. Maybe the odd occasional close pass has been stopped by people thinking "oh, that's probably a camera - I'll wait a moment" (even if subconsciencly).

A helmet camera isn't for everyone, but I'm human and like the odd bit of complaining

As for Thailand, I want to take mine when I go later this month, but don't want to be carrying lots of expensive electronics around so I won't be. It's too much off a faff to take it tbh.

 

[rog]

Here's an example of how I used some footage from my commute. I wrote to G4S a few weeks ago after experiencing another close-call with one their drivers – this time it was a close overtake. I included a copy of the video along with an account of what happened and emailed it to a contact I found on the G4S website. Following an exchange of emails to find that right person, I got this reply…

“Dear Rog

Having had a chance to view the footage I can quite see why you felt the G4S vehicle came dangerously close to you on the road, and as you say, there was no oncoming traffic to prevent the driver from giving you more room when he overtook. I've had a word with the Branch Manager and sent him the footage to review. I will be asking him to re-brief all of his drivers regarding respecting other road users, whether they be in a car, on a bicycle, or on foot, to ensure the point is made regarding public safety.

While I appreciate you saying you don't necessarily wish to cause trouble for the driver, we expect all of our staff to uphold certain levels of performance while on duty, and in this case the driver clearly failed to do so.

Thank you for providing such detailed information as I believe that showing the crew your visual angle of the incident will make the point far more clearly than any verbal reprimand could do.

Once again, please accept my apologies on behalf of G4S for any distress caused by this incident and I can assure you we take public opinion of our services and performance very seriously.

Yours sincerely
Lindsay Fox
Marketing and Communications Manager
G4S Cash Services”

I wrote back to ask her to forward me any feedback from the branch manager as I was curious to know if the helmet cam footage made any difference. She subsequently sent me this

“Dear Rog

I have just recently heard back from the Branch Manager with news of how the video footage was received by the driver and it would appear that it made quite an impact.

As a consequence of this incident, the staff member in question is currently going through our standard HR procedures and will be required to undergo a refresher course on driving skills . He has also asked that I forward on his apologies to you, as he was not aware at the time that he was so close to you on the road, and can certainly appreciate in retrospect that you would have cause to feel his actions were irresponsible and potentially dangerous.

Thank you for your patience while we completed this investigation and I sincerely hope we have rectified this problem and you will have no further issue with our drivers behaviour on the road, however should you need to get in touch in the future please do feel free to contact me directly.

Kind regards
Lindsay”

I was pretty happy with the result in the end. I don’t think I would have got the same response without the video.

 

[magnatom]

Well done Rog and well done G4S Cash services!

 

[rog]

Cheers MT.

It was good of them to write a personal response… makes a change from being fobbed-off with a standardised letter.

 

[lech]

Hilarious comments:

http://www.youtube.com/comment_serv...&fromurl=/watch?v=JsfYG8dHdC8&feature=related

 

[thomas]

I was pretty happy with the result in the end. I don’t think I would have got the same response without the video.

In a similar vain I had this a while ago:

http://cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=33139

There were a few other emails, but it would no doubt have been ignored otherwise.

As this was for a school run taxi it would be taking the same route again and next time the driver may not have been so lucky (or more correctly, I may not have been). Hopefully now if he does the route again he won't come so close (or hit me).

 

[Decani]

Beautiful Rush Green, Romford.

 

[mr_cellophane]

He was at home this morning so I checked exactly what his number should read

R17 BXX - BMW 318 I SE