Cameras... A partial convert

[Boris Bajic]

I joined CC thinking the headcam brigade were self-congratulatory experts in the art of auto-erotic amusement. Over time I softened and then changed my view about many but not all.

My (teen +) children ride a lot and I've used some of the better channels on YouTube to demonstrate some potential hazards or squishy moments.

As a volta face goes, that is a big one. Very big, but also justified. There are some sensible people out there making good, helpful stuff.

Nonetheless, I am starting to see more clips which look like people actually looking for footage, looking for confrontation or worse. And occasionally getting it, which is regrettable.

Recently we've had a thread where a chap punched a van and said it had hit him. This ended in an assault.

Then the other day we had a young chap swerving out in front of a van 'to avoid horses' and then shouting at the driver and giving him a kerbside grilling further down the road.

Both clips were posted to show what lawless buffoons the motorists were. Both also ended up demonstrating quite what some cammers will do (will create) to stir up a confrontation. Both appear to show scenes quite unlike that described by the OP.

Am I alone in finding this both disturbing and worrying?

I applaud the serious (and there are quite a few here) but some of the clips appearing hereabouts are shocking for all the wrong reasons. Do cameras, in the hands of some individuals, present more negative than positive outcomes?

If so, do we say "Aah, bless! I'm sure he means well."?

 

[BSRU]

People get into confrontations with or without cameras, just having a camera and uploading to YouTube means other people will get to see it.

 

[ufkacbln]

I find the opposite, it is usually the driver who lies about the events

I have lost count of the successful complaints where I have complained to a Company, waited until the driver denies everything and then claims it was my fault

Then you send the video in asking why the driver is not only driving badly, but lying about it as well

 

[glenn forger]

I've heard commercial drivers think this is "sneaky". They shouldn't intimidate vulnerable road users then lie about it then! For every knobber with a camera there are hundreds of cyclists who film their commute, improve their riding skills, offer clips that can be discussed and debated so we can all learn something about safe positioning. Some of the clips are hilarious, that recent one where the fat knackered old van driver wasn't in the least bit delayed by the cyclist but stopped and demanded to know why the cyclist was in the middle of the road. The cyclist responded with a weary "Go away!" which made me laugh.

 

[Hip Priest]

I've heard commercial drivers think this is "sneaky". They shouldn't intimidate vulnerable road users then lie about it then! For every knobber with a camera there are hundreds of cyclists who film their commute, improve their riding skills, offer clips that can be discussed and debated so we can all learn something about safe positioning. Some of the clips are hilarious, that recent one where the fat knackered old van driver wasn't in the least bit delayed by the cyclist but stopped and demanded to know why the cyclist was in the middle of the road. The cyclist responded with a weary "Go away!" which made me laugh.

Link?

 

[gaz]

FYI: I heard back from the police today. A video of mine where a driver went through a red light (2 - 3 seconds after it changed) at speed and almost hitting a child about to cross, is going to court. Why? Well obviously some pretty shocking driving but also the driver didn't have a driving license and no insurance.

Some of us are good cyclists who just want to make the roads safer for everyone

 

[BSRU]

Link?

I think he means this one,


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uyJApJJfK4

 

[Hip Priest]

I think he means this one,


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uyJApJJfK4

Ha! What a weirdo. Credit to the cyclist for his curt response.

 

[glenn forger]

Ha ha ha! What a fat knackered old van driver. People with West Country accents shouldn't do angry because it makes me laugh.

 

[glenn forger]

It's a farking one-act play, that clip. It's priceless, after the retort the woman passenger realises there's no way out of this cos tubby's revving the engine. She knows she's got nowhere to go, he's made the decision for her. So she pulls the door shut.

EMPHATICALLY.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Link?

No link, but Crossrail tell their lorry drivers to watch out for cyclists because they might be filming everything. (as opposed to watch out for cyclists they are vulnerable road users who may suddenly change direction) but every reason helps.

 

[campbellab]

People get into confrontations with or without cameras, just having a camera and uploading to YouTube means other people will get to see it.

Yeah I happily rode behind someone who beeped and cut me up the other day giving him the self-gratification artist sign and he brake checked me twice in response and I don't even have a camera. Well I do have a camera in my car but despite doing 15k+ a year its a lot less eventful than my cycling despite sticking to mostly very low traffic roads.

I think, Boris, you frequently imagine more intent in people's actions than they actually have when considering most of these events happen in seconds.

 

[Matthew_T]

I am am not going to hyjack this thread but I will say this: Often the camera is forgotten. Especially when you are in a dangerous situation. Once my camera broke and I found that I was still reading the numberplates of cars that were passing too close or pulling out infront of me. Its just something that I do, camera or not.
For example, the road rage incident I was involved in a long time ago (over a year); I didnt expect him to come after me. When he got out of the car and was in my face, all I was thinking about was how to reply with non-confrontational but valid points. Thats why I was so quiet. I had forgotten about the camera and only mentioned it when he got out of the car to prevent him being a muppet. I then notified him again at the end when he pointed at the numberplate because that reminded me.
Fear often takes over in any incident on the roads, and other things you forget about.

I am not going to talk about the van undertaking me incident because that has been covered. I did not go looking for an incident because if I had really wanted one, I would have just taken primary or cycled right infront of him and got hit. Noone can excuse his speed and laid back attitude which you can tell was fake. He saw the camera and tried to act the big man. Things could have been a lot worse if I hadnt had one.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I don't seek confrontation.
It comes and finds me.
It seeks me out.

But I shall add "Go away. GO AWAY." to my battery of ripostes. It's a classic.

 

[Boris Bajic]

Yeah I happily rode behind someone who beeped and cut me up the other day giving him the w***** sign and he brake checked me twice in response and I don't even have a camera. Well I do have a camera in my car but despite doing 15k+ a year its a lot less eventful than my cycling despite sticking to mostly very low traffic roads.

I think, Boris, you frequently imagine more intent in people's actions than they actually have when considering most of these events happen in seconds.

I think that is a very valid point, although I'm not sure I do it 'frequently'. I mention only two instances in my thread and have seen perhaps four or five over the months that I think are wholly manufactured. I think the horse/undertake is wholly manufactured and a dangerous piece of cycling. The VVM a danger too, but two wrongs make two wrongs. I added it up myself.

But broadly, you may be right and I accept the point. I was really trying to draw a distinction between the mild, rational cammer and the other type.

I am a regular and high (ish) mileage cyclist, although less with advancing years. I do get your point about how quickly things happen quickly. I've noticed things happening quickly. I also believe that there is a degree of confrontational artifice in some of the more extreme clips and that it detracts from the serious benefit that can be derived from others.

I'm happy to be wrong, but will be happier still never to drive or cycle within four miles of Sue Perb, TrafficRoid or Matthew_T. I dare say they would probably be equally happy with that arrangement.