Compulsory helmet cams?

[gaz]

I may be in the minorityin this, but I've bounced ofmany cars and will bounceoff many more.

If you have bounced off many cars, maybe it's time to invest in one and get some feedback on your style of riding?

 

[lukesdad]

By feedback. Read... "thrown to the wolves"

 

[gb155]

Having a camera sure helped me understand my own style, I was doing things I wasn't even aware of, 5 mins after posting some clips on a forum, that was all fixed LOL

 

[Red Light]

For me using a cam is the antithesis of cycling. It goes with a mindset that says "I am likely to have an accident today so I must armour up, strap on a black box recorder and set off in trepidation. Serious accidents are not that common - I point to the over three million Boris Bike journeys without one and another two million DublinBike journeys so the chance of it being useful are minimal - while "near misses" seem to be ten a penny tending to indicate that near misses are not actually that near. I'd rather just get on a bike and ride for the enjoyment of riding and in the very rare event something happens, use the traditional processes to assign responsibility.

 

[gaz]

For me using a cam is the antithesis of cycling. It goes with a mindset that says "I am likely to have an accident today so I must armour up, strap on a black box recorder and set off in trepidation. Serious accidents are not that common - I point to the over three million Boris Bike journeys without one and another two million DublinBike journeys so the chance of it being useful are minimal - while "near misses" seem to be ten a penny tending to indicate that near misses are not actually that near. I'd rather just get on a bike and ride for the enjoyment of riding and in the very rare event something happens, use the traditional processes to assign responsibility.

Having a camera isn't all about crashes. In fact there are probably less than 20 that have been filmed out of several thousand uploaded videos (by cyclists).
Many of us post videos about other things, such as gruelling climbs, awesome descents and the odd badly designed cycling facility. They are a great way to share your experiences and campaign for better cycling facilities.

 

[BSRU]

For me using a cam is the antithesis of cycling. It goes with a mindset that says "I am likely to have an accident today so I must armour up, strap on a black box recorder and set off in trepidation.

Your mindset, interesting how some people pretend they know what other people think, especially when they do not know them at all.

The only trepidation I have when I set off is if I have remembered to put everything in my panniers.

 

[bilboburgler]

If half the energy that went into buying cams went into the politics of looking for legislation to ensure that car drivers are assumed to be the cause of any car/bike incident (as in many other European countries) then many of these injuries would be avoided.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

I think having a helmetcam recording my commute makes me a better cyclist. I feel that in the event of an accident all the footage I'd recorded on that trip would be looked at, and if my cycling up to that point is as good as it can be, then that's to my advantage. If it's full of dangerous manoeuveres then there is more ammunition against me. I'm not sure if that's actually how it works, but if it helps me to be a safer cyclist, I'll keep on using a camera.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I have noticed in an increasing number of posters using terms such as:

• Unfortunately I don't have a helmet cam
• Regrettably the camera wasn't recording
• I need to get a helmet cam

The consensus seems to be that these are an invaluable tool in proving negligence in accidents, where others are at fault, or where the other road user brazenly lies about events, and that NOT having this type of evidence is somehow a failure on the part of the cyclist!


They have certainly been big advances in technology and the use is far more accepted.... but what does the panel think?

[Helmet Gumf]

This is just hindsight by anyone that sees something out of the ordinary or feels they would have liked to have recorded some events, of course they are is going to feel one of those points. Not having one is in no way any sort of failure no matter how valuable they may be.

 

[whitebait]

This is just hindsight by anyone that sees something out of the ordinary or feels they would have liked to have recorded some events, of course they are is going to feel one of those points. Not having one is in no way any sort of failure no matter how valuable they may be.

Well, I bought one the other day from 7dayshop and I've got it ziptied to the top of my helmet. As it were. Had a quick look at some of the video now I've got to work and it's not too bad, especially not for £18.99 with a 4gb card...

I didn't notice the extra weight up top and I like the idea that if I am involved in an accident, I have proof of what happened. And like the chap above says, I think it did make me ride a little more sensibly (or at least think how it'd look if someone else watched the footage later).

Plus, if I see anything out of the ordinary/interesting etc I have a record of it. Shouldn't have to have one, but I can't see a downside of having one for minimal outlay.

 

[Black Sheep]

If half the energy that went into buying cams went into the politics of looking for legislation to ensure that car drivers are assumed to be the cause of any car/bike incident (as in many other European countries) then many of these injuries would be avoided.

The problem with assumed fault is that the idiots on bikes will start to ride in such a way as to cut up other people who will then swerve to avoid causing an incident with another party (just one quick example as I need to don my armour plating and head to work)

I am reminded of my nearly killing a cyclist a few years back, I came off coventry ring road, 40mph, at 2am, down the sliproad to the roundabout under the flyover, checked for traffic, slowing my speed to about 20mph as I did so, seeing it completely clear I started to bring my speed back up to 30mph (limit, and a safe enough speed for the circumstances) at which point I see a tiny spot of white which had been hidden by a crash barrier, the white piping on someone's black trainers as he rides a black bike with no lights, wearing black clothing is about to ride in the gutter across me (Obviously it's his right of way as he's on the roundabout) and so I hoof the brakes stopping a meter or two short of the line and he pootles on his way.

had I not seen that slight reflection of his trainer, I'd have flattened him.

 

[4F]

I can't be arsed getting yet another gadget and having to faff around and remember to charge it up. Life's too short. I've only had one occasion on which I'd have liked to have had one, and that was about thirty years ago anyway

Yeah I think I feel the same, for me cycling is all about care free simplicity however if I had to commute in a busy city then I might consider one.

 

[Jezston]

If half the energy that went into buying cams went into the politics of looking for legislation to ensure that car drivers are assumed to be the cause of any car/bike incident (as in many other European countries) then many of these injuries would be avoided.

I don't think it takes a great deal of energy and time that could be put into campaigning to click 'buy' on a website.

 

[srw]

I don't think it takes a great deal of energy and time that could be put into campaigning to click 'buy' on a website.

You then have to:
charge it up
turn it on
download the footage
look at the footage
post the footage for everyone to laugh at
get into endless debates about the footage

Life's too short. And despite commuting in what everyone tells me is the most hairy, high-risk city in the country to ride in, I've never felt the need to have my riding analysed or wanted evidence on what someone else has done.

 

[whitebait]

You then have to:
charge it up
turn it on
download the footage
look at the footage
post the footage for everyone to laugh at
get into endless debates about the footage

Life's too short. And despite commuting in what everyone tells me is the most hairy, high-risk city in the country to ride in, I've never felt the need to have my riding analysed or wanted evidence on what someone else has done.

Nope, I just have to do the first two. The one I've got automatically overwrites the oldest files, so all I've got to do is plug a USB cable into it when I get home, (hardly a hassle) and then press one button on it when I leave the house and one when I arrive at my destination. Assuming I don't get knocked off my bike, that's it.

If I do get taken out, that's when I'll download the footage and use it to prove what happened. Could save me a lot of hassle and money one day, and costs me very little money and very little hassle in the meantime.