Do helmet cams put anyone off cycling?

[Dan_h]

Just a thought, I see a lot of videos uploaded onto you tube pretty much all of which show people being cut up or close passed or whatever to varying degrees. Some of these are genuine examples of terrible driving (or indeed cycling) but many are just minor things that irritated the person making the video.

Personally I have been cycling on and off for around 25 years and am not overly bothered by what I see on you tube as I know most of these are not as bad as they look or could be avoided by the cyclist behaving differently. If I was looking at this as a newbie I think I may come to the conclusion that cycling is just too risky and stay in my car.

So, my question is this; Does anyone else feel that if you watch you tube videos before you begin cycling you may well be put off by the sheer volume of videos uploaded by cyclists showing how they nearly got knocked off?

 

[Moodyman]

Yes - I can see how someone who's not ridden on the road before will be put by seeing some of the helmet cam videos.

 

[ferret fur]

I doubt it. They just demonstrate what everyone knows goes on every day on the roads. It isn't news to anyone.

 

[gaz]

Of course, some of the videos are going to put people off due to the nature of the driving and the behaviour of some people.
What people don't know is that the regular uploaders are generally commuters, traveling at peak times and often going quite some distance. I probably get overtaken more times in a day than some get in a month.

Of course it's a two way street, I get comments from people saying my videos have helped them understand certain dangers and they now look out for them and are safer for it.

 

[BentMikey]

I met one of our fans this weekend, he's 10 and was a clubmate I'd not met before. He's been watching our vids with his Dad to learn more about dealing with traffic, road positioning, etc.

 

[lukesdad]

Its one of the counter productive aspects of helmet cams Im afraid. They are used in the main as an evidence based aid to the individuals that use them I believe. How putting them on you tube helps is beyond me.

 

[BentMikey]

D4N OK - from aggressive knobhead to exemplary driving thanks to camera footage.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

How putting them on you tube helps is beyond me.

Well, I for one have learned a lot by looking at other people's videos and by hearing other people's comments on my own videos.

 

[gaz]

How putting them on you tube helps is beyond me.

That way I can easily send the videos to the police, they can re-view them and they might choose to take some action.

 

[lukesdad]

That way I can easily send the videos to the police, they can re-view them and they might choose to take some action.

You have a you tube channel to the police, or are they just fans ?

 

[gaz]

You have a you tube channel to the police, or are they just fans ?

fans!

 

[Matt_Sheffield]

I'm sure they do put some people off.

But the outrage of watching the terrible attitudes displayed towards cyclists on the videos spurred me to get back on the road on my bike.

 

[lukesdad]

I'm sure they do put some people off.

But the outrage of watching the terrible attitudes displayed towards cyclists on the videos spurred me to get back on the road on my bike.

Why ?

 

[cloggsy]

(Apparently) North Yorkshire Police cannot view YouTube videos; their servers won't allow it???

 

[lukesdad]

(Apparently) North Yorkshire Police cannot view YouTube videos; their servers won't allow it???

Bl**dy canteen staff