Do helmet cams put anyone off cycling?

[BentMikey]

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

I think that's the case for most police forces - they understandably block youtube. I would expect a few computers sprinkled around are enabled for access.

 

[BSRU]

I think that's the case for most police forces - they understandably block youtube. I would expect a few computers sprinkled around are enabled for access.

Wiltshire police have their own YouTube channel.

Back on topic, people will use all sorts of reasons to justify not cycling, I think YouTube footage is very low in the list, below fear of being hit by a falling satellite.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

I started cycling to work before I had watched any YouTube vids, but if anything they have made me more likely to continue. I've learnt a lot about safe cycling and my rights on the road by watching the educational videos posted by members of this forum. Without them I might have given up a long time ago, who knows?

I wouldn't think they would put off new cyclists, unless they just watch the bad clips. There are a lot of good examples of safe road use on YouTube, it's not just the bad stuff that gets posted.

 

[Origamist]

Possibly - but in an infinitesimally small way.

I am yet to see the results of a survey that mentions "cycle-cam footage of road conditions/near misses" as a reason for not cycling, or giving up riding a bike. Has anyone else?

 

[Dan_h]

Back on topic, people will use all sorts of reasons to justify not cycling, I think YouTube footage is very low in the list, below fear of being hit by a falling satellite.

LOL, Those falling satellites are definitely a problem, although I suppose if you add them to the menace of meteorites and other assorted space debris perhaps they have a point

 

[BSRU]

LOL, Those falling satellites are definitely a problem, although I suppose if you add them to the menace of meteorites and other assorted space debris perhaps they have a point

There has been two satellites recently return to Earth by themselves. With all that, every increasing, space junk the odds must be increasing, very slightly .

 

[cloggsy]

Wiltshire police have their own YouTube channel.

Back on topic, people will use all sorts of reasons to justify not cycling, I think YouTube footage is very low in the list, below fear of being hit by a falling satellite.

So do North Yorkshire Police

 

[HovR]

As someone who has been cycling for a while, I believe that helmet cam footage is a great thing! It has shown me, and others, the potential dangers on the road, and how to avoid them.

If footage like this puts someone off, then most likely they were just looking for an excuse not to cycle.

 

[Zoiders]

Enforcement is not our job.

Sooner or later a cyclist is going to get seriously injured or killed by someone who wants to destroy the evidence.

If you must use one don't be smug about it and don't do stupid things like taunting drivers you catch using mobile phones if they have not actualy put you in any real personal danger.

I for one do not wish to have to start pricing up stab vests just to commute in because every knobber wanted by the police thinks we are part of an effort to spy on them or catch them out.

 

[Glow worm]

I don't have a camera but am tempted to get one. Among the things I've learnt about cycling from helmet cam footage (apart from how flippin' slow I am ), is that I didn't check behind me nearly enough when pulling out to avoid parked cars. I had always tended to rely more on my own road sense and hearing. I had long suspected that looking back is a signal to drivers that you are about to pull out and a cue for them to speed up to block you in. Now I do check back a lot more and have not had any problems with drivers doing this.

I think cam footage can be a really useful tool and don't subscribe to the view that it changes how you ride. I hope that once drivers catch on that more of us have cameras, they will drive more carefully around us. They should do so anyway of course but as we all know, many don't, but fear of being caught driving dangerously might be a check on their numptiness.

 

[gaz]

I think cam footage can be a really useful tool and don't subscribe to the view that it changes how you ride.

Oh it does. You can't comment on other peoples bad behaviour on the road if you your self are not squeaky clean.

 

[jonny jeez]

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.

I know you'll think me biased as I ride with a cam...but hopefully you will see, from my content that I am not one that likes to post bad behaviour...actually I would say I am quite vocal about NOT doing so.

But.

I cannot deny that this availability of footage is starting to have a positive effect (I really do dislike admitting this as I find it dull, repetitive and in danger of creating a poor/unreal impression...as the OP suggests)

Recently I've witnessed TV coverage dedicated to the view of the cyclist from a positive perspective that I am aware would not have been achieved (by the press) without the relentless tide of videos to support it ...the press is starting to get on the bandwagon and realise that cycling is a boom industry (therefore big news) hampered greatly by drivers lack of respect.

this change in attitude is...I believe...made possible by the likes of Gaz, Mags, BM and all those that DO take the time to post (in an objective fashion).

its also fair to say that some also balance the Yin with a Yang of silly cyclist videos.

There...I've said it....Odd,I feel I need a shower now.

 

[jonny jeez]

If you must use one don't be smug about it and don't do stupid things like taunting drivers you catch using mobile phones if they have not actualy put you in any real personal danger.

What?...has this actually happened somewhere?

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

If you must use one don't be smug about it and don't do stupid things like taunting drivers you catch using mobile phones if they have not actually put you in any real personal danger.

I do agree with this. When I first got my camera, I was posting every transgression that I saw, but very soon adopted a policy of only (or mostly) posting things that affect me directly.

I say mostly because I will occasionally post something that didn't affect me if I feel strongly enough about it, such as the character who drove through a pedestrian area and then jumped a red light about 3 seconds into the red phase. (Haven't actually posted that one yet, though.)

I want to show what it is like for a cycle commuter in my neck of the woods, not act as an amateur policeman.

 

[cloggsy]

I want to show what it is like for a cycle commuter in my neck of the woods, not act as an amateur policeman.

+1 Good post!