lukesdad
Guest
I think you may be a bit bias
On balance I think sky, road and olympic success may have more to do with the boom and press coverage than gaz etc.
Do helmet cams put anyone off cycling?
- Thread starter Dan_h
- Start date
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I think you may be a bit bias
On balance I think sky, road and olympic success may have more to do with the boom and press coverage than gaz etc.Helmet cams haven't put me off cycling! 
Seriously though, I might get a lot of abuse, but I do get plenty of personal messages from people thanking me for my footage. Not just from cyclists I might add.
It is funny though how people develop their own biased perceptions of some of us cammers. People often say I seem to be involved in incidents FAAAARRR more than they are, and that the police must be bored of seeing me, etc.
Remember, I've been filming since early 2007. Look at how many videos I have, notice how a lot of them aren't about incidents at all, remember I cycle on average about 4 or 5 days a week, that I've only ever reported 4 drivers to the police and the VAST majority of my cycling is excellent fun.
However, I've noticed that some people never let facts get in the way of a good rant.
Anyway, I better get back to editing a video. I've just started using Sony Vegas and it is taking some getting used to.....whats the video about? Well suprisingly it isn't an incident....as such!
Seriously though, I might get a lot of abuse, but I do get plenty of personal messages from people thanking me for my footage. Not just from cyclists I might add.
It is funny though how people develop their own biased perceptions of some of us cammers. People often say I seem to be involved in incidents FAAAARRR more than they are, and that the police must be bored of seeing me, etc.
Remember, I've been filming since early 2007. Look at how many videos I have, notice how a lot of them aren't about incidents at all, remember I cycle on average about 4 or 5 days a week, that I've only ever reported 4 drivers to the police and the VAST majority of my cycling is excellent fun.
However, I've noticed that some people never let facts get in the way of a good rant.
Anyway, I better get back to editing a video. I've just started using Sony Vegas and it is taking some getting used to.....whats the video about? Well suprisingly it isn't an incident....as such!
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
I think you may be a bit bias
WHAT!!!!
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
I think you may be a bit bias
No, I'm serious, I agree that all those elements have helped to make cycling popular and...cool
However, these videos are starting to make an impact the public perception of cyclists. Drivers are starting to gain sympathy...or perhaps awareness... of how hard it can be to stay safe. When people discover I ride through London (with the mileage I do) they used to all respond with "how far?"
Now, more and more are asking "how safe do I feel?", "Do You get those Smudgy things?", "What are cabbies really like?"
All positive kind's of questions that show a new understanding (all be it vague)
At least that's my perception .
But I do agree that this positivity could well be outweighed by the negative view that the vids present to potential riders...infact despite the above, I am convinced this is the case...hence my dislike of them.
Sorry Gaz
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
I don't think the vids make cycling more popular, I think that was happening anyway.
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
No need to be sorry, i understand exactly the effect they can have.
You don't know how much i'm enjoying this week so far, half term so most of the traffic is off the road and i'm only getting what I would call very minor incidences. Love getting home and just deleting all the video.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Totally, its not made it more popular at all. but you , Gaz , Mags and the likes of the droid are... although I hate to admit it...making more people aware of how to treat cyclist
Zoiders
New Member
- Location
- Ice Station Zebra
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Nope.
I've also never seen the results of a survey that mentions "putting mentos in coke" as a reason for not putting mentos in coke...but Ive seen video footage of it and it has effected mu subconscious to a fair enough degree for me not to try it
Ok it's a poor example but what I'm saying is, just because its not been statistically proven, it doesn't mean it isn't happening..even at a subconscious level.
I do think though, that if it is enough to put you off then perhaps you are right not to give it a go, after all cycling on the road requires a degree of self confidence.
Origamist
Legendary Member
Helmet cam film is a layer of mediation that has to be sought out. When people state why they do not ride a bike it is usually due to safety fears (if you uncritically accept the responses from these surveys - but that's a different issue). These fears originate in the perception that cycling is dangerous/risky - this is due to many factors, but clearly people watch cyclists negotiating traffic in town and cities, or witness them behaving overtaken on twisty-turny country lanes, or see them on A-roads in suburbia and conclude this cycling malarkey is not for them (aided and abetted by the press). Conversely, if people do not regularly see cyclists it confirms their view that cycling is dangerous because hardly anyone chooses to ride a bike . They don't need to watch a cycling clip on YouTube to determine cycling is not for them - they can walk to the tube, drive to work, catch the bus and witness cycling at first hand and imagine far worse consequences than a close pass, a bit of tailgating, a hook etc - which is predominantly what gets uploaded. As I said, it might corroborate some people's view that cycling is not for them, but as a causal factor deterring cycling - it's negligible. Arguably though, the fact that some cyclist choose to cam up, makes cycling seem more dangerous and estranging.
When I watch cyclists interacting with traffic, I am often surprised by my own conflicting feelings. On one hand, I see a deftness and skill in the way cyclists filter through heavy traffic, but I am also struck how small and vulnerable cyclists appear. I suspect many non-cyclists struggle to see the former, but have no difficulty with the latter; confirming their fears that cycling is a risky business, undertaken by a brave/foolish minority. It's this fear of cycling that is socially and culturally embedded in the UK - however, things are slowly starting to change.
On that note, I'm off to the pub.
Stuart Tanner
Regular
I must admit i never used to use safety equipment such as a helmet and hi viz's till i joined this forum last week. Watching the many helmet cam vids out there made me see the light.
I now have the helmet and hi viz jacket i would not go out with out them.
I now have the helmet and hi viz jacket i would not go out with out them.
