Getting too close to dancing automobiles is something I've become more wary of since picking my way through Bolletta's school run became a fixture a couple of years ago. Crazy manoeuvres like Magger's reverser are standard issue, usually into a pavement full of kids. I'm not sure I'd bat an eyelid if a parent appeared out of the ground in a tunnelling machine.
Crackle said:
With reference to state of mind and cameras, I'm now quite convinced that I wouldn't ever buy a camera. My view is the fitting of one tends to fixate you into a negative view of cycling and then allow you to dwell on it over and over again. I can't argue that they are occasionally useful but on balance I think their use has more negatives than positives. I know you and others may disagree but I'm clear in my own mind what I want out of my cycling experience.
Magger's vids are a special case as he's become the poster boy
for a certain branch of cycle advocacy. If we all started posting our day to day hassles, I think it would start to become self-defeating by potraying cycling as much more dangerous than it really is. It would be like basing the driving test solely on episodes of 'Road Wars'.
You're right - being cammed up can affect your state of mind if you let it. What I've tried to do is get clear in my head why I have a camera. For me its an insurance policy for when things go (and did go) wrong. I've also used it to address specific incidents where I can make a difference, a recent near offing by a courier being an example. In this case, the vid went up to show the MD and came down again when I was satisfied with his response. I did post a few close passes etc when I first got the camera, but the novelty has worn off now. These days, I'll only put up a vid as either a full "name and shame" or if its funny. But the point is that I know its not going to help one bit if I'm offed or assaulted in the search of 'a good story'. It's no good being right and dead.
Grumpy and gloomy - that makes you glumpy!