Should All Cyclists Wear Helmet Cams?

[Boris Bajic]

For all the sensible folk who wear them, there are the egregious turd-basket, scary-spoilt, screamy-kid weirdos who think a camera makes them into some sort of Che Guevara crossed with Judge Dredd and a hint of Mary Whitehouse. In reality they become Anne Widdecombe crossed with a Dalek, but in a bad way.

There is the mendacious tosspot in a current thread about a white-van man. Then there was shouty Trafficdroid and his slightly needy psychological state that compelled one to watch while repelling one with almost equal force.

We've had some on these pages who have been quite unable to see how they appear to others. Some have reformed, up to a point. Others might still need to.

There are some good cammers around, but there are some who will wish in years to come that they could un-invent the Internet...

If you buy one, promise yourself you'll wipe each day's footage when you get home and hand only to the authorities those recordings that will help in a legal matter.

If you become one of those superannuated toddlers playing at policemen who shout into their recorders all those posh NATO letters, like "Charlie Uniform November Tango!" at every car doing 33 in a 30 zone, then you may want to think of a new game. They do little more than describe themselves at times.

Youtube is for funny cats slipping on ice and instructions on how to wind the starter-return spring for a brush-cutter. It is not for helium-voiced shouty boys to tell us all about close passes.

This rant is now officially over.

 

[Cycling Dan]

I think that helmet cams should be the same as helmet usage. Its the riders choice if they use one or not.
Im personally pro helmet and camera but at the end of the day I respect peoples decision if they use one or not.
It makes no difference to me.

 

[AndyRM]

If you become one of those superannuated toddlers playing at policemen who shout into their recorders all those posh NATO letters, like "Charlie Uniform November Tango!" at every car doing 33 in a 30 zone, then you may want to think of a new game. They do little more than describe themselves at times.

Sir, victory is yours. That was sublimely hilarious.

 

[Crackle]

For all the sensible folk who wear them, there are the egregious turd-basket, scary-spoilt, screamy-kid weirdos who think a camera makes them into some sort of Che Guevara crossed with Judge Dredd and a hint of Mary Whitehouse. In reality they become Anne Widdecombe crossed with a Dalek, but in a bad way.

There is the mendacious tosspot in a current thread about a white-van man. Then there was shouty Trafficdroid and his slightly needy psychological state that compelled one to watch while repelling one with almost equal force.

We've had some on these pages who have been quite unable to see how they appear to others. Some have reformed, up to a point. Others might still need to.

There are some good cammers around, but there are some who will wish in years to come that they could un-invent the Internet...

If you buy one, promise yourself you'll wipe each day's footage when you get home and hand only to the authorities those recordings that will help in a legal matter.

If you become one of those superannuated toddlers playing at policemen who shout into their recorders all those posh NATO letters, like "Charlie Uniform November Tango!" at every car doing 33 in a 30 zone, then you may want to think of a new game. They do little more than describe themselves at times.

Youtube is for funny cats slipping on ice and instructions on how to wind the starter-return spring for a brush-cutter. It is not for helium-voiced shouty boys to tell us all about close passes.

This rant is now officially over.

I think you're improving with age Boris, or it might be the wine, dunno, I'm happy to go with the former.

 

[Kookas]

In 1984 the State warns you "Big brother is watching you". Now it seems we are watching each other!

So long as the law is written in the interests of the public so we aren't just persecuting each other, there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[roadrash]

ive had a camera down my helmet (cant remember the medical term for the procedure) i certainly dont want anything to do with helmets and cameras EVER AGAIN never mind making helmet cams compulsary

 

[400bhp]

Don't most buses have cameras fitted to them? Buses near me have at least three on the inside, two on the sides and one on the back and front.

I think you're mistaking bus numbers for cameras.

 

[Matthew_T]

I am someone who avidly supports the use of helmet cameras but even I dont think it should be compulsory for everyone to use them.
TBH, the current population of cammers are evenly spread (see Gaz's blog). We could do with a cammer in South Wales, and one in Cornwall area but I think that is pretty much it. We have loads in London, a few in the middle of the country, a few in Manchester, a few in Scotland and me in North Wales branch.
No need for anymore. A cyclist will only get a camera if he is either influenced by others, or has an accident which prompts him to get one.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

You want to use a cycle camera - fine by me
You want to have a dashboard camera - fine by me
You want to wear the helmet it's attached to - fine by me

Compulsion to make me do any of them - absolutely not.

Compulsion is not a problem when it relates to something genuinely life protecting like lights or brakes, or in the case of motor vehicles speed or drink drive issues, but the less of it the better and definitely not over something which is just useful for some people - like a camera.

Well said, and if only the Australian government thought the same. I despair of them ever seeing reason.

 

[gaz]

 

[buggi]

i wear a camera sometimes. usually i forget and then when i get a journey where all the drivers seem to be asleep/peanuts, it prompts me to get it out. Once on my helmet i seem to find that everyone behaves perfectly (although they can't see it). Sod's law.

i got my helmet after some guys purposely tried to push me off. (this was the 5th time i had been smack/pushed and the 2nd reported incident to the police and, although both drivers in both incidents admitted to it, no action was taken). so i figured i'd get the helmet cam for the next time. i don't spend hours editing it though, i promised myself when i got it i would just delete stuff unless i needed it to report to the police.

however, as you've probably ascertained, having footage probably won't help you get a prosecution. the two guys admitted driving so close to assault me... yet the police didn't charge them???!!! how f*cked up is that. i'd like to think that if ever i was seriously injured it might show up some proof though.

i can see your point though, if every driver thought we had camera's they probably would behave themselves and overtake safely. i've always wondered how much effect a jersey would have, one that warned drivers we were filming (maybe like the speed camera icon on the back of a jersey... or "smile, you're on CCTV")

 

[John Shingler]

Yes, it should be compulsory to wear helmet cams, but what if you have no helmet?

head cam

 

[Boris Bajic]

I am someone who avidly supports the use of helmet cameras but even I dont think it should be compulsory for everyone to use them.
TBH, the current population of cammers are evenly spread (see Gaz's blog). We could do with a cammer in South Wales, and one in Cornwall area but I think that is pretty much it. We have loads in London, a few in the middle of the country, a few in Manchester, a few in Scotland and me in North Wales branch.
No need for anymore. A cyclist will only get a camera if he is either influenced by others, or has an accident which prompts him to get one.

I think I understand the sentiment of this post, but it seems also to contain a slightly uncomfortable sense of CycleCammers providing some altruistic benefit to a grateful cycling public.

How can it be a matter of need? Whose need and to what end? How could there possibly be a 'need' for any more?

Whatever some (not all) members of the Cammer Fraternity may think, they are not a statutory body, do not represent others and in some cases have no function beyond arousing themselves as they count the proudly rising number of viewers on Youtube.

Why do I call it a Cammer 'Fraternity'? I may be proved wrong but like trainspotting, War Hammer and GTA, it seems an occupation significantly more attractive to boys and men than it is to girls and women.

Saying (as you do, Matthew) that there's no need for any more CycleCammers is like saying there's no need for more trainspotters. It never was and never will be a matter of need or public service. In many cases it is a matter of fascination on Youtube, like seeing what a monkey will do if left alone with a typewriter and a bowl of soup.

Carry on.

 

[smutchin]

it is a matter of fascination on Youtube, like seeing what a monkey will do if left alone with a typewriter and a bowl of soup.

Ooh, do you have a link? I've seen the one with the monkey and his pet frog but not that one.

 

[Kookas]

Why do I call it a Cammer 'Fraternity'? I may be proved wrong but like trainspotting, War Hammer and GTA, it seems an occupation significantly more attractive to boys and men than it is to girls and women.

À la cycling in general.