Using a bike cam on your commute..?

[dr snuggles]

Bought one for commuting on busy roads after a few close shaves but since work moved I'm on country roads mainly now so very rarely feel the need for it.

 

[HLaB]

The other thing that doesn't make me feel it imperative the only time it really caught anything on the commute the polis chose to ignore it:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7J_Xhx2ZnU

 

[adamangler]

The only use of a helmet cam should be for your own viewing pleasure after the ride.

Anyone using for the sole purpose of trying to catch out reckless drivers is a bigger daffodil then the drivers imo.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

each to their own but not for me. I get the idea of evidence if I'm killed, but having the camera won't make me any less dead and I wouldn't wish my loved ones to be exposed to the footage or know my death was recorded, even if it was the difference between the driver getting a 37p fine and a Chinese burn or a 70p fine and a rap on the knuckles with a shatterproof ruler.

 

[Origamist]

The only use of a helmet cam should be for your own viewing pleasure after the ride.

Anyone using for the sole purpose of trying to catch out reckless drivers is a bigger daffodil then the drivers imo.

I hope you always close your eyes and ignore people who commit crimes and/or endanger the lives of others...I would not want you to become an even bigger daffodil than a cyclist with a camera.

 

[adamangler]

Of course we shouldnt ignore crimes. But if the world is going in this direction it would see every citizen walking around with a camera on there head in case someone gets knocked over, or spots a shoplifter etc.

Its over the top, yes shoot happens but theres nothing worse than a cyclist with a helmet cam imo. you look like a dick and you are a dick, if you have a problem with a motorist sort it out properly not telling tales.

 

[Origamist]

Of course we shouldnt ignore crimes. But if the world is going in this direction it would see every citizen walking around with a camera on there head in case someone gets knocked over, or spots a shoplifter etc.

Its over the top, yes shoot happens but theres nothing worse than a cyclist with a helmet cam imo. you look like a dick and you are a dick, if you have a problem with a motorist sort it out properly not telling tales.

Yeah, if you've been seriously hurt in a hit a run, don't tell the police, don't waste the time of the NHS, just lie on the floor and "sort it out properly" with the motorist as he drives off anonymously into the distance...

 

[Drago]

I would have been out of pocket if the driver had just driven off,

Not if you pursued it through the MIB who exist to cover you against unidentified or uninsured drivers.

If cash after a smack is your worry then spend the cash on top drawer insurance. After all, if you have a smack and can't work for a year but it was actually your fault then the camera was just wasted money.

 

[glenn forger]

Shoplifters don't kill 2000 people a year.

There are more uninsured drivers (1.2m) than there are regular cyclist commuters (1m) on the roads. And you can by no means claim from the MIB if one hits you:

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/motor-insurance-bureau-pointless.174644/

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I have front and rear cams mounted on the bike - not being a helmeteer.

I don't want some lying bastard pulling the old 'single witness suicide swerve' excuse leaving my family to cope with a Michael Mason or Daniel Squire case.

GC

 

[glenn forger]

adamangler waves his fist at cctv in banks and hisses "Grass!"

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Would have liked to have had one when a woman rammed into my back wheel while I was stationary in an asl. When I looked at her she shook her head and drove off, made me a bit mad.
I won't get one, as I'll most probably lose interest and forget to charge it.
The above mentioned use for taking pictures without having to search for the mobile appeals though.

 

[Cush]

I have an old Drift that I now use on the handlebars for stills of some of my rides, but I also put it on the shoulder and use it when I am out walking the dogs. Anybody any experience with the newer Drift Ghosts?

 

[andyoxon]

I bought a Virb mainly for occasional recording non-commute rides - e.g including a whole 160+km charity ride in timelapse. I have ended up using the cam (bar mounted only) for commuting too, and though I haven't posted anything re. poor driving on Youtube, I do send vido clips direct to companies; probably on about 8 occasions so far. I've had some seemingly useful & productive email exchanges with driver training managers/ company owners; plus a couple of 'ignores'...

 

[martint235]

I used one for a while to calm myself down. I went through a period where I was having a row* with a motorist at least once a week and felt I needed to do something. The rationale was that rather than going OTT I would think "Well that was sh*te driving, I'll send it to Roadsafe when I get home". It worked and I'm now much calmer, I sometimes mutter under my breath at people but the number of "conversations" has dropped considerably.

* A row to me isn't waving at a motorist or even riding alongside talking to them through the passenger window. My rows tend to be me putting my bike down in front of the car and ranting at the driver through his window (I think I've had two drivers actually get out of their car) until I've run out of steam at which point I pick my bike up again and cycle off.