What does a Cam achieve

[rnscotch]

What are the real benefits of using a cam on our commutes, 9 out of 10 times the police do nothing when you complain and hand them the evidence, posting the films on utube just gets peoples backs up and appears to widen the them and us mentality posting them here just cause a trollfest on how crap a rider you are.

Are people who post these films just looking for attention? or are they providing some sort of helpful service to commutors.

Answers please on a postcard addressed to Magnatom.

Seriously i would like to hear peoples thoughts on these questions...

 

[BentMikey]

It does loads, IMO:

* If a driver gets verbal with you, and they do on the odd occasion with no cause, pointing out that they are on video shuts them up instantly and stops any incident from escalating. That's the best possible result IMO.
* It's great to learn from - just look at all the discussions we've had in the past few years on cycle craft.
* Catch a company driver doing something dangerous and irresponsible, and you can complain to the company. Not only do you get the chance to put some real education across, but the driver is going to take some pain at being called in for interview by his/her manager. Harsh, but it could easily save someone's life down the line.
* Filming is fun, and entertaining. Lots of people enjoy watching videos, far more than ever complain about them.
* Youtube comments give us a chance to put out the word, and to correct at least some peoples' wrong impressions of cycling. Stuff like you shouldn't be in the middle of the road, use the cycle lane, etc.
* The more people that see video from cyclists out there, and corrections/complaints about them to drivers' companies, the more people will feel pressure to drive more carefully.

 

[magnatom]

Give Cyclists Room stickers on 1000 West of Scotland First Buses can't be a bad thing....

I'll send myself a postcard!

 

[rnscotch]

All good points, except the catch a company driver do you believe companies do anything when a complaint is recieved. From posts i have read most people recieve a standard templated email.

Like i said good points but i still don't see how it really helps our cause... is it not a lot of effort to go to for very little return.

 

[magnatom]

All good points, except the catch a company driver do you believe companies do anything when a complaint is recieved. from posts i have read most people recieve a standard templated email.

Give Cyclists Room stickers on 1000 West of Scotland First Buses can't be a bad thing....


This will explain everything http://tinyurl.com/ynut6u

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

...because you would miss out on gems like this if no-one had a cam. Classic...

 

[goo_mason]

All good points, except the catch a company driver do you believe companies do anything when a complaint is recieved. from posts i have read most people recieve a standard templated email.

I think we've had a few definite reports of drivers being disciplined over the last couple of years. Those who reported them might be able to back this up.

 

[BentMikey]

All good points, except the catch a company driver do you believe companies do anything when a complaint is recieved. From posts i have read most people recieve a standard templated email.

Like i said good points but i still don't see how it really helps our cause... is it not a lot of effort to go to for very little return.

Some companies will file them in file 13, except that I'm sure many don't do this from my own experiences. Also, having the video up on youtube with an identifiable company vehicle is some incentive to preventing your drivers from doing it again and again embarassing the company.

I think it helps our cause. If you do nothing you're guaranteed not to make a difference. The camera cyclists on here are making a small difference to driving culture. Some people might be angry or resentful at the idea of having their bad behaviour filmed, but then this is one of the early stages of accepting you have a problem.

 

[BentMikey]

Oh, and there are other benefits. One is that my own riding has improved not only from what I've learnt from my own and others' videos, but also because I feel more pressure to ride well, knowing I'm filming my own behaviour too. It also helps to stop me getting all sweary and angry with drivers, and hitting their cars. That keeps me more to the moral high ground.

Knowing you have a camera adds vastly to the calm and zen of proper commuting and riding. It's so much easier to take a step back from shouting at a driver to telling them calmly to search for their registration number on youtube so they can see what they did wrong.

Not that I'm very good at doing all these things, but I'm a little better.

 

[rnscotch]

I share Glasgow's roads with you and all i can say is i take it the stickers are not working!!

Having run in's with first bus is almost a daily occurance for me like the idiot this morning revving away behind me then deciding to overtake me on a bend.

 

[BentMikey]

I share Glasgow's roads with you and all i can say is i take it the stickers are not working!!

Having run in's with first bus is almost a daily occurance for me like the idiot this morning revving away behind me then deciding to overtake me on a bend.

How can you tell? The plural of anecdote is not data.

I can tell you one thing - the sticker had an effect on my own driving. I didn't think I passed anyone badly before, but with one of Justin's stickers I feel I have to make each cyclist overtake beyond exemplary.

 

[goo_mason]

How can you tell? The plural of anecdote is not data.

I can tell you one thing - the sticker had an effect on my own driving. I didn't think I passed anyone badly before, but with one of Justin's stickers I feel I have to make each cyclist overtake beyond exemplary.

Just out of curiousity, who is Justin ?

 

[magnatom]

I share Glasgow's roads with you and all i can say is i take it the stickers are not working!!

Having run in's with first bus is almost a daily occurance for me like the idiot this morning revving away behind me then deciding to overtake me on a bend.

Report them, and quote the campaign. or you could write to the evening times about your experiences with First and suggest that the stickers aren't working.

Personally I haven't had any problems with First Buses for a long time. As for some of the other bus companies.....

 

[magnatom]

Just out of curiousity, who is Justin ?

He is the chap that started the GCR campaign in the first place. he has been on here a couple of times, his login is padbeat.

 

[Eat MY Dust]

I'll be using my camera for the first time tomorrow! The main purpose for me using it will be to show how fast I am compared to Mags!!!

Out of interest does anybody have any experience of the ATC5K, it was a present and I'm hoping for some good results.