http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "I wish I had a camera" - or not(?) en Sun, 31 May 2026 20:12:01 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459&page=2#post-224999 Tue, 12 Jul 2016 20:50:19 +0000 gembo 224999@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My wife's brother in law was driving in the outside lane of the A149 in east Anglia. A boy racer came on from a slip road and drove straight at him from slow lane. He only avoided a crash by accelerating on to the central reservation. He says this is the first time in 37 years of driving he has ever felt he was just about to be in a crash. Even so, police will be taking no action.</p> <p>Not trying to excuse anything. Very scary to be passed by four tonnes of out of control metal without an airbag etc.</p> <p>What would have to change in the law for there to be redress? Even with presumed liability near misses don't register. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-224985 Tue, 12 Jul 2016 17:31:25 +0000 minus six 224985@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've just started using a gopro on my daily commute.</p> <p>as luck(?!) would have it, i had a horrendous close pass on the dual carriageway, this same day.</p> <p>the video evidence is incontrovertible.</p> <p>so what's the drill?</p> <p>upload the clip to youtube with the car reg in the title, and leave it at that?</p> <p>presumably a trip to drylaw cop shop to argue the toss would be a waste of my time?</p> <p>if i didn't have this camera i'd have moved on mentally by now... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199539 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 15:34:28 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 199539@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Near miss you say? Did you actually die?</p> <p>Funny that isn't it? It always use to be "we can't do anything, it's just your word against the drivers" but now there is video evidence? "We can't do anything for some other reason or other.""</p> <p>And yet 'near misses' are reasons to call for cyclists to be banned from places... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199529 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 14:45:50 +0000 amir 199529@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nicely said @Arellcat </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199526 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 14:40:47 +0000 Min 199526@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Near miss you say? Did you actually die? </em></p> <p>Funny that isn't it? It always use to be "we can't do anything, it's just your word against the drivers" but now there is video evidence? "We can't do anything for some other reason or other." </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199521 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 14:02:08 +0000 Arellcat 199521@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have an action camera, a Sony HDR-AS30v. I mostly use it for fun, rather than for daily recording. But last week I had so many close passes and general random abuse from motorists in one day that I had the camera running during my commutes for the rest of the week.</p> <p>I never want the camera to become a crutch, that I might feel naked or powerless on my bicycle without its presence. The more people carry cameras the more we may as well also wear hi-viz, because I'm not really seeing the level of interest from Her Majesty's Finest that makes video evidence worth having and worth submitting. Near miss you say? Did you actually die? Passively posting evidence on the internet does however speak volumes about our inability to frustrate both the ease with which we are threatened on a daily basis by the less vulnerable road user, and in equal measure, if YouTube comments are to be believed, the innate superiority assumed when those actions are continually held to be free from practical censure.</p> <p>I've been meaning to do a video to show the difference between 120º and 170º view that the Sony does, and how it compares on 720p and 1080p, 30fps and 60fps. My computer isn't fast enough to playback 1080p video in real time, however. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199504 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:21:22 +0000 neddie 199504@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I feel indebted to all those cycle campaigners who carry a camera and name &amp; shame bad &amp; inconsiderate driving by posting videos online. I am grateful to others who carry a camera, although I don't wish to myself. Thanks.</p> <p>I think the mere fact that drivers know <em>some</em> cyclists will be carrying cameras and those videos can be posted publicly with identifiable and Google searchable information (like number plates) will lead to behaviour change. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199413 Mon, 21 Sep 2015 11:40:09 +0000 Dave 199413@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Over time you build up quite a nice collection, such as people riding stolen motorbikes, cyclists crashing into the canal, crashing into each other, into buses, and so on. Sadly I'm missing a Haymarket tram line crash, just not somewhere I ever need to go!</p> <p>Mostly I find cameras quite theraputic, it removes any need to do anything about stuff at the time (unless incredibly egregious) whereas back in the day I used to enjoy a good shout at dangerous drivers. The important thing is not to expect any police action, even if you have footage of someone driving while on the phone.</p> <p>Last winter I sometimes had people shout at my dynamo front light. Because the camera picks up the angle of the light quite well on i.e. the other guy's reflectives, I did sometimes go back to review said encounter to check it wasn't actually pointing up (although eventually I gave up when I found that it was never pointing up). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199401 Mon, 21 Sep 2015 10:24:19 +0000 chdot 199401@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I don't know if the camera distorts reality"</p> <p>A lot (all?) have wide angle lenses, which 'sees' more but also seems to make close passes not look close. </p> <p>I have a small camera (not as a 'bike camera' - though I'll fit it on sometime) with a "fish eye" lens. </p> <p>It came with various brackets inc. a handlebar one. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199400 Mon, 21 Sep 2015 10:15:56 +0000 PS 199400@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I do think there are a lot of helmetcam cyclists who post a lot of things, half of which have me thinking 'really, that's worth highlighting?' - which may be me becoming desensitised of course. </em></p> <p>I've been wondering similar - I've seen a lot of helmet cam footage where I have to wonder why they've bothered posting it. </p> <p>I don't know if the camera distorts reality and what looks a fair distance away on the footage is actually much closer; if it's simply the fact that something that feels "safe" when viewed in the comfort of your own home is a lot more threatening when you're on a bike and there's couple of tons of BMW cruising past you; or if the cyclist in question has a lower threat threshold than me.</p> <p>I'd possibly think about having one if I had a lengthy commute, but I'm pretty sure I'd end up never downloading the footage. </p> <p>As it is, the close passes I see tend to be when I'm out on my road bike, and I'm not sure I'd bother sticking a camera on that bike. Would be nice on the occasional scenic climb or descent, but I suspect road noise/shakes and camera position would make the ride look less pleasant than the reality. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199378 Sun, 20 Sep 2015 08:32:55 +0000 Greenroofer 199378@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm in the "Yes" camp for bike cameras. I have it on all the time. I use it to complain about liveried vehicles and PHCs and for insurance if the worst happens (which it's unlikely to). Like @WC says, it also means I don't have to engage with the miscreant at the time, which is a safer approach.</p> <p>I have mine on the handlebars. Cameras being small, round and hard, I don't want them on my head or body where I could land on them in a spill. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199337 Sat, 19 Sep 2015 09:37:30 +0000 gembo 199337@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Was driven at twice yesterday, both drivers failed to see me when executing their favoured manoeuvre though I was watching them. I was driven at directly by a cyclist the other day they executed a ninety degree turn just before connecting with me. This was less frightening than a car. I used to have a light strapped to my helmet that looked like a camera and when I pointed it At wee malkies they would sometimes disperse.</p> <p>I can see the advantages as listed above with company branded vehicles. Fair number of car drivers also now filming.</p> <p>Surveillance everywhere now pretty much acceptable. Loading footage would be a step too far for me.</p> <p>On balance I vote No </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199335 Sat, 19 Sep 2015 02:05:44 +0000 gkgk 199335@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think mirrors are good for discouraging close passes from the back, lets you move out 6 inches at the right moment to focus the driver's attention. A technique to use with caution, obvs. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199332 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 20:18:33 +0000 sallyhinch 199332@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd sometimes like one to share some of the glorious moments of my rural rides - seeing a whole barn-roof full of house martins taking off, or weasels dashing across the road (I don't know if they're good enough to pick up that sort of detail though). And I'd definitely want a rear facing one to catch the buzzard that attacks me every summer. I'm sure I could get some amazing footage of that ... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199320 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 13:50:03 +0000 threefromleith 199320@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As I said in the other thread, and as WC put it much more succinctly above, mine's there for insurance so there's evidence if the worst should happen.</p> <p>Other than that, I'm not really aware that I have it on until the point it beeps when the card's full (after I've forgotten to clear the files off once a week).</p> <p>No stress, no focussing on dangerous elements of cycling. Just cycling with an additional lump on my helmet. (No sniggering at the back there...) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199278 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 11:19:07 +0000 chdot 199278@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"'Bike cameras' what to buy (or not) and how to use" thread -</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15462" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15462</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199273 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 10:57:08 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 199273@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Doubtful, though without licence plates on bikes (ooh...) the police would probably be even less inclined / able to follow up.</p> <p>I find it amusing when people comment on YouTube clips of bad driving, mouthing off about cyclists, and 'if I was to have a camera in my car the number of people I'd catch' etc etc. Now obviously they would catch some, cos cyclists are humans, and some of them will do wrong, but if you suggest that they should it's all 'I'm not that sad', 'I don't have that much time' and so on. Coming from people whose usernames you see popping up on almost every single bad driving video posted... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199270 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 10:53:00 +0000 gdm 199270@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I do think that we're going to see more people going down the route in the UK of having cameras in their cars, as we've seen with the US and Russian dash-cam car crash compilation bonanza youtube videos.</p> <p>Once drivers start using it for themselves, do you think they would hesitate to use it for any infringement that a cyclist happened to cause them? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199268 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 10:52:09 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 199268@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"It's just my personal opinion"</p> <p>Sorry, wasn't intended as a slight. My use of them is obviously personal to me as well - not suggesting everyone will react the same! :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199260 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 10:09:44 +0000 amir 199260@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Gonna disagree with amir when he says, "I still have no wish to have a camera. I think it would up my stress levels further by focussing in on the dangerous element of cycling." At least, for me it works in exactly the opposite way, and some bad driving yesterday illustrates it perfectly."</p> <p>It's just my personal opinion - I accept that cameras are fine for some. I just think it wouldn't work for me. And yes - there may be some occasions when I might wish I had one. </p> <p>The real problem is the weak enforcement of traffic laws by the police and by the courts. Magnatom has shown that even the extra evidence provided by video isn't enough to change that.</p> <p>On the other hand, as fimm and roibeard allude, it could be used as part of a campaign to persuade companies with liveried vehicles to make their drivers drive well. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199258 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 10:00:31 +0000 kaputnik 199258@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have a camera that I rarely use, after a few months of regular use I tired of the constant charging, downloading footage etc. routine. I use it occasionally now to specifically film things of interest and there's a thousand close passes / bad driving / silly cycling / completely unexpected things I've experienced that haven't been captured digitally for all to see, but ultimately I don't think it would have changed things if I had. </p> <p>Sometimes I start using it again after a particularly bad near miss but after a while it goes back in the drawer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199255 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 09:48:42 +0000 wingpig 199255@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>They can also be used to demonstrate infrastructure or alterations thereto to other cyclists on the internet.<br /> I went through the phase of trying to edit and upload anything even remotely unsafe or unlawful, but quickly ran out of inclination and time. Apart from genuinely policeable incidents (as a victim or witness) I'm currently happy just using it to complain about taxis and buses, where there's some slim chance of something beneficial-to-other-road-users happening due to official complaints processes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199253 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 09:42:56 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 199253@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh, and one little addition. I don't think it focusses in on the dangerous element simply because I take something off the camera and actually post it once every two or three weeks, if not even less frequently. Sure, things happen in that time that are annoying, but not 'dangerous' or really worthy of comment, so it actually reinforces with me that the majority out there are pretty good, or at least safe.</p> <p>I do think there are a lot of helmetcam cyclists who post a <em>lot</em> of things, half of which have me thinking 'really, that's worth highlighting?' - which may be me becoming desensitised of course. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199251 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 09:39:39 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 199251@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Gonna disagree with amir when he says, "I still have no wish to have a camera. I think it would up my stress levels further by focussing in on the dangerous element of cycling." At least, for <em>me</em> it works in exactly the opposite way, and some bad driving yesterday illustrates it perfectly.</p> <p>Got a very fast, very close, oncoming traffic, pass from an Audi TT in Holyrood Park last night. Naturally there was a queue 50 yards or so further on. I actually saw his window wind down as I came up behind him. But I knew I had it on camera, that shouting at him and arguing would be pointless, so I just stayed behind.</p> <p>That's how the camera works for me - not as a point of focus, but rather as a "well I don't have to engage with you and leave me even more frustrated and angry" release.</p> <p>And steveo hints at another reason. If the worst ever was to happen to me, and I couldn't put my side of the story, I'd want someone to take that camera footage and truly see what happened. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199244 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 09:26:14 +0000 SRD 199244@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I had a nasty road rage encounter yesterday which led me to remember to order a new minidisk for my camera. #helmetcammom rides again. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199243 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 09:24:23 +0000 Roibeard 199243@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's good for the biggies - where police or insurance are involved. However the police generally couldn't be bothered with the ordinary levels of aggressive, threatening and dangerous behaviour exhibited by otherwise law abiding drivers...</p> <p>So, it's not worth even reviewing the footage, due to the misplaced adrenaline, beyond honing your foresight.</p> <p>Except where there's a liveried vehicle involved, as then that anger can be harnessed productively into company complaints which may result in improvements.</p> <p>It's much easier to let it go at the time, and thus avoid escalation, knowing that you can follow it up later with the necessary details...</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199239 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 09:19:39 +0000 fimm 199239@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think my feeling is that it would be another means to let off steam in situations like this morning; because, let's face it, no one is ever going to be prosecuted for "scaring the &lt;whatever&gt; out of a vulnerable road user". </p> <p>It is also true that for the really bad pass I should have been checking behind me and at the very least I wouldn't have had such a fright when the car appeared off my elbow. I'd just relaxed too much at that point. </p> <p>If I ever do get a camera then I would use it first to illustrate what I do on my "40 mph road with pinch points" - I think I do OK, but I do sometimes wonder if I'm too assertive and hold up traffic unnecessarily. </p> <p>The other thing I would use camera footage for is complaining about buses and taxis and other commercial vehicles (like amir's Belhaven truck. Belhaven beer is nasty anyway.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199238 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 09:18:06 +0000 twq 199238@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I got one after a minor hit-and-run. Now I like the "protection" it provides, in not having to worry about getting plates/evidence etc. if something was to happen. I don't find it adds to my stress. As long as one doesn't go looking for trouble, it doesn't make much difference day to day. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199236 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 09:13:44 +0000 steveo 199236@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nah, I think I can live with out the stress. Best to try to put it out your mind. Though should the worst happen it would be nice to get my side of the story over. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15459#post-199231 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 08:58:10 +0000 ARobComp 199231@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Most of the time when I find myself wanting one, it's only for the 1 or 2 small "HOLY CACK" moments that happen each week. Sometimes as well it might come in useful for catching repeat offenders. I'm convinced there is a black cab that passes my on roseburn terrace while crossing into my lane and speeds every day. I keep missing his plate though...</p> <p>Not sure what I'd do with this information... </p>