Cycling UK Forum

Do you think it is GOOD practice to have front and rear bike cameras in case !

I suppose because I have both some will immediately say no lol

I've had a few spectacular near misses, and one trip across the bonnet of a car, but whenever I contemplated getting a camera the words hoist & petard always sprung immediately to mind.

Pinhead wrote: ↑22 Sep 2023, 9:35am Do you think it is GOOD practice to have front and rear bike cameras in case !
...

In case of what? For what purpose?

Ian

Have had a front camera for 6 or 7 years, I like the idea of it being there, gives me comeback when I encounter idiot drivers

No, I don’t.

No, I don’t.

It’s not a bad idea, but it doesn’t get anywhere near being necessary in order to achieve ‘good practice’ in my book.

This is one particular HSE summary of what ‘good practice’ means in their realm, for instance:

“Within HSE and in this document, good practice is the generic term for those standards for controlling risk which have been judged and recognised by HSE as satisfying the law when applied to a particular relevant case in an appropriate manner.”

Hello, all, I have those wildlife cameras in my garden to show me what's around when I'm not. That is a revelation and a delight.
Fore and aft cameras on my bike would show me nothing I don't already know and worry enough about. They might provide me with virtual stones to throw at cars... in line with the recommendation in Richards Bicycle Book... but what good would that do?
Tim

Oh no, not again. Yet another poll by the OP seeking quick answers. At the risk of incurring his wrath the answer, as to so many of the polls is, It Depends. A miracle of modern technology that enables anyone who feels that someone has transgressed against them to get their just desserts, at the risk of turning the user into a vigilante? Annoying faff causing you to worry about whether it's set up properly, is the battery OK, will it fall off at the next bump, spoiling your enjoyment of cycling? Just a nice way of recording your ride?

No doubt the answer lies somwhere in between and there are as many answers as there are cyclists. For the record, I did buy one several years ago because it seemed a good idea at the time. Never got round to using it, as just too much faff for my sort of rides. If you commuted along a route where traffic regularly disrespected your road space, it could be good for peace of mind.

Are we going to get into perceptions of safety versus realistic assessments of safety, road riding vs non road riding, compulsory this, that or the other, excessive use of shouty capitals and multitudes of exclamation marks again? It's a bit predictable, yet posters (including me!) keep rising to the bait. I think this time I will retreat to a safe distance, don my (currently non compulsory) helmet and observe from the sidelines.

^^^

Well said.

I should know better than to rise to these baits, but clearly don’t!

I use two cameras and have used the footage to report close passes to the police on a couple of occasions. Both times the police took action against the offender.
So I think they are useful. What I don't like is the people who sell them calling them "safety cameras". They don't make riding in traffic any safer

It is a daft term as there is no immediate safety benefit from having one. However, as word gets around that some cyclist record their rides and the police are willing to prosecute on that evidence . Then may be just like they do in front of speed cameras, more motorists will start behaving better whilst overtaking us.

I would like every driver to assume that the cyclist they are about to overtake is carrying a camera.

Not sure - as you suggest, I'm havering.

Pebble wrote: ↑22 Sep 2023, 11:55am It is a daft term as there is no immediate safety benefit from having one. However, as word gets around that some cyclist record their rides and the police are willing to prosecute on that evidence . Then may be just like they do in front of speed cameras, more motorists will start behaving better whilst overtaking us.

I would like every driver to assume that the cyclist they are about to overtake is carrying a camera.

Absolutely agree -- I've the fear of God in me when passing a cyclist these days, hoping they don't decide to put me on YouTube cos the colour of my van was too bright for their eyes or something.

Although putting one on your helmet is a good idea so when you want to stop your bike behind a reversing van you can hop off the bike being crushed, bang on the back doors, shout at the driver and you'll still have the footage.

Cowsham wrote: ↑22 Sep 2023, 12:38pm

Pebble wrote: ↑22 Sep 2023, 11:55am It is a daft term as there is no immediate safety benefit from having one. However, as word gets around that some cyclist record their rides and the police are willing to prosecute on that evidence . Then may be just like they do in front of speed cameras, more motorists will start behaving better whilst overtaking us.

I would like every driver to assume that the cyclist they are about to overtake is carrying a camera.

Absolutely agree -- I've the fear of God in me when passing a cyclist these days, hoping they don't decide to put me on YouTube cos the colour of my van was too bright for their eyes or something.

Although putting one on your helmet is a good idea so when you want to stop your bike behind a reversing van you can hop off the bike being crushed, bang on the back doors, shout at the driver and you'll still have the footage.

Good point, well made

Cowsham wrote: ↑22 Sep 2023, 12:38pm

Pebble wrote: ↑22 Sep 2023, 11:55am It is a daft term as there is no immediate safety benefit from having one. However, as word gets around that some cyclist record their rides and the police are willing to prosecute on that evidence . Then may be just like they do in front of speed cameras, more motorists will start behaving better whilst overtaking us.

I would like every driver to assume that the cyclist they are about to overtake is carrying a camera.

Absolutely agree -- I've the fear of God in me when passing a cyclist these days, hoping they don't decide to put me on YouTube cos the colour of my van was too bright for their eyes or something.

that did make me laugh. its the type of thing they could get their knickers in a knot about.