helmet mounted camera for safety when riding -- anyone?

[lph]

some are....just like some car drivers are. More people should see there isn't any learning in that kind of blame generalization.

Oh, I know. Problem is, we have a host of mechanisms working against our favour. 1. "Drivers are everybody, cyclists are a special outsider group (that think and behave the same)". Even though everybody owns a bike, few actually use a bike out in traffic regularly and understand how it works. 2. Arrogant and unreliable cyclists are the visible and memorable ones. All the others patiently waiting their turn, or even cycling somewhere completely different to stay out of traffic are of course invisible and quickly forgotten. 3. Drivers don't realize that cyclists don't and can't behave exactly like drivers. We see and hear things drivers can't, we're a lot less visible, we can fit in small spaces. 4. The gorilla effect. You see what you expect to see.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here :-) just wanted to get it off my chest.

[colorisnt]

I've been downright endangered in the past year a couple of times by drivers. I am very vigilant and very good at obeying traffic rules and keeping myself safe but sometimes it happens. I've just never been bothered to hook up a camera based on my experiences. The 1-2 times it's been an issue in the past few months don't negate the 90+ times I've been out.

[rebeccaC]

Oh, I know. Problem is, we have a host of mechanisms working against our favour. 1. "Drivers are everybody, cyclists are a special outsider group (that think and behave the same)". Even though everybody owns a bike, few actually use a bike out in traffic regularly and understand how it works. 2. Arrogant and unreliable cyclists are the visible and memorable ones. All the others patiently waiting their turn, or even cycling somewhere completely different to stay out of traffic are of course invisible and quickly forgotten. 3. Drivers don't realize that cyclists don't and can't behave exactly like drivers. We see and hear things drivers can't, we're a lot less visible, we can fit in small spaces. 4. The gorilla effect. You see what you expect to see.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here :-) just wanted to get it off my chest.

Yeah, we can’t construct a sensible narrative for everyone who hasn’t got one about bicyclists. Sometimes we can only control our own reactions to a negative narrative and be a positive example to counter it....at least that works for me

[OakLeaf]

That's a good approach in general, but it doesn't help identify the driver who hits a cyclist (intentionally or not) and skips. The point of video is to have evidence. I read recently that the majority of drivers who seriously injure or kill a cyclist or pedestrian don't stop.

[colorisnt]

I feel like bike and pedestrian use of roads should be covered in drivers ed and driving written exams. I learned nothing about either. Everything I learned about cyclists I learned from my cyclist parents who are pretty decent drivers. Not everyone is blessed with this knowledge and ignorance is NOT bliss.

[rebeccaC]

I feel like bike and pedestrian use of roads should be covered in drivers ed and driving written exams. I learned nothing about either. Everything I learned about cyclists I learned from my cyclist parents who are pretty decent drivers. Not everyone is blessed with this knowledge and ignorance is NOT bliss.

+1 Hawaii has done a reasonable job with that and even adding environmental info....and even Texas has it as part of all drivers education classes and exams. Both accomplished by bike advocacy groups.

[colorisnt]

I will have to check with the state advocacy group to see if they have been active on this issue. If not, I'm writing some letters later when I have time. If so, I'm still writing letters (to legislators) haha.

This just seems like common sense to me.