helmet mounted camera for safety when riding -- anyone?

[bacarver]

Does anyone in TE forum use a helmet-mounted camera to record problems with dogs/angry people? I've been advised by local law enforcement to consider purchasing a camera to record situations that turn into he-said/she-said.
Thanks - Barb

[rebeccaC]

Wondering why dogs and people are so angry in southern Indiana to need to do it.

If you think you might need a recording of an incident use the technology. I’ve seen some great video from go-pros used by friends on their helmets. Personally go pros seem too large to me though. The size can make it known that video recording is going on though. The number of smaller well made cameras are increasing. Google glass and other computerized eyewear soon too.
I carry pepper gel for dogs, which I’ve only used a couple of times in 10+ years, and self defense training for people with the gel as a back up, neither of which I’ve had to use. I try to de-escalate anger in people on a bike or not.

[colorisnt]

I have thought about it since I ride in traffic. It worries me sometimes. If I was doing a tour of multiple days in and out of traffic, I would definitely consider it.

I am concerned for your safety with angry people, though. What's happening that you feel so scared?

[lph]

I've never considered wearing one myself, but I've seen a few people using them on their daily commutes here.

They've caused a bit of a snit over here, actually. One guy regularly posts videos of "bad behaviour" on youtube. When a newspaper ran an article about him, showing some of his worst examples the commentary exploded. Follow-up articles about "the war between cyclists and drivers", and lots of people apparently infuriated by him wearing a camera, as if it in some way implied that he was out to get all drivers and all cyclists are perfect. Popular opinion is that cyclists are arrogant and unreliable.

I can understand a little of the feeling, I guess. No-one is a perfect driver or cyclist, and when you consider that you may ride (or drive) flawlessly 98% of the time but make one poor decision at some point, it's not quite fair to have those split seconds published on the net as an example of your appalling judgement, or even all cyclists' or drivers' appalling judgement.

Anyway. Small cameras are probably great as back-up just in case, larger ones may or may not cause people to behave better...

[Jolt]

I've never considered wearing one myself, but I've seen a few people using them on their daily commutes here.

They've caused a bit of a snit over here, actually. One guy regularly posts videos of "bad behaviour" on youtube. When a newspaper ran an article about him, showing some of his worst examples the commentary exploded. Follow-up articles about "the war between cyclists and drivers", and lots of people apparently infuriated by him wearing a camera, as if it in some way implied that he was out to get all drivers and all cyclists are perfect. Popular opinion is that cyclists are arrogant and unreliable.

I can understand a little of the feeling, I guess. No-one is a perfect driver or cyclist, and when you consider that you may ride (or drive) flawlessly 98% of the time but make one poor decision at some point, it's not quite fair to have those split seconds published on the net as an example of your appalling judgement, or even all cyclists' or drivers' appalling judgement.

Anyway. Small cameras are probably great as back-up just in case, larger ones may or may not cause people to behave better...

I can understand people's concerns about this guy's videos...like you said, no one is perfect and it would be pretty embarrassing to have that one mistake posted on the web for all to see. Also, if I were driving (or riding, or anything else) and saw someone recording all the goings-on I would be a little suspicious of their motives...IMHO it does come across like they are out to get people. Seems like the kind of thing that while it may seem like a good idea if you've had a lot of issues on your rides, may just create more adversarial feelings.

[pll]

I will a different concern about helmet mounted cameras or lights: the change the balance of your head, making it possibly more dangerous when you fall (after all, that is why we wear a helmet). I tried a light, one strong enough to ride in complete darkness, and absolutely did not like the feel. Mounted on the handlebars, no problem.

[Boudicca]

I will a different concern about helmet mounted cameras or lights: the change the balance of your head, making it possibly more dangerous when you fall (after all, that is why we wear a helmet). I tried a light, one strong enough to ride in complete darkness, and absolutely did not like the feel. Mounted on the handlebars, no problem.

I'm with pll on this one. I pay more for a light-weight helmet because it's less strain on my neck, so I don't want to add weight to it.

But it may depend partly on what sort of bike you are riding. I imagine a helmet cam would be less of an irritation on a hybrid, or on a sit-up-and-beg bike than on a road bike.

[OakLeaf]

+1 on the weight, the balance shift, and the obstruction on your helmet in case of a crash.

RebeccaC, I have the opposite question: where do you live that motorist harassment is not an everyday occurrence??

I would pay the extra money for one of those remote cameras, so only the Sharpie-sized camera is on the helmet (so it looks wherever you look) and the guts of the camera are on your body. Like cops wear, or like they mount on racebikes. That's the only way I'd consider it. You'd have to get used to unplugging the cable when you take your helmet off, but that's no different from, say, electric gloves or hardwired electric vest or the like.

[Aromig]

I've ridden with a go pro -- because I happen to own a go pro for another hobby and I thought it was cool to put on my helmet. I've only ridden with it a few times -- because I had HOURS of boring footage so it didn't seem worth it to charge the camera just for rides. The camera didn't bother my head/balance, etc. at all, but then again I'm used to wearing pretty heavy skydiving helmets so the camera plus my bike helmet feel like nothing. My understanding is that in a crash, the mount breaks off pretty easily (i.e. give is at the camera connection point) but I'm not positive about that. My only concern would be how long you ride -- the batteries for the go pros are made for pretty active (but short) sports. Mine never lasted more than a few hours at most. I also have a contour camera -- it would mount on the side of the helmet and doesn't protrude like a go pro. I've never used it on a bike. Again, its a pretty light camera, but the battery won't last for an entire long ride either.

Amy

[rebeccaC]

Popular opinion is that cyclists are arrogant and unreliable.

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

personally i've never had a problem with cars that I've let bother me enough to lead to anger, even here in a metropolitan area with a population of around 13 million....but then i try my best not to be 'arrogant and unreliable' or angry when driving or riding.

[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.