The Chainlink

NPR: More Cyclists Using Cameras When They Ride

We've been seeing more and more incidents of road rage targeting cyclists and as the population of cyclists continues to grow, this danger isn't going away any time soon. Glad to see NPR talking about this issue and bringing in professional cyclists like three-time world champion cyclist Rebecca Rusch. I definitely think cyclists in Chicago could benefit from having cameras on their bike or helmets.

SALINAS:  There are more than two dozen cameras on the market for cyclists. They start out at $50 for a bike-mounted black box the size of a credit card, and they can range to $300 if you're looking at a deluxe action-style camera to mount on your helmet. The cameras can help police figure out what really happened in a crash. But one cyclist's distracted driver can be a motorist's careless cyclist. And to be clear, most cyclists and drivers are responsible and share the road. But three-time world champion cyclist Rebecca Rusch has had enough bad experiences with motorists to get her off the road.

REBECCA RUSCH: Sadly, I have had close calls with aggressive drivers and definitely had people buzzing me or saying aggressive words or even throwing a beer can out the window at me. And it's part of the reason that I ride mountain bikes and ride on gravel roads.

SALINAS: And that seems to happen to almost every cyclist. Dallas attorney Bill Shirer represents cyclists in court after accidents with cars. And he says every time he screens a jury, he meets drivers who think bikes just don't belong on the road.

BILL SHIRER: There would somebody who stands up and says, yeah, cyclists, they slow us down. They get in the way. And then sometimes cyclists will just totally disregard traffic laws. You know, they shouldn't be even allowed on the road.

You can read or listen to the full segment on NPR:

http://www.npr.org/2016/03/12/470194205/cyclists-strap-on-cameras-t...

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Felipe Iniguez on March 16, 2016 at 12:16pm
I've been thinking about getting a camera for a while now. I just wish I knew more about camera options. I just know about GoPro and those aren't necessarily inexpensive.

Also, if you only had 1 camera, would you mount it at the front or rear of the bike? Or would you go with a helmet cam?
Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on March 16, 2016 at 3:15pm

I've had a Drift HD for several years now, and like it quite a bit.  You can get various Drift cameras, new and used, pretty inexpensively on eBay. It's small and streamlined and shoots decent HD 1080p video.  I've had it out in all different kinds of weather and it has held up well.   I've tried mounting it on my handlebars facing forward, but eventually decided that helmet-mounted, front-facing is best for me.  The image isn't as bouncy and the camera basically looks where you do.  I'm more interested in just documenting my trips than having evidence for when I'm run over, although that's not a bad idea either.   

Permalink Reply by JeffB on March 16, 2016 at 3:32pm

Question for the lawyers:

If you record a ride where you are hit while doing nothing wrong, but the video also shows earlier activity that is technically illegal, like rolling through stop signs (even if you slow to a crawl), can that work against you?

Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on March 18, 2016 at 12:41am

If it went that far and the other side was trying to introduce your illegal acts at trial, you could bring what's called a motion in limine, (a motion at the threshold), asking to bar that evidence because it would be irrelevant and prejudicial to you.  I would not ever go so far as to predict what the judges in Cook County would actually do.   

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