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Cyclists with cameras

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simbil Feb 2011 3:49pm, 1 Feb 2011 4,575 posts	Quote Pin simbil I think on the spot fines of something like £50 for red light jumping is already in force in London, don't know about nationally. I thought lights were a legal requirement too, but could be wrong. I know what you mean about the beat the lights - I always see dozens of car RLJs when I commute, probably as many as cyclist RLJs though generally not as blatant. Also pedestrians who step out or cross roads without looking waring headphones (presumably they can still hear cars or they would be dead). I think the bottom line is that road users take risks to save a few seconds on their journey time. Some are plain aggressive and some are just a bit dopey. The ones who deliberately endanger others or do so through extreme negligence are the only ones I have a real problem with, especially when the outcome is likely serious injury or death as with car/peds or car/cycists. I always find it odd that the rules of the road are so different from other parts of life. There is no way you could get away with that kind of bad behaviour in any other walk of life. Is it the annonymity of being on the road that makes some people behave so differently? I'm sure we all know perfectly nice people that are no fun to drive with or you know they RLJ etc.
Badger Feb 2011 4:27pm, 1 Feb 2011 2,565 posts	Quote Pin Badger Lights are a legal requirement, yes, and cycling through a red light is an offence. direct.gov.uk
rf_fozzy Feb 2011 4:33pm, 1 Feb 2011 751 posts	Quote Pin rf_fozzy Then these laws should be enforced more stringently. As I believe should other laws on the road. Especially dangerous driving and speeding.
Badger Feb 2011 4:35pm, 1 Feb 2011 2,568 posts	Quote Pin Badger Though that isn't to say either gets enforced very often, of course. Last year in Oxford the police were pulling over cyclists riding without lights at night, fining them about £10-15 on the spot, and issuing them with cheap led lights. Constructive, but hardly a guarantee they'll ever use the lights again.
Badger Feb 2011 4:38pm, 1 Feb 2011 2,569 posts	Quote Pin Badger x-post; fozzy, you're quite right, and I think everyone here agrees with you. Going back to the OP, would you consider wearing a camera to record evidence as you go? Or do you think the risk to you is small enough it wouldn't be worth the hassle?
simbil Feb 2011 5:02pm, 1 Feb 2011 4,576 posts	Quote Pin simbil Cycling locally there would be little point Badger, though a club mate did get road raged, run off the road and pretty smashed up. Still, hardly ever have trouble locally so I don't think I would bother. London is a different kettle of fish and is probably worth the camera as most times when I commute in there will be a near miss or 2 and one day it could easily be more serious and it would be nice if I could have more than my word to back things up. I know from car accidents I've been in where it has been the other driver at fault, little can be done if it is just your word against theirs.
rf_fozzy Feb 2011 6:52pm, 1 Feb 2011 752 posts	Quote Pin rf_fozzy Not sure whether I would or not. Having seen the footage this morning on the news, I'm now considering it. If I was commuting into London, I suspect I would. Leeds is still better. And that's because it's in Yorkshire.
simbil Feb 2011 8:02pm, 1 Feb 2011 4,578 posts	Quote Pin simbil No arguments here from a yorkshire lad on tour down south
Meglet Feb 2011 8:17pm, 1 Feb 2011 6,657 posts	Quote Pin Meglet There's a guy I see quite regularly cycling along the unlit A58 near me. One tiny red static light at the back, dressed in black. I only just saw him in time recently and had to swerve to avoid him. I don't think people realise how invisible they are and they think that having a light/being lit by cars headlights makes it ok. Even with two back lights and high viz I still feel very vulnerable cycling at night, and due to the dark and the cold weather have hardly been on my bike to work this winter. My other gripe is pedestrians at night, mainly dog walkers, who don't believe they need a torch or high viz as they are on the pavement. Quite frequently I nearly run into somebody if I'm running in the evening!
Meglet Feb 2011 8:17pm, 1 Feb 2011 6,658 posts	Quote Pin Meglet And I agree with Fozzy, helmets should be compulsory.