Recently cars and trucks have started to use dash cameras for safety reasons but cyclists have been using them for the past few years to record their journeys for both prosperity and also for safety reasons. Modern cameras loop record so you only need to download the content if an incident occurs.
YouTube user 4ChordsNoNet has been one of the people using them for many years and he put together this video showing a collection of incidents he has had on the bike. While some people watching might think he is over reacting or being abusive, it’s not until you do the daily commute in traffic that you appreciate how dangerous it is out there and how often incidents happen.
The video covers the following problems (descriptions provided by the video author) which cyclists face on our busy roads and anyone who has ever done the daily commute by bike will have encountered most of these.
Tailgating: If a cyclist were to hit a pothole or slip on a manhole cover in the wet they might fall of their bike. If a driver is traveling too close behind they will not be able to stop in time and would run over the cyclist.
Close Passes: If a cyclist hits a bump or pothole they may be forced off course with no choice, the same if someone opens a door onto them. If the overtaking vehicle is too close, then the risk if a collision is increased as there is no ‘safety/buffer’ zone.
Left Hooks: Far too often car and van drivers will overtake and then turn in straight away. The result can be a cyclist being knocked off their bike.
SMIDSY (Sorry Mate I Didn’t See You) – Often heard when a driver looks but fails to see.
Bad Attitude – Sometimes what makes things worse is the attitude that some motorists have, thinking that cyclists should ride in the gutter, or immediately resorting to swear words or abuse.
