Riding with a camera and reducing road rage (mine)

I've been riding with a camera since last November and have dozens of shots of people doing crazy stuff.


When time permits and when it's a commercial vehicle, I will send a link to the video to the company or agency responsible.

I find the results are pretty good, with UPS and FedEx a video or photo report will result in a depot manager contacting me by phone, on one regular route that I take, at Elston and Division, a Fedex truck was habitually parked in the bike lane every Friday at 9:40 AM. After sending in a photo I did not see a truck there again.

A private freight line company responded to a recent video I sent them with a phone call, with a couple questions, and with details about what they said to the driver.
The CTA has responded with less detail, but acknowledged that the type of driving reported is not permitted (obviously), and I can only presume they said something to the driver.

Doing this channels my rage at drivers who put my life in danger into a more productive activity ;). When shit happens, I hit the button on my camera to save it. This works great to reduce the road rage I feel. I also think that since it is a minority of drivers who act badly, there is some general benefit for cyclist safety from even this low volume effort.

Here's the youtube channel I use for this: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCguMt4yOxvRjVwh5_i24P_A/videos

Views: 926

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on October 20, 2015 at 4:56am

Steve, this is really great. So constructive and something that is effective at bringing about change. 

Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on October 20, 2015 at 6:33am

These are perfect examples.  Of what I am not going to say.  God forbid a cyclist slows down for a bus to pull out, that has its turn signal on.  The Tractor Trailer Turns into Bike Lane video, you didn't see that truck pulling out??!  How do you expect it to make that turn with out turning into the bike lane? Cyclists thinking they need to stop for no one are the worst. Cars let other cars in a times, its a kind thing to do. Share the road.  AND share the bike lane. 

Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on October 20, 2015 at 11:17am

I watched those same two videos.  I understand why they were posted.  Either the CTA driver didn't bother to look his mirror or didn't care if he cut off the cyclist.  The tractor-trailer driver pulled all the way across the opposite side of the street even though the cyclist was approaching clear as day.  These are two examples of the drivers of large vehicles feeling entitled to do whatever they want with regard to cyclists.  They often do the same to other drivers.  I'm with Steve G on those two.  

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on October 21, 2015 at 10:08am

That bus was well out of the station before the bike got there. No foul to the driver, there.

Permalink Reply by Julie M. on October 20, 2015 at 1:01pm

Yes, I got a Rideye late last year and am doing my small part to try to clear the Dearborn bike lane.  I file complaints against cabs and buses as needed and post photos of them all on twitter.  I also feel better about having running video for most of my commutes.

Permalink Reply by djm on October 21, 2015 at 9:50am

I too had a good response from sending a photo to a company whose truck was sometimes parked in a bike lane in front of their business.  I received an apology via e-mail and never saw the truck parked there again.

Permalink Reply by BikeScnhook on October 22, 2015 at 6:06am

I'm actually setting up a similar YouTube channel to shame cyclists who violate safety laws and otherwise act like complete dooshbags...

Permalink Reply by Steve G on October 22, 2015 at 7:03am

I would like to note that I'm not trying to shame anyone, argue, or compete. The videos are for documentation and illustration.

When the subject is a commercial vehicle it's in conjunction with some kind of report filed.

I definitely am not wanting to fuel the polemics that occur around this issue. I wish to reduce the amount of emotion involved, my own and possibly for others. 

Note that I also would post cyclists, I posted one yesterday. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 22, 2015 at 7:52am

That was definitely NOT an Idaho stop. That was a jerk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sCvnzE7Phg

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 22, 2015 at 6:22am

We can constructively use videos and photos to make things better over time. Doing it to help avoid responding with rage is another good reason to do it.  Thanks for sharing.

Permalink Reply by David on October 23, 2015 at 5:41am

Kudos to you for channeling your frustration into positive change.

Permalink Reply by Steve G on October 25, 2015 at 1:16am

Thanks, David.

RSS

Groups

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service