Friday 30 September 2011

Cycle Video Day

There are lots and lots of Helmet Camera Cyclists on the streets today. Some great and good (like me of course....), some I admire, some I'm not so sure about. Here is the list of those who are currently posting, or have posted YouTube videos.

There really is a large number in the UK and we are quite widely spread geographically. As a group I think we are having an impact and a number of us have made it into the news at the local and national level. However, every piece I have ever seen has always suggested that we are few, and are possibly just a fringe element (perhaps we are!!).


This got me thinking.....oh, oh, here we go..... What could we do to help publicise that we are a growing force on the roads? What could we do that would capture peoples imagination, whilst at the same time get the message out that we are all road users and we all deserve respect?

And then the clouds parted, the sun shone and angels started singing.....ok, perhaps that is a little bit of an exaggeration, but I did have an idea, which is always worth celebrating!

Why not bring all of the helmet cam users together in a Day in the Life type project?

What if for one day, one specified day, we all captured and uploaded 10 minutes of our cycle commute. The particular 10 minutes would be up to the discretion of each cyclist, it could be an incident, an enjoyable section of the commute, a glorious sunrise, a bit of commuter racing.... anything that captured nationwide what cyclists were doing across the country on that day. Then all of the videos we collected and linked to from one location, each with a short 25 word description of what the video depicts.

I'm not even sure what it would consist of in the end, and what the final story would be, but I'm sure it would be a fascinating insight into cycle commuting and could serve as an educational and campaigning tool.

So what do you think? Are you ready to film a day in the life of your cycle commuting?

May I be so bold to select a date? How about Monday the 10th October 2011......

NOTE: Change of date. Now 10th October. Otherwise, us in the north would be filming in the dark!

18 comments:

  1. I think 10 minutes is a bit long - its almost half my commute (or over half if it is a good day)! Most incidents etc. are worthy of a minute or less of footage...

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's a smashing idea. If I'm commuting by bike by then (hopefully) I'll join in, otherwise I'll try to get out and film ten minutes of going to the shops or something.
    If I can't do either, for whatever reason, I'll get ten minutes of my bloody car commute as a contrast

    ReplyDelete
  3. OK, I'm in. My helmet camera is a clunky cheap jobby with a 4GB SD card and a propensity to devour AAA batteries, and I don't use it all the time.

    So far I have only used it to try and encourage my colleagues to use their bikes during lunch break by building the website http://staff.stir.ac.uk/p.g.ward/bikerides

    But on October 24th I'll capture some of my commute and send you the necessary.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like a great idea. Happy to be part of it. Sunny weather from Australia should improve the project no end :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. If I had a working cmnera I'd do it - sadly, my cheap Muvi clone no longer holds a charge :-(

    ReplyDelete
  6. Excellent plan. I briefly tried a helmet camera but sent it back when it turned out to be too ropey to resolve number plates, but have other cameras, a helmet, some strong adhesive tape and lots of velcro ties.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Excellent plan. I briefly tried a helmet camera but sent it back when it turned out to be too ropey to resolve number plates, but have other cameras, a helmet, some strong adhesive tape and lots of velcro ties.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Does it have to be 10 continuous minutes? Or can we chop bits in (local scenery and sites would be cool)?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Guys,

    Thanks for the comments and taking part!

    Ben, I did waver about that, and yes I think some would struggle with 10 minutes. I think anything up to 10 minutes would be fine. I'm trying to avoid it just being incidents though! :-)

    Downfader,

    Your video is up to you. If you want to edit different bits in then great. Just has to be filmed on the 10th and be shorter than 10 minutes! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I don't know how to edit a video...

    ReplyDelete
  11. would something like this one:
    http://youtu.be/zZYGe_iI6AM
    be useful?
    It's just over 10mins (sped up 2x) and as the description says, it shows why I love cycling around London - I defy anyone to do that journey quicker on another form of transport :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Actually if it has to be filmed on the 10th I'm rather nicely working at a site which means I can take a scenic route home along the Thames Path and some canals in Surrey Quays - should be some other ideal material :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great idea - hey you'd better put in a good word for the weather though!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am in but my contribution might be in the dark as I am in college on Monday. I will definately post something of benefit though.

    Have you set a date of when you will post the footage?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Count me in, great idea!

    http://www.youtube.com/sheffieldcyclist

    ReplyDelete
  16. Top idea! In

    What if all the vids were taken around the same time? Say between 8 and 10. A more focused snapshot.

    I'm in no matter what tho. Great idea.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great idea, it will be an international event.

    grtz Peter

    ReplyDelete
  18. Just realised I booked that day off so wont be commuting... might have to improvise.

    ReplyDelete