dynodonn 

One thing about the "cameras everywhere" thought process, is that many forget to realize the monumental task in sifting through all the data. Some time ago, I have finally decided in no longer archiving all my commute videos, due to the time and expense involved in doing so. I've gone to the approach of, if no motorist severely endangers my personal safety, the video gets deleted without my even reviewing it. However, I will archive one video a month, but only for historical posterity in changes to the urban landscape.

kickstart

Reporting an inappropriate act of a law enforcement official through the appropriate channels, and posting a video of ones awkward and failed attempt to personally correct an inappropriate act are two very different things.

daihard 

They may be very different, but they are both legitimate, in my opinion. The latter is perfectly legal, too.

kickstart

Which would you choose, assuming your only motivation is a positive outcome in a non disruptive manner?

May do, or should do?

daihard 

It is your choice. I try to do it as much as I can.

kickstart

Ok, but which way would you handle the situation in question? Confront the cops directly with a video camera running, or report it to the appropriate authorities.

Personally I wouldn't choose the public shame option, especially against private citizens. There's no control over how someone may chose to use the information.

daihard 

I would *like* to discuss it directly with the police officer involved if I was in that situation, especially since I'd be able to collect evidence. I'm not "confrontational" by nature, though, so I may not be able to do it in practice.

Dave Cutter

Absolutely! Perfectly legal and in no way unlawful.

I, you, anyone.... could make a long list of things that NO girlfriend, wife, mother, parent, child, friend, employer, or neighbor would find morally acceptable. Yet they would meet your criteria of perfectly legal and not against the law. So... are you saying socially acceptable is NOT a worthwhile goal?

Being creepy is legal. Stalking is legal... to a point. But we should help those can't tell when their behavior has drifted into that gray area.

daihard 

Perhaps your definition of "morally/socially acceptable" differs from mine. I consider it morally/socially acceptable to take the picture of the license plate of the car that endangers others on the road and make it publicly available.

Dave Cutter

Yeah.

kickstart

I just saw a Sears optical commercial showing a father fixing up an old bicycle for his daughter. An advertising agencies bread and butter is knowing what puts a product in a positive light. That's not indicative of widespread hate.

dynodonn 

Sure, like the general motoring public are going to view a commercial of a little girl riding her bicycle on a quiet back street the same way as a grown man actually riding his bicycle in urban traffic rush hour.

kickstart

Haters gotta hate............

dynodonn 

......and some people like to view the world through rose colored glasses.

spare_wheel

Lie back and think of England...

jeichelberg87

Behavior committed in public is not private. And is subject to open season.

Behave as if you know you are living in a Truman Show and no sweat.

For you are.

cellery

According to the run in I had with a club kid in a bashed up HEMI the other day, everyone does indeed "hate you people".

Another thing I learned yesterday from him was the following:

1) I am not a car (give that guy a membership in Mensa!)
2) All people on bikes are hipsters
3) If you want to ride a bike, go to Portland
4) Instead of signalling that you plan to go left around someone opening their car door into the bike lane - you should instead either get on the sidewalk or ride directly into their door.
5) It is ok to speed around a couple of cyclists at 65 on a 30 residential mph road to pull to an illegal stop in the bike lane and prepare to teach them a lesson

If you are a Phoenix, AZ area resident, look for that man to show up soon at a DUI checkpoint or safe driving course near you!

Todzilla

80% of the motorists I encounter are very respectful of my rights on the road.
19% are a little too careless
1% really seem to hate cyclists and actively present an impediment to my safety.

Champlaincycler

There's another thread on this forum now about a second cyclist killed in Vermont over the last 10 days. In both cases, the crimes were not really cycling related in that the drivers were reckless (one was drunk) and likely didn't even see the cyclist until the last seconds, if at all. The latest victim was run down from behind after a young driver came around a curve much too fast and overcorrected ,ran over the bicyclist and then off the road killing himself. The first death was so sad. A couple on a late day ride on a very rural road and a car coming the opposite way over a slight hill on the wrong side of the double yellow. The husband was killed. Both events were tragic, but really could easily have involved pedestrians or other drivers rather than bike riders. In no way were the cyclists violating any rules of the road.

Here's were the cycling hate comes in. I work with and around some long time Vermonters, and with blue collar working people and their children. When discussing these incidents, every one of them began to talk about those cyclists who take over the roads etc. They couldn't even see that these were purely innocent deaths. It was always "yeah the driver was a jerk, but man those cyclists can be so irritating." WHAT????

I'm beginning to realize that this is a cultural divide.

Chris516

The situation with the slight hill. Is like a road just outside of the town I live in. A hill was put in the road. That is more than the size of a big speed bump. When I am on the road near my house, that is like this.

Motorists' try to pass me before the hill, even though I am going 25mph on a 30mph.