City, Film
vidTO: Car-Free Day 2006 - Reckless Commute
[ - 9mins - click video to play - ]
Car Free Day was last week, but just a couple of days ago this video was shared via YouTube. Mounted on a bicycle, the camera records 9-minute of a commuter's morning journey to work from Cabbagetown (Carlton & Parliament) to Dufferin & Queen.
The odd, obstructed, low perspective (with little peripheral view) the camera provides, may be a factor, but there are a few moments in the video that make me think that this commuter is totally reckless! It starts out with a near cut-off of a fellow cyclist, and an ignored red light. Throughout the ride, there seems to be quite a few quick turns, eager passes of cars and cyclists, hurried sidewalk park path use, and showboating (is the no hands with passing cars really necessary?!?!).
Kudos for not driving to work and making this neat video. Anti-kudos for being reckless and very unsafe on your morning commute!
Update: Some commenters (including the cyclist, who has found and commented on this post and my personal photoblog) think I'm whining. Am I whining about nothing? Cyclists that nearly cut off other cyclists (0:20) that turn right on reds without stopping (0:28, 3:00), almost clip cars (1:00) ride with no hands in traffic (2:02, 5:45, 7:45), ride through lines of moving, turning cars (2:40), ignore stop signs (4:00), go straight through red lights (4:20, 7:05), ignore crosswalk signals (5:36), and swerve for kicks (7:15) are reckless. I really think that you'll have a hard time convincing anyone that watches the video carefully otherwise.
The rider claims to be "Car free, care free". Not caring for road rules is reckless, and endangers motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. I hope this rider considers taking a less rushed, safer approach to commuting by bicycle - for everyones safety, including his/her own. Sincerely, Jerrold.
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AH, there IS some editing. I thought to myself "Parliament/Gerrard - Duff/Queen in 9 minutes?! Insane!".
The way this commuter rides makes 9mins look possible. Red lights mean go, apparently :P
before i even watched the clip i thought "he's going to run the red at niagara and queen".
i live in the neighbourhood and it frustrates me that i nearly get hit once a week by a cyclist running that light. and then they give me the dirty look!
if i was a cop, i'd sit at that corner and ticket every single one of them. they give cyclists a bad name!
LOL...I saw my car parked on Gerrard in that video.
this person seems like a bit of a douche. it could be worse -- he appears to signal at some points -- but does a lot of other reckless stuff. it gives us all the bad rep we have.
i'm used to other cyclists blowing past me when i stop at red lights. :(
Give me a break, reckless?
You guys are whiney.
Yes, reckless. Watch the video. Cyclists that nearly cut off other cyclists (0:20) that turn right on reds without stopping (0:28, 3:00), almost clip cars (1:00) ride with no hands in traffic (2:02, 5:45, 7:45), ride through lines of moving, turning cars (2:40), ignore stop signs (4:00), go straight through red lights (4:20, 7:05), ignore crosswalk signals (5:36), and swerve for kicks (7:15) are reckless. You'll have a hard time convincing anyone that watches the video carefully otherwise.
The rider claims to be "Car free, care free". Not caring for road rules is reckless, and endangers motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. I hope this rider considers taking a less rushed, safer approach to commuting by bicycle - for everyones safety, including his/her own. Sincerely, Jerrold.
Wow,
you guys need to relax. Nobody is perfect.
If you're trying to promote car-free day with a video of your bicycle commute it shouldn't show you completely disredarging rules and ettiquette of the road. Your message is lost, buddy. You should learn to ride with more respect for your own safety and that of others. I'd rather see another car on the road than have to deal with another cyclist that thinks he owns the road.
If I had to chose between more cars on the road, and having to listen to perspectiveless self rightous indignation, I'd choose more cars too.
So I guess we agree on something at least.
Totally reckless! You know how many tickets this rider could have gotten? Lots. I hope you wear a helmet, at least.
In nine minutes how many comparable traffic violation by cars would you observe? I'm guessing about the same.
You're confusing reckless and illegal. The guy in the video did some illegal things, true (not more than the average motorist would in the same time frame, in my experience). But he did nothing that ever put anyone in danger or inconvenienced anyone who had the right-of-way. He didn't cut anyone off, didn't scare any pedestrians, didn't cause any trouble for any drivers. He was, in fact, safer than a lot of completely law-abiding cyclists (in particular keeping his distance away from parked cars which, amazingly, are probably the most dangerous things urban cyclists encounter). The cyclist in the video is clearly an experienced commuter and knows what he is doing. He definitely is not somebody who thinks he "owns the road". Very few cyclists do that because, well, the natural selection, survival of the fittest - that sort of stuff - takes care of them...
ahahaha these comments are hilarious.
I agree with chephy... as an experienced urban cyclist, all I see here is another skilled cyclist getting around safely, quickly, and enjoyably. And, yes, in that order.
It is simply not safe for a cyclist to ride like a motorist would drive. What you're asking is that this person not only lengthen their commute for no reason, but possibly put themselves in danger. It's a radically different vehicle than an auto (I can't believe I even feel like I have to say that) with very different dynamics, both physically and socially. The laws don't recognize that, but anyone who's been paying attention does.
As for the "running a red" thing - gasp in horror. You're probably the folks I see standing at the corner of two empty streets gaping like a trout at the signal, waiting for a machine to tell you what's going on around you.
You all get driven around too much, and don't bike enough. Or if you do bike... you're not enjoying yourselves ;)
Relax, you'll live longer.