Helmet, Handlebar-Mounted Cameras Growing In Popularity Among Cyclists

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 25, 2014 5:45PM

More Chicago-area cyclists are buying Go Pro and other miniature cameras capable of being mounted to helmets and handlebars as the city becomes more bike-friendly and cycling as a means of transit becomes commonplace. The Tribune spoke with cyclists who are mainly buying cameras as a means to recording the possibility and aftereffects of an accident with a motor vehicle. But it’s also wonderful for capturing the occasional odd circumstance like when a horse runs down Wells Street.

The Tribune spoke with attorneys, including one who specializes in bike crash cases. None of them recalled a case where camera footage from a cyclist was used yet allowed there's a first time for everything. Thomas Pakenas of Illinois Bike Attorneys also stressed that while a mounted camera can capture motorists behaving badly they can also record cyclists who don't follow the rules of the road. Camera video may be admissible in civil court cases but permission must be received by all parties being filmed to record audio, under Illinois' eavesdropping law.