A few years ago, this rider woke up in a hospital bed with no memory of how he got there. A crash with no witnesses, and no footage, left him with more questions than answers.
Since then, he’s recorded every ride. And when a recent incident with a car unfolded, that decision proved exactly why having clear video evidence matters.
UpRide turns daily rides into data that drives change.
What happened prior to this incident and why do you record your ride?
I started recording all my rides after an accident a few years ago. I crashed on my bike without any other party involved and with no witnesses present. I suffered retrograde amnesia from the impact – I have absolutely no memory of what happened and no one I could ask. All I remember is waking up in a hospital bed the next morning, with no idea how I got there or what went wrong.
That experience made me realize how vulnerable you are as a cyclist when there’s no record of what happened. Since then, I’ve been recording every single ride. If something happens again – whether it’s my fault, someone else’s, or just bad luck – I want to have clear evidence of what actually took place. This recent incident with the car proved exactly why that matters.
When do you feel most vulnerable as a cyclist?
When cars pass too close. Many drivers seem to have this compulsive urge to overtake, even when there’s a red light less than 200 meters ahead. They squeeze past with minimal clearance, risking your life just to wait at the same traffic light a few seconds earlier.
More broadly, it’s the feeling of being perceived as a nuisance simply for being slower – despite taking up a fraction of the road space compared to a car carrying a single person. As a cyclist, you’re constantly reminded that the infrastructure wasn’t built for you. Cars get multiple lanes, sprawling parking lots, and garages. Cyclists often get nothing – not even a safe place to lock up their bike.
That imbalance in how road space is allocated says a lot about how cyclists are valued in traffic. And when you’re the vulnerable one in that equation, you feel it every single ride.
What do you think are the most important things that can be done to improve safety for cyclists on the road?
First and foremost, proper infrastructure. Protected bike lanes that are physically separated from car traffic – not just a painted line on the road – and wide enough to be used safely.
Second, better enforcement. In my experience, police often don’t take incidents involving cyclists seriously enough. Whether it’s cars parked in bike lanes, close passes, or right-of-way violations – there needs to be a stronger commitment to actually enforcing the rules that are already in place.
And finally, I think we as cyclists also need to be honest: some cyclists do misbehave. The problem is that the bad behavior of a few is quickly projected onto all cyclists. “Cyclists never follow the rules” becomes an excuse to not take our safety seriously. That’s not fair, but it means we also have a responsibility to lead by example if we want to be taken seriously as equal participants in traffic.
Did you report the incident? What was the process?
I handled everything through a lawyer, who managed the entire claims process on my behalf. The other party’s liability insurance covered the remaining value of my bicycle, minus what I received from selling the damaged frame to a company that buys crash-damaged bikes. My medical bills and the destroyed helmet were also reimbursed, and the lawyer’s fees were paid directly by the opposing insurance without any issues.
The video evidence played a key role from the very start. The police were on scene the day of the incident and were very interested in the dashcam footage – they copied it right away. Having clear video made the liability question straightforward, and I’m convinced it helped the entire resolution process go as smoothly as it did.
What is your advice for other cyclists?
At the end of the day, cycling is everyone’s personal choice and right. But it helps to acknowledge that we’re the most vulnerable ones out on the road. Assuming that others will make mistakes and being ready to yield even when you have the right of way can make all the difference. Being right doesn’t help much if you end up in the hospital. And as said before: let’s hold ourselves to the same standards we expect from others.
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