Rideye Creates Black Box Video Camera for Your Bicycle

call it a crash; there is always a reason.

As a video professional, I can tell you that no way will you be able to make out 90% of license plates in that resolution, (‘720’ lines, if it isn’t interlaced, which it probably is, so less, which is NOT full HD and a flat out lie in their kickstarter video) at 30fps. Not enough information and too much motion blur. At best I can make out 25-30% of the license plates in their HD video on vimeo, just imagine if you were riding any faster. With the motion blur that number may drop to 0%. unless the car comes to a stop and the camera is angled at the license plate after or upon the moment of impact, it’s useless. This is generally misleading and I hope the company modifies the hardware or at least their promises. They could end up in a lot of trouble if they don’t.

@Mark

Hi, I’m Cedric, creator of Rideye. I appreciate your comments! Thanks for pointing out the error in our video. I will change that as soon as I can.

To address your concern about making out license plates: if you can send me your email, I’ll send you some sample footage straight from a Rideye. It’s far clearer than what you get after it’s been uploaded and compressed by Vimeo. That said, I understand that the 90% figure is misleading, and I have removed it. What I meant was that in 90% of incidents, you can make out enough detail to help detectives identify the vehicle. This is done through a combination of license plate information (even partial numbers are helpful) and a detailed visual representation of the vehicle’s characteristics. With a video of the accident, your odds of accurately proving what happened are dramatically higher than without any proof.

Didn’t think we’d have the founder here! Hi! Interesting product. It seems like the detail in the video isn’t as high quality as it could be. I have a family member in law enforcement and it’s hard to get things like license plates from most equipment, even the expensive stuff. A lot of expensive security cameras still can’t pick up license plates from moving vehicles. That’s why those red light cameras cost thousands of dollars to produce. I think you’re right, Cedric, partial numbers are helpful especially tied to a visual of the car. I think if anyone thinks twice about this, they’ll realize that it’s most helpful than not. A lot of times, poor security camera video is used to make arrests and solve cases. I don’t see why this wouldn’t help.

If this product helps at least one person it was all worth it. At best, it won’t put anyone at risk as long as they know its limitations.

Why go to the trouble of developing a new system when there are so many options out there already?

How does this help if you’re hit from behind? Will it have a seat post mount available?

@Star @Inspector Gadget
Yes, we will be selling helmet and seatpost mounts shortly after Rideye ships to backers. If you’re interested, send me an email after you back the project and I’ll make sure to put you down for a free seatpost mount as soon as they become available! Same goes for any of my fellow BikeRumor readers.

info@rideye.com

A crash cam that will cause severe injury if it makes contact with any part of your body during a crash. No thanks, go back to sketching boards.
Trying to imagine hitting this sharp metal box with my knee is giving me shivers.

I applaud the basic concept, but if the accident all takes place in front of you then chances are slightly better that you could have avoided it, and it is certainly easier for the culprit to deny anything that went on before out of camera shot.
Ideally it needs 360 degree vision so that tailgaters and T-junction hits are covered too. OR, to be helmet mounted so that when you turn your head to look at the hazard it gets captured. But obviously to be helmet mounted it needs to be smaller and lighter…

Good luck

SO thinking about this it seems to be a good idea. Even with a rear pointing Rideye mounted on a seatpost / top tube or whatever I’m going to be in trouble. We don’t have plates on the front of our cars here in Quebec. Ontario does and so does every other state and province in the region but I don’t ride there. I ride here. So WHEN I get hit again for the umpteeeth time I’m still not going to be any closer to identifying the vehicle and driver… I’ve never been hit from the front or the side… ever…

Solutions?

@ Cedric, way to stand behind your project! I look forward to seeing the project flourish. I too like the aerodynamic idea, but I signed up as s backer and look forward to feeling safer on my solo rides. “Liked” it on Facebook as well, good job!
Star stevenson