Cyclist puzzled by moving ground illusion

A cyclist in New York, Jeremy Cohen, recently experienced a perplexing optical illusion while riding through Corona Park. While filming his ride, Cohen noticed a bizarre effect that made it seem as though the ground was moving sideways beneath him. Intrigued by this phenomenon, he shared the video on TikTok, captioning it with a question about the mechanics behind the illusion. The video sparked a flurry of comments from viewers, many of whom speculated on the cause of the effect. Some likened it to the animation style of flip books, while others suggested that Cohen's camera work was responsible. A TikTok user proposed the idea of "rolling shutter," a technique where a camera captures images line by line, potentially creating unusual effects in fast-moving scenarios. However, this theory was met with skepticism by others who pointed out that a global shutter camera would not produce such an illusion. Further discussion among TikTok users delved into the technical aspects of the phenomenon, with one commenter explaining that the illusion could be attributed to the camera's shutter speed and sampling frequency. This led to a debate about the interplay between frame rate, biking speed, and the unique hexagonal patterns of the ground, which may have contributed to the visual trickery experienced by Cohen. The incident highlights the fascinating ways in which perception can be manipulated through technology and environment.