Came from a Peugeot E7, turning right out of Dundas street on a Red light, plate starting E7 followed by 3 other letters!
What made it more annoying was that he smiled at me!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Todays bad taxi driving.
(314 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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Black Cab 827, bald headed guy with glasses in his early sixties.
Blindly accelerated U-turn from parked position on Lawnmarket, forcing me into a very swift unexpected emergency stop, downhill, on greasy cobbles.
My exasperated attempt to explain that his manoeuver was ill-judged got as far as "hey, you cannae u-turn like that without..."
Met with a hate filled visually contorted outburst, additionally with an attempted head butt jerk toward my face which didn't really go anywhere due to him being behind strapped behind a seat belt.
Three things amaze me here:
1) He'd just picked up a fare, sitting in the back seat
2) His manoeuver was clearly bad driving, a simple hand up in acknowledgement of error would have got him away scot free
3) His violent hate-filled contortion was incredibly misplaced considering his age.
Watch out for this guy. He's a liability.
Enabled by Edinburgh's local media.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Complain in writing to the taxi commissioners. Dangerous driving and aggressive attitude, not the image they want to have I'd have thought..
Posted 11 years ago # -
I think my own choice of language in response to his behaviour may have invalidated my grounds for an official complaint.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Posted 11 years ago #
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I think my own choice of language in response to his behaviour may have invalidated my grounds for an official complaint.
Not at all, whatever your response, it in no way caused his original misdemeanour.
Posted 11 years ago # -
It doesn't really matter how colourful your response was - that's the sort of manoeuvre that kills people - sounds pretty terrifying, especially on wet and greasy cobbles. I'd report it for sure - hope you're ok.
Posted 11 years ago # -
sorry - I keep reiterating what other people say by being slow at typing.... at least we agree
Posted 11 years ago # -
Och I'm fine, thanks. Close to smacking into the side at speed, suppose i could have been hurt, but its my own adrenalised verbal response to his misplaced violent outburst that I resent being suckered into. Its breach-of-the-peace-bait.
Posted 11 years ago # -
PHC 840 way too close to the cyclist I had just overtaken, decided to carry on and overtake me in the same manoeuvre! Then raced on at what must have been close to 40MPH
All heading west through The Park's 20MPH zone.
Shouldn't be allowed any kind of professional license.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Bombing down the inside of the stationery traffic on the A90 at Blackhall (the downhill stretch after Farmers autofit), this morning, when a white taxi decided he was better out of the queue and up the side-road to the left.
Managed to squeeze round and in front of him before he even knew I was there.Lesson to me to expect the unexpected (and dim-witted).
Posted 11 years ago # -
Hi folks, only just registered here (minutes ago) and was automatically drawn to this thread, primarily because I'm an Edinburgh black cab driver ("Booo... BOOOO!!...") but I don't drive a white taxi, a Peugot or a private hire (mild acceptance?) and I am a keen cyclist (maybe the odd, "Yay,: he's okay...ish"?).
Seriously though, I am not here to defend taxi drivers (or any other drivers) but have seen the problems from both sides. I have nearly been splattered by careless drivers on my bike, so much so that I am now very nervous on anything other than very quiet, spacious roads, but I have almost hit mental cyclists, for example, who jumped traffic lights at the foot of North Bridge at 1am, without any lights, apparently guttered! I have also been hit by a careless car driver on my motor bike, but that's by the by.
Regarding taxis, Lothian & Borders police Cab Office take complaints about taxi drivers very seriously, particularly if you've got independent witnesses to verify your story. If you have a bad experience with a taxi driver, get his plate number and, if possible, a witness, but either way, report it to the cab office. Even without a witness, every complaint against a taxi driver is followed up with notification to the taxi driver that a complaint has been made against him/her and the incident is always investigated, particularly if any injury has occurred. I know of one taxi driver who had his license suspended due to several complaints.
As skotl said, "expect the unexpected and the dim-witted" whether you're a cyclist or a driver, but don't take the attitude that complaining is a waste of time, particularly with taxi drivers.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Go away! ;-p
Seriously though, welcome to the forum :-) It's good to hear a cabbie encourage valid complaints to be forwarded, eve if it is coming from a fellow cyclist. A friend of mine who is/was a cabbie admitted that they were some of the worst drivers on the road. I'm sure they are no less competent to have a licence then anyone else but I get the feeling the pressure to make money from being behind the wheel leads some cabbies to act irresponsibly.
Imagine if we could keep all the idiots off the roads, regardless of their mode of transport. What a pleasure it would be for everyone... as long as there are no tramlines around! ;-)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Welcome indeed!
If you've been 'following' for a while, you'll know that 'we' mostly are (trying to be) 'sensible'.
I'm sure we believe that the really bad taxi drivers are a small minority - and the private hire's can be worse!
We also sympathise about the completely useless 'new' rank at Haymarket.
Cyclists are used to accusations that ALL cyclists ride on pavements and through red lights.
So, no doubt, most drivers don't overlap the tracks/double yellows, or jump the lights and turn right onto Haymarket Terrace -
But...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Ha! Cheers Focus, and I agree about the pressure to make money, but may I also add the arrogant 'I'm a professional driver so I'm better than everyone else' attitude of some taxi (and other) drivers. Not all though.
chdot, I agree. Admittedly, I'm guilty of driving on pavements - as I said, I'm nervous on roads - and have been known to jump the odd 'red', on my bike, but only when I deem it to be safe and inoffensive to pedestrians and other road users. But what I deem to be safe doesn't really cut it with 'the law' I suppose. I'd never dream of jumping a red in my taxi or car though...
I'm a right novice when it comes to cycling but I try to apply common sense when I'm on my bike, whereas when I'm driving, the law's the law. Does that make sense?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Focus, please don't mention "THE TRAMS!" :)
Posted 11 years ago # -
SK60 VTF taxi number 1189 pulled a fast and close pass in the rain and dark.
I think the driver objected to the fact that I was already in the ASL when he got to the red light at the Lanark Road/Inglish Green Road junction heading into town, and then took a strong position in the bus lane after the junction as I always do as I'm concerned that traffic in the right hand lane will pull left without noticing me as it approaches the queue of traffic waiting to turn right up Craiglockart Avenue.
Trying to decide whether to report it...
(Sorry, Slug, welcome to the forum. This is the thread for moaning about taxi drivers...)
Posted 11 years ago # -
This morning I was the only one stopped at the temporary traffic lights heading up Rosebery Crescent.
A taxi pulled up behind me and I had that sense of the inevitable. As soon as the light turned green he immediately overtook me (and the road narrows at the temporary light, so he was pretty close). The whole manoeuvre was so predictable that I think I actually laughed as he squeezed past.
I nearly caught him at the corner with Palmerston Place, so it saved him about a second.
Posted 11 years ago # -
No sweat, fimm and thanks.
Posted 11 years ago # -
No 792 this morning.
The fish-eye effect of the lens makes it seem further away than he really was. I did manage to reach out and touch him but decided keeping control of the bike approaching a junction with drain covers and a pothole on the inside was a higher priority than beating on the side to alert him to his muppetry.
Posted 11 years ago # -
As pointless as it probably is, did you report him?
Posted 11 years ago # -
SF13 LMM Black Peugeot Van (P207?)
Was crossing the road at Haymarket on foot, heading towards the war memorial and watching a car come along Dalry Road at 35mph. I sped up to make sure I was clear of the car.
Then the above taxi went straight through the red lights at the end of Morrison Street and passed in front of the car just missing it.
He was in such an incredible hurry to become taxi 6 or 7 in haymarket queue.
Posted 11 years ago # -
SL13SRV silver Citroen Berlingo
Illegal left turn from Dalry Road towards Haymarket station today @1605
Posted 11 years ago # -
Not sure how to embed video - it's only a short 5 second clip. In the distance, you can see the taxi that decides to u-turn through the pedestrian crossing by Castle Street. Unfortunately, you can't make out his registration and my voice is drowned out by wind so I've only got a partial: MT09 xxJ.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I really should get a video camera, I see Taxis going through red lights, literally, on a daily basis...
Posted 11 years ago # -
If it hadn't been so selfish and dangerous, the double synchronised concentric U-turn out of the Haymarket jughandle / ASL might have been almost elegant to watch.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@ kaputnik
I think it's got to the point they are either training for an as yet unannounced Olympic event or they are simply taking the mickey to show their contempt of the rules. I wonder which it is...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Last night, I was heading home from the station on Picardy Place. The downhill between there and London Road roundabout has a hellish surface, so I try to stay in the right hand lane (turning right at rbt) but also to avoid the cratered bits. Difficult to shoulder check as you have to concentrate on the line to avoid bumps. I try to take secondary because there's often a bus, taxi or boy racer up your backside on that stretch in the late evening.
Taxi cruises past on my right with inches to spare, at least he was going fairly slowly. Overtakes and then...indicates to turn left and starts to turn into Union Street!
As I passed on his right, having had to brake sharply I said calmly "What the hell do you think you're doing?" (not shouting, as I assumed he had his windows up on a chilly evening). I was surprised to hear him muttering something (indecipherable) at me through his open window! Clearly he must have thought I was in the wrong! Muppet.
Definitely taking hard primary next time on that bit of road, they can beep all they blooming well want.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Coming up to Colinton Mains Church yesterday evening about 6:30pm, there was a car coming out of the church car park on my left, cars parked beyond it, and a car coming the other way leaving no space to get past. Black cab MW10 EYU decided this was the ideal opportunity to overtake.
This is my first post, apologies in advance if the video link doesn't work.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Hi goyow and welcome - that's some appalling driving there - well handled by you it looks like though.
I had one today from taxi SN10 EJS - I stopped to take a picture but it's pretty blurry, but I think that's the reg. I was on Princes Street heading West - in order to overtake the busses on the left I had to cross to the right hand land and one tram track. As I was going along between the tram tracks a taxi came right up behind me - I slowed a bit and prepared myself for crossing the track again at a sharp angle only to find the taxi undertaking me at the first opportunity and it had to screech to a halt to miss me. I was going slower than usual because I had my daughter on board - I don't mind risking it myself but that's the last time I take her anywhere near there - very bad route choice by me, but some frankly murderous driving by busses and taxis all over.
Posted 11 years ago #
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