Taxi to the airport this morning at 4:30 am. On S Gyle B’way we pass a guy on a bike waiting to turn right at the lights into the Gyle. Cue sarcastic comment along the lines of “ there’s something you never see- a cyclist waiting at a red light”. It was very early but I could not let this go. There followed an argument all the way to the airport about cyclists not wearing hi viz, helmets, running lights etc etc. I pointed out he just ran a red going onto the road to the airport. He claimed it was Amber. I then told him about my mate who had his Range Rover totalled at Haymarket a few years back by a black cab running a red early one morning on the assumption nothing would be coming through the junction. A Range Rover! These things are built like tanks- shows you the speed the cab was going. None of this made any difference to my stereotypical cabbie. Suffice to say no tip for him.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Today’s grumpy taxi driver
(9 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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i have to say, if i spent my working day on the road, i'd have a dismal view of humanity in general. i think it affects the brain.
Posted 6 years ago # -
"if i spent my working day on the road, i'd have a dismal view of humanity in general. i think it affects the brain."
While it wouldn't be my cup of tea, I'm not sure that's true. HGV/artic drivers are probably on the road more than taxi drivers, and in my experience are amongst the best and most observant class of drivers, while driving pretty difficult-to-manoeuvre vehicles. Taxis are pretty much the opposite. The difference IMO is down to training and adherence (and checking of adherence) to a safety-concious/relatively law-abiding culture, and maybe herd mentality of living up/down respectively to expectations...
Posted 6 years ago # -
I can almost imagine coping with being a taxi driver, but only if it involved driving an electric vehicle.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I recently took a taxi to the airport early in the morning and he was speeding all the way. Limit + 10mph for the most part.
So on the way back from the airport I decided against a taxi & took the tram + walk instead.
Speeding == Loss of business.
When will they get it?
Posted 6 years ago # -
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Posted 6 years ago # -
Speeding == Loss of business.
Many customers may prefer taxis to speed as get there quicker may work out cheaper. If a taxi driver drove through Edinburgh at night at 20mph some customers may not like. Although may lose some customers speeding may lose more if went 20 mph possibly.Posted 6 years ago # -
“
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Jamie Greene said: “It’s welcome that Scotland is finally entering a common sense approach to low-level speeding.
“For too long, the punishments for minor infringements have been far too severe, creating an impression of an anti-motorist agenda. These more sensible measures will help repair the damage.”
Neil Greig, of driving training body IAM Roadsmart told the Daily Record: “We welcome the idea of a range of penalties.”
“
Posted 6 years ago # -
"HGV/artic drivers are probably on the road more than taxi drivers, and in my experience are amongst the best and most observant class of drivers, while driving pretty difficult-to-manoeuvre vehicles. "
true, but they spend most of their time doing longer, motor-centric inter-city drives at consistent speeds with little interruption once they leave the depot, while taxis are in urban traffic with lots of lights, changes, stops and starts, and several different forms of road users.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bus home from night out last night. Some people so vey drunk the driver could have declined entrance. They would have possibly switched from merry then. Fancy dress, singing, hysterical laughter at nothing, no money etc. Maybe the one wh was keeping it together gave notes as payment. He certainly put notes down the cleavage of one of the entourage.
This is acceptable? Or overlooked as it was The Pram Race for charity. They had no pram and indeed were heading back to their local. That is what I call a bus
Posted 6 years ago #
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