Recently saw a taxi overshoot the stop line opposite Macro.
On further investigation, I discovered his view of the red traffic light was blocked by the A-Z street map he was reading. Professional driving?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Todays bad taxi driving.
(314 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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The driver of the people carrier-type taxi that nearly ran me off the road at the end of South Gyle Broadway (at roundabout with the Crescent) had her headphones on. I assume that's why she couldn't see me (Boris Logic).
Or perhaps she's just not a particularly "professional" driver. Should all be caught nicely on camera, particularly the bit where I shout "WAKE THE **** UP!" as she drifts across not-quite-infront of me, looks up, sees me, and then takes 2 or 3 seconds to find the horn to honk, by which time she was already half way around the roundabout and I had made my left turn.
I've noticed that both times recently where taxis have tried to force their way in here both of them carried straight across from the left hand lane, after trying and failing to pass me approaching the junction, with me being in the left lane to turn left. Surely they can go straight across from the right lane?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Taxi driver wanting to overtake me on Princes Street where it narrows to a single lane just after Frederick Street. He took umbrage at me being primary and we had a
argumentdiscussion about it when we were inevitability stopped at the lights at the Scott Monument. "Why do you have to ride up the middle?" "So I can stop people like you trying to overtake me in a single lane" etc etc. Why do they have to get in front when they know they'll be stopping at the lights? /rant.Posted 10 years ago # -
In reality, no worse than we expect from the average taxi driver but it was an "interesting" conversation:
Around 5:20pm today, I was taking the diversion to avoid the closed northbound lane of Viewforth, down Yeaman Place. Nearing the bottom of the hill, at Dundee Street junction, a black cab is turning into Yeaman Place off Dundee St. It's hazzards are flashing, and it stops, pointing diagonally at me with it's bumper about to impinge on my side of the line.
Now, what am I to think? He's stopped to pick up or collect a passenger? He's stopped to nip into the shops? All of which would be blocking the lane for anyone else, but hey, it's a taxi so that's alright.
I raise my hand quizzically and ask him what he's doing. Cue blank stare. I try again, mentioning his hazards. He's now saying something, but I can't hear because his window's closed. I put my hand to my ear and he lowers the window. I tell him his hazards are on and ask how anyone's supposed to know what is intentions are. He feels the need to look down to confirm what lights he has on, but still they flash.
So I tell him what hazard lights are for and ask why taxi drivers use the for the wrong things, pointing out they are not indicators for turning or stopping (yes it had become clear he was probably wanting to do a u-turn, using Yeaman Place).
And then he goes and does it... In an East European accent* (possibly Polish, there was a fair bit of traffic noise on top of the rain), he mumbles phrases involving bikes, red lights, pavements! And so I challenged him to follow me and guaranteed he wouldn't catch me breaking the law! By this time, there was finally a break in the traffic (my view being obscured by a large silver van parked half on the pavement!) as two cars were wanting to turn into Yeaman Pl from my right. The lead driver beckoned me out, and I departed with, "Now that's how to be a polite and responsible driver", giving that driver a wave and thumbs up.
Of course, the taxi would have had a hard time following me if he'd accepted the challenge, as I was going down to the Telfer subway, but I'd like to have seen the look on his face if he had taken me up on it :-)
But just who is it that tells taxi drivers (*regardless of their nationality!) that their hazards are for anything other than warning of danger? Presumably it's ingrained in the culture, as new drivers have seen cabbies doing that all their lives. But the companies, and the licensing board IMO, should be making it quite clear the practice is both wrong and possibly even illegal if not simply irresponsible.
(Wow, that was a long post!)
Posted 10 years ago # -
C'mon now Focus; they're not hazards, they're "stop where the f@ck I like" lights. I thought everyone knew that...
Posted 10 years ago # -
I am not sure that miss-use of signals is particular to taxis - plenty common in the wider population. Includes flashing lights, horns, non-use of indicators ...
Posted 10 years ago # -
I am assuming that a taxi driver using his PDA while driving/moving is against the law?
Posted 10 years ago # -
@ amir
Whilst you're right about misuse of "car equipment" (for want of a better catch-all phrase) applying to most types of motorists, it's clearly taxi drivers who use their hazards for anything other than indicating a hazard.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@ ARobComp
Likewise the one who passed me (oncoming) at the head of a line of traffic whilst holding his phone above steering wheel level and texting, not raising his head for even a second .
Posted 10 years ago # -
Or the one who tried to pull an agressive pass on me while we were both turning right. I was so tempted to filter past the queue of traffic at the red light and ask him exactly what he thought he was doing, but I knew I would achieve nothing by doing so, so I left it.
(Actually I had an almost identical experience turning out of my road, but that wasn't a taxi driver. I caught that driver at the red light, too, and I'm afraid I did indulge in a little 'unnecessary filtering to the ASL' there.)
Posted 10 years ago # -
Edinburgh Taxi 922 (P81) LP13 HRU with a close pass on Princes Street, just as I was about to go in between the tram lines. When politely challenged on the matter he became abusive. I was very restrained when I inevitably caught up with him while he waited at the lights at Edinburgh Gate. To report or not to report? Thoughts
Posted 10 years ago # -
Doubled Up
Posted 10 years ago # -
Report. Too vicious to be in charge of a taxi, propelling other people about. Not enough awareness of other road users, particularly around hazards. Email taxi office and cc police.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Yeah report him.
That lane markings are clearly in your favour as you approached a major tram hazard yet he buzzed you. I view the abusive behaviour and having a second rant at you as the real problem tho - his attitude suggests that wasnt a one off..Posted 10 years ago # -
For anger management issues alone, he needs to be pulled over the coals. He wasn't the one who was endangered or treated as though they weren't worthy of space. And on the basis that you only swore out of his earshot before talking to him, he had no need to resort to that for any reason.
Posted 10 years ago # -
It looks like CEC will bring in cameras in the taxi fleet, in a similar way to Lothian Bus. Which should help improve driver behaviour and also provide backup evidence when there is a complaint.
Posted 10 years ago # -
re: CCTV in taxis - the chip-wrapper article referenced only talks about internal cameras, but the CEC executive summary (http://goo.gl/llZsZh) does talk about forward-facing cameras. Not sure how much help they'll be for the punishment passes...
Posted 10 years ago # -
Yesterday morning, Maybury Road. Poor lane discipline by a grey zafira private hire. He was tapping away at his PDA with one hand and eating his breakfast wrap with his other hand...
Is is legal to use the taxi PDAs while driving?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Peugeot Black Taxi SJ14 AMW plate 1130 at 0815 this morning. We were both going from Leith Street to Leith Walk. I'm ahead and on the inside lane, so remain in the inside lane when we exited the rounabout onto very top of Leith Walk. I was in front initially so he can't fail to have seen me, he accelerates to level with me and then begins the expected slow merge into my lane squeezing me to the kerb. He never once looked at me, just [i]"I'm squeezing into that lane, the bike will slow down/stop and let me in, even though he is level with me". Fortunately the road widened at the juntion with Union St and I could get breathing space. Terrible lane discipline. Wilful lack of care for another road user, just wanted into that lane and b*gger everyone else.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Minibus taxi #666 (well what's the chances of that!?) parked on Haymarket Yards (downhill)
- on active tramline
- on double yellows with double pavement bars
- across the (admittedly rubbish) cycle lane
- half across the pavementWith a car already up my tail I had to come to a slow speed, negotiate across the 2 tramlines at an unfavourable angle to pass, only to find myself nearly getting doored as the cretin climbed out his cab without checking his mirror.
Icing on the cake was getting sworn at for having offended him by pointing loudly out in front of his passenger what a dangerous place it was to park.
Even without stopping to photograph him so he could be reported he should think twice about such behaviour with such a memorable number.
Will enjoy reporting him today and hope that next time a tram comes along and causes extensive and expensive damage to his cab bodywork.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Minibus-taxi parked in that hotel beside Leamington Terrace with half his length protruding into the bus lane on Bruntsfield Place. On the phone.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Black taxi no 1277 who this afternoon turned right from Morrison St onto Lothian Rd from the right-hand lane then tried to bully me from my lane into the bus lane. I did not appreciate the unsignalled manoeuvre nor did I appreciate the undertake onto Brougham Street a minute later.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Hi Everyone I work in the Taxi/PHC business (but not a driver) The best way to report any incident with a Taxi/PHC vehicle is to the City of Edinburgh council (CEC) licensing@edinburgh.gov.uk this will then be past on to the Cab Inspector to investigate. If you can back up any info with a recording/picture and or a witness. Most drivers are fine but some are real nutters behind the wheel. Like all bike users I have had to many near misses with Taxi/PHC drivers but I am usually to shell shocked by there actions to get the details required. We should all try to live in harmony on the roads
Posted 10 years ago # -
Thanks macdond, I think I might send off a wee email.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Had to report a cabbie today.
Deliberately nudged into me on Lothian Road on sat (on my way to POP) Not hurt, no bike damage. Think it was just my arm she hit tbh.
I challenged her. She said she did it because " you went in front of me"
She was stationary, indicating she wanted to pull out. I pulled up on the outside of her.
Had she not been stationary, angled, completely blocking the inside lane, on a double red line, I might have left a gap for her. actually I wouldn't I'd have progressed up the inside lane!
Posted 10 years ago # -
Had a similar sort of encounter on morningside road a few days ago. I was heading south, car was stopping in 'loading' bay just past holy corner. Except it was well outwith the hours when it is supposed to be used for loading. So I refused to give him the gap his indicators appeared to be asking for. He went anyway. And tried to force me out into the incoming traffic, and then gave me an earful when I questioned him. 'I was indicating' he said.
Idiotic bully.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I wasn't particularly impressed with this overtake. Note that the taxi is still entirely in my lane as he goes by, due to the fact that there is a car beside him in the outside lane. You can hear me exclaim my shock as he goes by. The downside of having such a wide-angle lens is it at first doesn't appear that close, but the fact he had another car outside him and thus left me no room is the main irritation.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Ouch.. an annoying width of lane, if it was a bit narrower there would be no way for him to attempt that move, but probably a bit too wide for you to be comfortable riding right in the middle!
Agree on the wide angle. I'm too lazy to buy another camera, but I've thought about relegating my contour to my right bar end on some kind of mount facing backwards. It would then give a better idea of close passes due to being on the outside of my bike.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Actually, I do usually ride in the middle of the bus lane, pretty much at all times. I think I had temporarily lost concentration at that point and drifted in, and he took advantage. Maybe it was vaguely fair enough - you are likely correct that at that exact point, the lane is probably quite wide. It was close enough that I cacked myself, but again maybe that's because I'm used to being given the entire lane due to my standard "centre of the lane" riding style.
Ho hum. Lesson is to concentrate a bit more. I think I was entering bonk/hypo territory around this point. Need to remember to eat more before leaving work.
Ooh - and on the "rear facing camera" thing, I'm pondering on getting an SJ4000 for just that purpose. Not sure if I could actually be bothered attaching it twice a day, mind you, hence why I have not yet bothered.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Black cab #922, LP13 HRU. I was going west through Haymarket at half past five, in the middle of the right-hand lane, when a loud revvy noise behind turned into a loud revvy noise right on my right shoulder. I no longer had the space on my right to move to the right to get over the second set of tracks at a good angle, more so if I moved left first, so I was essentially forced out of the lane, assuming the taxi driver didn't want to drive over the top of the traffic island if I'd held my position and gone over the tracks at an unwise angle. In the wet. With metal-spiked tyres. Fortunately, the licensing people are good at emailing.
Posted 9 years ago #
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