London Cabs - What to do?

pintoo

spen666 wrote:

pintoo wrote:

I could go into details about how a cabbie just tried to ram me off the road -deliberately - this morning. I could list a damning schedule of close encounters with cab drivers. I could just rant, but I won't. Here's the thing - calling them names and saying what a bunch of [fill in your favoured expression] they are won't change anything. What can we do about the utter lack of road courtesy that cabs show to other road users. I'm equally frustrated with them whether I'm in a car, riding a bike, riding a motorbike, in a bus, whatever. They are consistently the most obnixious and dangerous people on the roads. Today's incident could have left me dead - I am not exaggerating. I didn't get the plate number and even if I had, I have to say that I doubt anything would come from reporting it without a witness. And most peds aren't going to take a cyclist's side regardless of what's happened.
....

Why do you think that is?

Could it be because they "hate" cyclists because of the law breaking selfish attitude of some of the said cyclisrts?

Its a classic example of how the selfish self centered attitude of some cyclists is getting all of us a bad name and doing us no favours

Quite. That's precisely what I mean re. the benevolent ripple. We can't expect courtesy if we try and excuse our own collective bad habits - even if they are a misperception (which I don't believe they are, in truth). However, there's also the issue of vulnerability. Someone else mentioned that drivers will create space if they think your wobble might mean dangerfor their paintwork. I believe this, but I simultaneously find it unbelievable. Surely I'm not the only driver in the UK who worries for the safety of other road users above and beyond the finish of my car?

I know I betrayed my own prejudice in an earlier post which I'm a little embarrassed about, but honestly... I fear for my safety and most times, it's cabbies who inspire that fear.

Clever Pun

Eat My Dust wrote:

biondino wrote:

I filtered to the right this morning as an experiment and it was terrifying - judging when you need to pull over, trying not to wobble as cars zoom past, and surprising drivers who were looking to turn right. I'll go back to the left, I think.

Complete opposite to me. I am happy on the right but really hate undertaking. Saying that I've had 4 collisions. 2 overtaking and 2 undertaking!

I think it's dependent on the road and how much space is available

Jen J

pintoo wrote:

Someone else mentioned that drivers will create space if they think your wobble might mean dangerfor their paintwork. I believe this, but I simultaneously find it unbelievable. Surely I'm not the only driver in the UK who worries for the safety of other road users above and beyond the finish of my car?

That was me, and it was intended as tongue in cheek. Maybe the phrasing was wrong, but the principles still apply - if a driver sees you wobbling they are more likely to give you more room, whether that be out of their concern for your safety or their own property or more likely, just a desire not be be involved in an incident.

Big Red S

WGWarburton wrote:

Greg T writes:

> LISTEN YOU LOT.
> I leave that two foot of room on the inside as my bail out space, not so that you can use it to get in front of me at the lights, I swear to GOD if one of you undertakes me on the left hander going round into parliament Sq again i'm going to start swinging.

Greg, the answer is right at your fingertips...

Next time someone starts undertaking, indicate left...

Assertively.

Then apologise profusely for smacking them in the face... didn't occur to you that someone would be so close...especially on the inside... etc.

Surely you would look before signaling or moving, precisely to determine whether there was someone so close?

pintoo

Jen J
You got me... but I still find it rather believable.

Just yesterday, I was crossing a junction on a green light, when a white van driver starts tearing across the junction from the other direction, trying to do a right hand turn. I was directly in his path and rather than slowing or (as if!) apologising for nearly mowing me down, he starts yelling and making hand gestures as he swerves (single-handedly) around me.

Er.... WTF?!

I know this is not news to anyone who rides on the road, but I hate this aggressive nature people have behind the wheel. I hate it when I'm driving, but as a cyclist, we're far more vulnerable.

As for the simple mirror-signal-manoeuvre guide... seems a bygone era.

iainment

Some cabbies are absolute maniacs and some aren't - probably higher rate of angry cabbies than in the general population just because of the frustration involved in driving round London all day
However whenever I've had too much drink to ride home I've always managed to get a black cab to take me and my bike home, so some are excellent - better than trains anyway!!!