Advice: what do you do if (ping taxi drivers)

[008]

If I hear a taxi coming up behind and there isn't enough room for it to overtake, I just hold a hand up quickly (as to acknowledge I know that they're there and apologise for holding them up)

I'll then try to increase my speed a bit to either get to the back of the next queue or find a place where they can overtake safely.

I find that taxi drivers (or any other drivers come to think of it) tend to be a bit more patient if you wave at them and they can see that you're genuinely trying to get out of their way.

 

[CotterPin]

On the beeping horn issue, unfortunately it is never taken as a "hello, I am here" noise. More a "gerra out my facking way" kind of sound - even if the intention was the former - which can put your back up, I know it does me.

But chill is probably the best advice. Take the lane, keep up a pace if you are able to, try to be aware of anything coming up behind - diesel engines are usually fairly easy to listen out for - and the road ahead to observe any potential places you can safely let the cab come by.

And one thing that is always worth remembering is that for every cabbie that causes you grief, many others pass you without a problem and some even are helpful (like the one I saw in north London earlier today when I was cycling home in the pouring lane - he was the only driver that slowed to let me out of a side street).

 

[HF2300]

No. The highway code states that the onus is on the vehicle behind overtaking safely when the time allows, not for the cyclist to get out of the way.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I was really referring to general courtesies extended to other road users, and to specific HC advice to allow faster traffic to pass, e.g. Rule 169. Having said that, on checking my facts I see this rule is now written with the emphasis on not holding up a queue of traffic.

I'd have thought this and my referral back to Keith's post made my meaning clear though:

You've certainly got no obligation to allow yourself to be browbeaten, nor should you put yourself in a situation where he's squeezing past dangerously. At the end of the day it's for him to overtake safely.

Really, I should have left things to BentMikey, who said what I was trying to say much more succinctly.

 

[zimzum42]

Strange how taxis are never in such a hurry when you're in the back of one...