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

[LOGAN 5]

.... (this is in London so may vary around the country0 ) a black cab is bearing down behind in a bus lane and traffic on the adjacent lane restricts/slows or inhibits an easy overtake?

The taxi usually gets up fairly close then hovers and eventually starts hooting for me to get out of the way. I don't want to move over as it just encourages him/her to squueeze/buzz past. He wouldn't get out of my way if I rang my bell behind him so whay should I? But it always leads to some sort of unpleasant situation which i want to avoid.

Do I:
a. ignore him.
b..move over into the gutter
c. stop, or
c(1) stop in the middle of the bus lane and make him go around me
d. move to the outside lane and let him "undertake" (never done this and a bit tongue in cheek as if I could do this then so could he)
e. slow down and annoy him
f. have a row/slanging match/punch up (not really)

Seriously, what do you do when this happens? I just want to get to work without all the abuse. When I spot a taxi in my mirror approaching down the bus lane I just groan as I know what's going to follow

Reason for posting, had this happen on Friday morning, again.

PS, said taxi was of course stationary in his traffic jam further up the road having yelled abuse at me get out of his way.

 

[col]

Always in a hurry arnt they,surely he could overtake like any other if its clear,or cross back over to a normal lane?They use the bus lane to save time being held up,its a gamble they take,might be quicker on the other lane,but if your there and its not safe to let them pass his gamble didnt work.

 

[Keith Oates]

It's a difficult decision and can really only be answered in a case by case manor IMO. Generally speaking I would say to try and let him get past IF there is a place where it is safe to allow this to happen, otherwise hold your position!!!!

 

[thomas]

Make them wait. When cycling around the country lanes it's not possible for cars to overtake, but I do go in lay bys/passing places and signal people past so you could try that where possible.

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

A
Then
C
Then a polite word
Then a final polite word

And if he’s still acting like a cock? hold d lock above windscreen and ask him if he wants to earn any more money that day

ok ok - keith had the right answer really!!!

 

[HF2300]

I think if I remember right you have a duty to allow faster vehicles to pass if you're generally slower than the flow of traffic, but only where it's safe to do so; so wot Keith said, really.

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.

What I would do is look over your shoulder at him as he approaches, make eye contact etc.

 

[BentMikey]

It's usually nice to make it easier for someone else to pass you, but only if that doesn't involve compromising your safety. That means don't ride in the gutter to let him past, for example. If you got a beep, I would give a friendly thumbs up and wave him to overtake in the next lane.

 

[Steve Austin]

If I'm slowing down someone behind I will always try to pull over to allow them past, BUT that does not mean I will get out of everyone way just because they are hovering on my back wheel.

 

[ufkacbln]

Complain to the licensing Office

 

[downfader]

I think if I remember right you have a duty to allow faster vehicles to pass if you're generally slower than the flow of traffic, but only where it's safe to do so; so wot Keith said, really.

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.

Personally take down his plates, cab number and report him. Ideally get the abuse on camera with a rear camera set up so you have some evidence.

It would be very tempting to open his door when he got stuck in traffic and take his keys off him, lol! I often fantasise about doing that - though I never would.

 

[Tynan]

I move over as I hear them coming, they ain't exactly quiet

as soon as it's safe natch, if they've hooted they've likely been waiting for a while

I find them well driven and patient barring the odd death manouvre when they spot a far

 

[domtyler]

You should never reward bad behaviour.

 

[Amanda P]

There's no point in moving over or doing anything much if it's clear the taxi is only going to join a queue a few yards down the road.

You've no duty to let following traffic past if they're going to end up waiting anyway. In the situation you describe, I would have waved cheerily at the taxi driver and carried on as I was. If there was a second honk, shouting or gesturing, I might turn and have a good look at the taxi's number plate. A third and the phone camera comes out.

 

[Tynan]

what bad behaviour, catching up witha slower moving road user and using the horn to alert them to your road position

shared lane as far as I'm concerned, I've had plenty of black cabs shift over a bit to let me past, always like that if only as proof that they're watching their mirrors even when stationary

 

[jmaccyd]

Look, if it bothers you move over let the Cab (or whatever) pass and then get on with as stress free comute to work you can manage. As you say it is more than likely you will seranly cruise past the vehicle further down the road. It goes without saying of course that dozens of cabs would have passed you without any problem what so ever.

As for the Public Carriage Office, I am sorry to report that an organisation that once held the highest standards, has since coming under the control of politicians become a toothless 'cuddlywuddly' authority. I know as a cab driver receive postings from the PCO about how to spot social problems amongst my passengers, then I am to receive up to date road safety info.