Greater Manchester be-an-ignorant-git-on-the-road day, today?

[MrHappyCyclist]

I've found cycling to work a real pleasure the last few weeks, with hardly any bother from motorists. Seems like I was just saving up for today.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se60ut-E_-Y


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqoCVSQmP6E


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6mgJhf9RU4


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fGp8bZYQrY


How can we address the level of total ignorance that these drivers display? They make their own rules up as they go along.

I'm afraid I got more than a bit angry with one of the private hire drivers; not good, I know.

 

[400bhp]

How can we address the level of total ignorance that these drivers display?

Ignore them, life is too short.

 

[Jezston]

Hard to ignore them when one of them hits you pulling a stunt like that. Sometimes you can't just ignore stuff.

 

[benb]

Nothing wrong with getting annoyed at the time, but life is definitely too short to let it bother you for more than a few minutes.
Be Zen, and take comfort from the fact that you'll almost certainly live longer than them, and most definitely be happier than them.

 

[400bhp]

I missed the bit where he was hit. Where is that?

I've been tempted to accidently come out of my cleats with my right foot sideways scraping the side of a car on occasion.

 

[400bhp]

Nothing wrong with getting annoyed at the time, but life is definitely too short to let it bother you for more than a few minutes.

Does having a helmet cam exacerbate this (extending the anger for more than a few minutes)?

 

[Jezston]

I missed the bit where he was hit. Where is that?

I've been tempted to accidently come out of my cleats with my right foot sideways scraping the side of a car on occasion.

I mean, I don't think we should be expected to just brush such incidents off like they are nothing - they are incredibly dangerous and people get seriously hurt and killed by people doing stuff like this. Use the anger to give you the energy to do something constructive - cleat scrape the car, give the guy a bollocking (he'll just get defensive and throw insults back, but at least he'll think next time), contact the police, write to your MP etc etc ... it might not achieve much but it'll achieve infinitely more than doing nothing.

 

[benb]

Does having a helmet cam exacerbate this (extending the anger for more than a few minutes)?

Not in my experience, but I can't speak for everyone.

 

[400bhp]

he'll just get defensive and throw insults back, but at least he'll think next time), contact the police, write to your MP etc etc ... it might not achieve much but it'll achieve infinitely more than doing nothing.

A big assumption there. They drive taxis - that should tell you something.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

A big assumption there. They drive taxis - that should tell you something.

No they don't. They drive private hire cars. I think the hurdles for them to get a licence to operate are significantly lower than for taxi drivers.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Does having a helmet cam exacerbate this (extending the anger for more than a few minutes)?

That's an interesting question, and you may have a point. However, there is the satisfaction of knowing that I can put the videos on YouTube and that I have evidence if I want to report something.

To be honest, I think this morning was exceptional.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

I mean, I don't think we should be expected to just brush such incidents off like they are nothing - they are incredibly dangerous and people get seriously hurt and killed by people doing stuff like this. Use the anger to give you the energy to do something constructive - cleat scrape the car, give the guy a bollocking (he'll just get defensive and throw insults back, but at least he'll think next time), contact the police, write to your MP etc etc ... it might not achieve much but it'll achieve infinitely more than doing nothing.

I agree with this. Doing nothing is the worst thing we can do. I have had some results from reporting people, especially to their companies. I also intend to use the white Audi one to try out the Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 thing if the police say there's nothing they can do.

 

[400bhp]

No they don't. They drive private hire cars. I think the hurdles for them to get a licence to operate are significantly lower than for taxi drivers.

I don't make a distinction.

As a group they display similar characteristics.

 

[davefb]

http://www.greaterma...on.co.uk/?p=585
quick google got this... from 6months ago... I'd say that means private hire should not use bus lanes? .. though obv it might have changed

[edit]

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...plaints-against-cabbies-in-greater-manchester

complaints have soared... though supposedly because the council has made it more obvious how to complain!

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

http://www.greaterma...on.co.uk/?p=585
quick google got this... from 6months ago... I'd say that means private hire should not use bus lanes? .. though obv it might have changed

I reported that one to Mainline Dolphin and the lady on the other end, who was very helpful, confirmed that he should not have been in the bus lane. She also said that they would look into it, take action and get back to me. She said that if they felt it was serious enough, they would recommend that I report him to the licensing authority as well, and would give me the necessary details to do that!