I was cycling in Glasgow City center tonight, and had a run in with a tool of a taxi driver.
First of all, I cycled off Sauchiehall St and up Rose St, stopping at the lights before Renfrew Street. I was sitting in primary as I usually do at lights, and a taxi pulled up behind and inched so close that was nearly touching my rear wheel. Clocking this, I made sure I set off at a good pace, turning right onto Renfrew Street and getting on the right hand side lane so I could continue on instead of turning left.
The lights went green as I was coming down the hill past Mandors, so I carry on. At this point (as you can see here ) there are 4 lanes, and I'm in the lane center right, leaving two whole lanes free. There were no other cars on the road at this time.
Anyway, this taxi driver comes roaring up behind me and passes me so closely that if I'd moved my elbow out a little further he would have caught me. Keep in mind there were two free and empty lanes to his left at this point. I shout 'watch out!' as he went by, and saw him slowing for a red light up ahead. I catch up and pull in near his window, giving it a tap.
He rolls down his window, and say (determined to be polite)
(me) "Please could you give cyclists a little more room when you overtake?"
(taxi) "You're not even supposed to be in this lane.
(me) "What? I've got as much right to be here as you do"
(taxi) "No you don't, this is a dedicated road for buses and taxis"
(me) "That's ridiculous, bikes can go on any roads that buses and taxis can. Besides, there were two other lanes that you could have moved into instead of overtaking my so closely there"
(taxi) " I suppose you cyclists will be taking over all the lanes now, aye?"
At this point I see there is no reasoning with him, and the lights change anyway. I catch him up again at the next lights and note down his taxi license plate, and his normal license plate.
The reason I've bothered with all this is I wanted to know, should I bother doing anything about it?
I don't think there is much point is saying to the police but I was thinking more of complaining to his employers.
What do you think?
First of all, I cycled off Sauchiehall St and up Rose St, stopping at the lights before Renfrew Street. I was sitting in primary as I usually do at lights, and a taxi pulled up behind and inched so close that was nearly touching my rear wheel. Clocking this, I made sure I set off at a good pace, turning right onto Renfrew Street and getting on the right hand side lane so I could continue on instead of turning left.
The lights went green as I was coming down the hill past Mandors, so I carry on. At this point (as you can see here ) there are 4 lanes, and I'm in the lane center right, leaving two whole lanes free. There were no other cars on the road at this time.
Anyway, this taxi driver comes roaring up behind me and passes me so closely that if I'd moved my elbow out a little further he would have caught me. Keep in mind there were two free and empty lanes to his left at this point. I shout 'watch out!' as he went by, and saw him slowing for a red light up ahead. I catch up and pull in near his window, giving it a tap.
He rolls down his window, and say (determined to be polite)
(me) "Please could you give cyclists a little more room when you overtake?"
(taxi) "You're not even supposed to be in this lane.
(me) "What? I've got as much right to be here as you do"
(taxi) "No you don't, this is a dedicated road for buses and taxis"
(me) "That's ridiculous, bikes can go on any roads that buses and taxis can. Besides, there were two other lanes that you could have moved into instead of overtaking my so closely there"
(taxi) " I suppose you cyclists will be taking over all the lanes now, aye?"
At this point I see there is no reasoning with him, and the lights change anyway. I catch him up again at the next lights and note down his taxi license plate, and his normal license plate.
The reason I've bothered with all this is I wanted to know, should I bother doing anything about it?
I don't think there is much point is saying to the police but I was thinking more of complaining to his employers.
What do you think?