just sent this to The Public Carriage Office . . . .

[Becs]

Dear Sir/Madam

I am unfortunately writing to complain about the conduct of a London Black Cab driver at 3pm today (2/8/11) on Delancy Street in Camden.

I was cycling along Delancy Street on the left hand side of this one way street on my way home from work. I was cycling a safe (but not excessive) distance from the kerb and had been passed safely by a number of cars before the cab in question passed me in a dangerous manner. The driver passed me so closely that his wing mirror brushed my arm as he forced his way between myself and another car that was passing me safely to his right. Had he been any closer he would have knocked me off and potentially caused a very serious accident. Fortunately no physical harm was done.

I then had to pull up along side him at the red traffic lights at the junction with The Parkway (he was turning left I was going straight on). I politely told him that he passed me way too close and he could have knocked me off, to which his response was "it obviously wasn't close enough because I didn't hit you". I then repeated that he was too close and asked him why he didn't just wait a few seconds and pass safely like the other cars and he just said " I wasn't too f*cking close and I'm f*cking right, I'm always f*cking right". When I pointed out that he was mistaken he told me to f*ck off and told me that I just had "penis envy". After the incident I was understandably shaken and upset.

As an experienced London cyclist I have unfortunately experienced many close passes by black cabs and several rounds of verbal abuse, including being called a c*nt on a number of occasions, always in Camden. I always cycle within the highway code and I thank drivers that drive considerately, so I am deeply offended by this incident and the attitude of several of your drivers. I am also an experienced motorist and I feel that there is no excuse for this sort of behaviour.

The driver was a medium to large build white man with greying air and a broad London accent (maybe East London). His taxi was black with some sort of advert on the right hand side that contained a lot of light blue. It was not possible to get my phone out to photograph his number plate while in queuing traffic and unfortunately I didn't get this driver's licence number. As a result of this incident I have decided to buy a helmet camera so I can document poor driving in the event of an accident. I am fed up of suffering this kind of abuse and being made to feel so unsafe at the hands of supposedly "professional" drivers.

Thank you for giving this complaint full consideration. I really hope this driver can be found and dealt with before someone isn't as lucky as I was.

Kind Regards



Anyone know what sort of response I should expect from them?

 

[classic33]

I'd say that "the driver cannot be traced" & as a result no further action will be taken by them on the matter. Expect to be referred to the police.

 

[cloggsy]

How can the cabbie in question be traced; do you have a registration number of the cab or a Hackney Carriage Licence number (as they aren't referred to in the letter?)

 

[Becs]

How can the cabbie in question be traced; do you have a registration number of the cab or a Hackney Carriage Licence number (as they aren't referred to in the letter?)

I assumed that they keep a rough track on who's where at what time - I am probably wrong. Couldn't get the number because I was too busy defending myself against the tirade of abuse I was getting. I always think of these things after the event . . . hence the need for a camera!

 

[gaz]

Without a numberplate or the 6 digit carriage office number they will not be able to trace the cab.
Black cabs don't have to report in anywhere, they are independently run.

Even if you did have registration details of the vehicle they would do nothing.
I even have video footage of drivers swearing at me, brandishing weapons at me and assaulting me and they will do nothing.

One thing they do have no power over is how they driver, it is up to the police to deal with road traffic offences. The PCO will only deal with offences in the Hackney Carriage Act. Verbal abuse does fall under that but again, without proof of vehicle, impossible to do anything with it.

 

[Becs]

Without a numberplate or the 6 digit carriage office number they will not be able to trace the cab.
Black cabs don't have to report in anywhere, they are independently run.

Even if you did have registration details of the vehicle they would do nothing.
I even have video footage of drivers swearing at me, brandishing weapons at me and assaulting me and they will do nothing.

One thing they do have no power over is how they driver, it is up to the police to deal with road traffic offences. The PCO will only deal with offences in the Hackney Carriage Act. Verbal abuse does fall under that but again, without proof of vehicle, impossible to do anything with it.

cheers. Oh well I'll keep it as a template for next time! IME the police don't do much either - the guy that dealt with my accident last year (taxi turned into bike lane to pick up a fare without indicating and hit me) told me it was my fault for being in the taxi's blind spot, said I should feel thankful I wasn't seriously injured and told me not to pursue it. My Father, who was a traffic copper for 30 years was not impressed but said that most of the Met are only slightly less bent than the crooks they catch so it wasn't unexpected.

 

[downfader]

There are other options. I would still send the letter/email to the PCO to let them know where quality is falling down, etc.

I would go further, too, since you dont have the full driver details you should write to the local paper letters sections, explain the incident in a more concise manner and it should get published. It will raise the issues cyclists in the area face.

Another option is to alert the LCC/CTC and other campaign groups about taxi-abuse. See if a trend is emerging, they can ask their members and other cyclists for experiences and then take it higher on everyone's behalf.

 

[Becs]

There are other options. I would still send the letter/email to the PCO to let them know where quality is falling down, etc.

I would go further, too, since you dont have the full driver details you should write to the local paper letters sections, explain the incident in a more concise manner and it should get published. It will raise the issues cyclists in the area face.

Another option is to alert the LCC/CTC and other campaign groups about taxi-abuse. See if a trend is emerging, they can ask their members and other cyclists for experiences and then take it higher on everyone's behalf.

Thanks! I will look into the last 2 points. I ignored the first few incidents but this is really beginning to annoy me now, especially as I always try to ride responsibly and considerately.

 

[gaz]

If you want to use any footage of dodgy taxi drivers then feel free to use any of mine. I'm currently dealing with a few officer in the me who are looking at how to handle complaints from their side (bad driving etc..)

 

[chillyuk]

My son-in-law runs a hackney carriage taxi firm and around here the council takes complaints about taxi's very seriously, too seriously at times, making a lot of hassle over at best spurious complaints.

 

[downfader]

My son-in-law runs a hackney carriage taxi firm and around here the council takes complaints about taxi's very seriously, too seriously at times, making a lot of hassle over at best spurious complaints.

Most taxis I come across down here are absolutely fine and driven well. I think camera footage helps, just as with witnesses when problems do arise. I do know of a local cabbie that lost his job, home and marriage because of a false sexual allegation from an ex-neighbour of mine. So I know that people can certainly make stuff up.

 

[martint235]

Will have to come up to Camden for a ride round one day. To capture things on camera of course........

 

[Becs]

yep, most of them are fine, some even go out of their way to be extra considerate (usually lady cabbies in my experience

) but this one, and several others have been utter tw*ts over the last few months.

 

[Becs]

Will have to come up to Camden for a ride round one day. To capture things on camera of course........

always welcome, some north London Sunday rides would make a nice change