Marlebone Road - Assault

[gavintc]

I was a passenger in a car heading west on Marlebone Road - not far from Regent's Park when I saw a taxi pull out on a cycle. The bike was adept in his move and missed both the outside lane cars and the taxi. The rider slowed down and spoke to the taxi driver. We were stuck in the outside lane - moving slowly watching this unfold. The bike rode off undertaking the queue in a bus stop, the taxi accelerated hard to the back wheel of the bike. He escaped by a whisker moving back into the main bus lane. He then stopped and spoke to the taxi again. Taxi driver then punched the cyclist in the face. Cyclist again rode off and was caught by a red light. The taxi driver now jumped out of his cab and was keen to continue. Cyclist shook his head and went through the red light.

Anyway, if anyone on here is the cyclist. Please speak to the Met Police. I have reported it and am prepared to be a witness to this assault.

Timing - 3.30 pm on Tue afternoon.

 

[zimzum42]

I had a cabbie square up to me right near there a couple of years back, maybe the same guy. He chased me down and swerved in front of me, jumped out of cab and started threatening me. i just stood there silent then rode off. All cos I had spat into the gutter and he thought i was spitting at his cab. i think the real reason for his ire was the fact that I kept getting ahead of him each time he got stopped at lights, he had been doing the whole pulling right to the left to stop me getting in front thing, and clearly didn;t like being passed to the right by a cyclist

 

[Jake]

bloody hell!!!! sounds like he must have a brother in scotland who drives onto pavements to get cyclists

 

[potnoodle]

Was it a mini cab or a black cab?

 

[Jergen99]

Taxi drivers are really shallow! When I walk around in a suit, they stop for me and let me cross roads when it's their right of way - but on a bike, clearly, we're just hippy targets to them! Well, now that all the rich goons are losing all their money, I guess cabbies won't have enough fares to pay their bills! Minicabs are cheaper and will make a very big rise now that they are the most affordable form of overpriced transport in this city.

It doesn't surprise me that this happened in London. This is why I really hate cycling as close as I am to the middle - if I could only move back to Wimbledon where there's plenty of big roads and leisurely cycling to be enjoyed.

 

[Tynan]

bad seeds everywhere, even on bikes

most black cabs are very professional and well driven I find

 

[Paulus]

I have had good and bad dealings with Black cab drivers. You can't tar them all with the same reputation. Same with Bus drivers.

 

[Keith Oates]

I've had more pleasant experiences than bad with Black Cabs both a customer and also on the road, but like all things there are some bad eggs and this seems to have been one of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BentMikey]

bad seeds everywhere, even on bikes

most black cabs are very professional and well driven I find

+1

 

[CotterPin]

And you always have to remember for every dodgy cabbie that you encounter, several hundred more (if you live in London or similar big town) pass you without an incident.

 

[pedaling]

 

[downfader]

When I think of all the stereotypes of driver: bus, taxi, white van, beemer, etc I honestly havent had much of an issue with many of them. I have encountered LOADs of great drivers, but as they say you tend to remember only the bad ones.

God help anyone who tries to assault me, I dont care if I get mullered but I will fight back.

 

[gavintc]

I will agree with sentiments made here. IMO, professional drivers are normally excellent and personally I have far less issue with taxis, buses and trucks than ordinary motorists. My colleague and I were quite surprised at the incident unfolding before us.

 

[jmaccyd]

I will agree with sentiments made here. IMO, professional drivers are normally excellent and personally I have far less issue with taxis, buses and trucks than ordinary motorists. My colleague and I were quite surprised at the incident unfolding before us.

Indeed, not good. I have driven a London Taxi for eighteen years now and I watch with sadness and just plain disbelief at some of the agression and just plain inhumanity that goes on amongst some road users.

But I will make this point, things will not get any better unless YOU REPORT the matter to the relevant authorities. Certainly any London Taxi Driver that assults you or behaves in a threatining manner, take the badge/plate/reg and contact the PCO. The PCO is not the force for good that it once was but certainly assult would be taken very seriously. The PCO have a range of sanctions available (bit like being called into the Head's office!) from warnings other behaviour, to temporary suspension, to revoking your licence.


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[ufkacbln]

Slightly OT, but......

If you were "offended" by the action of the driver, is there any reason why you should not complain to the licensing authority about his conduct.

The wording to use is that you do not feel he is a "fit and proper" person to be holding a license.