Sheffield Train Station Cycle Lane Blocked.

[MrHappyCyclist]

Here's the Googlemaps street view. Cabs parked all over the pavement/yellow lines. Cycle contraflow is (on this occasion) clear

And here is what is just around the corner. Ridiculous!

 

[BlackPanther]

Any bmx riders on here? I would love to see one ride straight over the taxis roof.

 

[Soltydog]

Just thought of something - one of my nephews is quite a good BMXer. Maybe I sould take him down there and get him to ride accross the tops of the cabs!

That'd surprise em!

I'd love to see that

 

[Adasta]

I'd considered it but was thinking it wasn't really an emergency!

This is one of the biggest problems with calling 999 and it shouldn't be.

I can tell you right now that, since you're obviously a rational human being, you should call 999 whenever you feel threatened. You are not a "time-waster". Not to be anti-Wollstonecraft or anything but, as a woman, you are (at least perceived as) more vulnerable; if a car park full of male taxi drivers make you feel uncomfortable by their actions, call 999 immediately and think nothing of it. Your call will last for about 30 secs and the nearest available squad car will be despatched.

I think a flashmob is needed. One cyclist turns up and takes pics, and as the irate cabbies surround them, 3000 more cyclists come round the corner...

Hmm...I've never been to Sheffield...

 

[perplexed]

Sara_H, maybe have a word with the local CTC/Sustrans person? (Can't remember which, sorry.)

I can't remember for the life of me where I heard it, but someone mentioned they were trying to do something about the same problem, but with the taxis outside the co-op (or Brightside and Carbrook if your old like me! ) on the road between Waingate and Angle Street.

Sorry about your experience.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Rather than being confrontational about this

There's a vantage point by the tramlines off Shrewsbury Street (look up the hill!)

I have a 300mm camera lens and 2x doubler, I might pop up there and take a few detailed photos of faces and registration numbers

I did detour via Fordham Street today but it was clear with not a taxi in sight

 

[pshore]

Just spoke at length to a police officer - thy're not really interested, he said the council deal with all parking offences.

I'm not really sure thats true, but he's very adamant.

There is a similar issue that it still on going in Cambridge. This is called "over-ranking".
See Local News Story and CycleStreets .

If the problem is similar to Cambridge, they may have handed out too many taxi licences for the amount of taxi ranks. This surely nets your council more money which they won't want to give up. This sees them backing into a moral corner.

 

[Sara_H]

Well, I had another phonecall from a police officer on saturday.

I think that because I keep calling back they realise I'm not going to just let it drop, and have agreed that its their responsibility to do something about it.

Lets see what happens. I intend to report it every time I see it now - going to make myself into a Victor Meldrew style nuisance!

 

[Jezston]

There is a similar issue that it still on going in Cambridge. This is called "over-ranking".
See Local News Story and CycleStreets .

If the problem is similar to Cambridge, they may have handed out too many taxi licences for the amount of taxi ranks. This surely nets your council more money which they won't want to give up. This sees them backing into a moral corner.

Except that in this case there is a massive empty taxi rank just round the corner! But the taxi drivers don't give a **** and are happy to sit in the cycle lane instead. It's stuff like this that makes it difficult for me not to tar them all with the same brush.

 

[marinyork]

Except that in this case there is a massive empty taxi rank just round the corner! But the taxi drivers don't give a **** and are happy to sit in the cycle lane instead. It's stuff like this that makes it difficult for me not to tar them all with the same brush.

It's not massive at all, it's a bit on the small side actually if you take the surrounding area into account, that said we are over-ranked, but that's nothing unique. Taxi drivers get boxed into the same little world around the railway station the way it is designed, you can see where the problems arise. Don't blame the taxi drivers for the design flaws for the revamped station and surrounding area, everyone told them you'd have nightmare queues going on for hours per day. As it is harder to drop people off at the station than it used to be (not particularly a fan of cars) taxis do incredibly brisk business these days at peak times.

 

[Sara_H]

I agree, there aren't enough rank spaces at Sheffield Station - and as a result its bedlam round there.

That said, I don't think that excuses the way the drivers behave. Aside from the problem with the cycle lane, they're parked all over the pavement and driving along their is perrilous - they weave about all over the road without looking.

In short - they act like they own that little corner of Sheffield, and I'm sick of it.

 

[marinyork]

I agree, there aren't enough rank spaces at Sheffield Station - and as a result its bedlam round there.

That said, I don't think that excuses the way the drivers behave. Aside from the problem with the cycle lane, they're parked all over the pavement and driving along their is perrilous - they weave about all over the road without looking.

In short - they act like they own that little corner of Sheffield, and I'm sick of it.

In some ways they do own that little corner of Sheffield, the perils of putting in one way systems and set closed loops and trying to discourage other cars only encourages this attitude.

 

[StuartG]

There is also the problem that if you were a taxi driver - then driving/parking by the book is going to lose you a lot of fares. I guess it is economically impossible for a taxi driver not to do it.

And,, there are not a few cyclists who drive taxis. These people may be the key to finding a way to combat the problem and help them too. Damming all taxi drivers is easy and counterproductive.

 

[Sara_H]

There is also the problem that if you were a taxi driver - then driving/parking by the book is going to lose you a lot of fares. I guess it is economically impossible for a taxi driver not to do it.

And,, there are not a few cyclists who drive taxis. These people may be the key to finding a way to combat the problem and help them too. Damming all taxi drivers is easy and counterproductive.

I agree - no one wants them to lose their livelihood - but allowing them to inconvenience/endanger others is not the answer.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Well..I tried but I'm struggling. Not saying there isn't a problem, just not at the times I've been there

Admittedly I was late tonight, my boss kept me talking till 6pm and walking as my shoulder means I'm off the bike so on shanks' pony I didn't get there till 6.30

I was right about the vantage point though - superb yet miles away from any potential trouble