I was abused by a taxi driver in the bus lane yesterday.

Lord Nikon

Right, so I left work for lunch yesterday, to get into Liffey Valley Center to buy some Christmas cards, and maybe a sandwich or something too. Got there about 4pm, and was there for about 35 minutes. Came out and drove into a whole lot of traffic, a lot more than I was anticipating.

Anyway, after crawling past the Foxhunter pub, traffic didn't change, and got worse, as usual. So I comtemplated using the Buslane, which runs the length of the Lucan Bypass up to the traffic lights, heading west.

(Now, just to make this point clear, I don't use the Buslanes ever, unless of course the usage time on the sign expires, and they are open to all vehicals, you know yourself.)

So, I'm driving down the Buslane, and a taxi comes up behind me, full beams on probably to get me out of the way, not happening. Now about halfway down this Buslane there is a turnoff to the left, and the Buslane breaks. So I drive up here, and turn around, and head back for the Buslane, and rejoined it, the same taxi is still behind me, with full beams on.
So I'm cruising down the Buslane again, and the traffic starts to move, so I indicate and join it. The taxi pulls up beside me and the driver starts banging on my window, calls me a little wanker and drives off.

What the hell, he doesn't OWN the Buslane?

So, I get back into the Buslane, and put on my beams. He stops his Trajet dead, and puts on the hazards, and sits there. Blocking the whole lane for about a minute.

There is a queue off buses behind me all flashing the lights. He decides to move, i overtake him, and he sits behind me with his full beams on, all the way down the M4.

I know I was in the wrong, but don't deserve abuse from taxi drivers, driving down buslanes with NO passengers, and acting like they own the damn Buslane.

Rant over.

threebeards

neuromancer wrote: »

I know I was in the wrong

Nail...head

Anan1

neuromancer wrote: »

I know I was in the wrong, but don't deserve abuse from taxi drivers, driving down buslanes with NO passengers, and acting like they own the damn Buslane.

From what you've said, it actually sounds like you do. And believe me, i'm no fan of taxi drivers.

fletch

Are you looking for sympathy? If so I think you're in the wrong place? Although I don't condone the taxi mans agressive attitude.

aidan_walsh

I'm a pedestrian. I'm walking down the middle of the street, rather than using the foot path to the left of me. You drive up behind me. Whats your response?

L1011

neuromancer wrote: »

(Now, just to make this point clear, I don't use the Buslanes ever, unless of course the usage time on the sign expires, and they are open to all vehicals, you know yourself.)

The buslanes on the Lucan road are, in their entirity, 24 hours. So why did you even consider using them?

KTRIC

The taxi driver acted like a little pr!ck to be honest. You still had no right to be in the bus lane though.

DubLegs

No sympathy - Bus lanes are there for certain vehicles! Plus an hour to get into and out of liffey valley over christmas? You must be mad!!

NBar

Typical Joe Maxi driver, were you delaying him? No, so what was his problem, every morning on the N4 I see the tossers with their kids in their taxi heading for the schools in the bus lane. If he had a problem with you he should have reported you not started doing what he did " Road Rage". Stay out of the Bus lane but when one of them wants to get back into traffic let them wait

Lord Nikon

Maybe I'm not getting my point across. We all, as drivers of something know what it's like, to see someone do something wrong. But do we all shout abuse, and bang on windows, I think not.

If I started banging on the windows of ever L driver on the motorway, i would have no arm left.

I wouldn't mind if he was in a hurry and had passengers, but the thing was empty, and he had time to stop and delay me and all behind me.

Only lately I'm starting to spot more and more taxis and hackneys with no passengers at all in them.

Dub13

Both of you were in the wrong,road rage.

You should not have been in the bus lane and its not up to the taxi driver to police this.

aidan_walsh

He may have been on call to pick up passengers?

smemon

You don't just decide one day to use the buslane - in a rush or no rush.

It's a 'risk it' attitude and you got nailed - luckily not by a cop.

Cop would have slapped you with points and a fine, instead you got called a name - i know what i'd prefer.

You still didn't learn your lesson and retaliated.

No contest, you were in the wrong and created the problem. Had you decided not to chance it, it wouldn't have happened.

I'm no taxi driver, but i'd imagine he has to put up with this crap day after day - people with no right to be in bus lanes, chancing their arm. Cops aren't about, so rather than let you get away with it knowing there's a good chance you'll do it again, he tries to leave a lasting message.

Job done.

E92

You were completely in the wrong but that doesn't excuse the fact that the taxi driver was a pr1ck to you. What you did is as bad as the cretins that think the hard shoulder on the road from the shopping centre in Mahon Point is a normal lane as well and then just barge their way through just before the tunnel. If they ever do it to me I blow them out of it with the horn!

Dub13

smemon wrote: »

I'm no taxi driver, but i'd imagine he has to put up with this crap day after day - people with no right to be in bus lanes, chancing their arm. Cops aren't about, so rather than let you get away with it knowing there's a good chance you'll do it again, he tries to leave a lasting message.

Job done.

I don't agree its not up to a taxi driver to police the bus lane.

PeakOutput

neuromancer wrote: »

Maybe I'm not getting my point across.

no you are getting it across fine but its till wrong.

you did wrong you got your cummupins...boohoo get over it and move on. if you dont want it to happen again dont use the bus lane when your not allowed. if you dont care about it happening again then go ahead and use the buslane.

i will never...ever let someone back into the flow of traffic from a bus lane if they were not meant to be in it in the first place but then im a provisional driver who uses the motorway the odd time so ignore me

arybvtcw0eolkf

neuromancer wrote: »

So, I get back into the Buslane, and put on my beams. He stops his Trajet dead, and puts on the hazards, and sits there. Blocking the whole lane for about a minute.

There is a queue off buses behind me all flashing the lights. He decides to move, i overtake him, and he sits behind me with his full beams on, all the way down the M4.

.

Two idiots playing silly buggers.

bobtjustice

You should have got out and hopped the head off him with a wheel brace.!:D
I'm Kidding.

Sorry man you were in the wrong, though I don't condone his aggressive behavior nor do i generally like taxi drivers

Lord Nikon

I was willing to take the fine and points, as I have none and could afford to pay the fine. But I don't need some guy policing the buslane cause the gardai aren't about.

PeakOutput

neuromancer wrote: »

I was willing to take the fine and points, as I have none and could afford to pay the fine. But I don't need some guy policing the buslane cause the gardai aren't about.

he wasnt policing the buslane he was trying to piss you off like you pissed him off and he did

Anan1

NBar wrote: »

Typical Joe Maxi driver, were you delaying him? No, so what was his problem

The OP said in his first post that he was.

smemon

neuromancer wrote: »

I was willing to take the fine and points, as I have none and could afford to pay the fine. But I don't need some guy policing the buslane cause the gardai aren't about.

Think of it as a citizens arrest

I praise the taxi driver for doing what he did, up until the point he stopped and put on the hazards - that's getting other drivers involved and not on - lack of respect.

If everyone did what he did up to and after that point, there would be no buslane chancers or no queue jumpers - as they'd know they wouldn't get back in.

Dub13

smemon wrote: »

Think of it as a citizens arrest

I praise the taxi driver for doing what he did, up until the point he stopped and put on the hazards - that's getting other drivers involved and not on - lack of respect.

If everyone did what he did up to and after that point, there would be no buslane chancers or no queue jumpers - as they'd know they wouldn't get back in.

How did he know that the OP was not a cop...?or someone in a rush is hospital...?

Lord Nikon

If I pissed him off cause I delayed him, he delayed himself further, ha, and i got to work sooner.

PeakOutput

neuromancer wrote: »

If I pissed him off cause I delayed him, he delayed himself further, ha, and i got to work sooner.

exactly therefore you have no reason to bitch :rolleyes:

daveharnett

A little over the top, fair enough. Nothing to do with you delaying him though. He was just defending his turf. What if everyone took your example and started using the bus lanes when they couldn't be arsed waiting? His cushy perk becomes useless!

While he doesn't 'own' the lane, it is in his interests to keep you out of it!

biko

No sympathy. I effing hate bus lane cruisers in their Mercs and Beamers "Yeah, I'm very important so I'm using the VIP lane".

simplybikes

both of you were wrong of that there is no question. You should not have been in the bus lane and he is a taxi driver and not the police so not his job to act as he did. What amuses me about taxi drivers is this attitude that they feel they have the right to police bus lanes and get all high and mighty that someone is "breaking the law" but at he same time not adhere to the speed limits etc.

fletch

neuromancer wrote: »

I was willing to take the fine and points,

Does that make murder okay if the offender doesn't mind going to jail for it?

aidan_walsh

fletch wrote: »

Does that make murder okay if the offender doesn't mind going to jail for it?

Just so long as nobody gets killed

trellheim

Did you take the number of the taxi and report him to Mister Taxi Regulator ? Oh he won't like that.

Also one of the Traffic Control CCTVs would have caught it.

I'd take the points and take him to the cleaners for the road rage.

Tell us : will you drive in the bus lane again ?

Get out of the bus lane. People who drive in it who're not supposed to get no sympathy.

Are you a 'special' person ?

Anan1

neuromancer wrote: »

If I pissed him off cause I delayed him, he delayed himself further, ha, and i got to work sooner.

You might wish to consider removing the BMW car club Ireland link from your sig. They have enough of an image problem as it is, without you making things even worse.:D

MarkN

biko wrote: »

I effing hate bus lane cruisers in their Mercs and Beamers

Stupid generalisation.

the_syco

neuromancer wrote: »

If I pissed him off cause I delayed him, he delayed himself further, ha, and i got to work sooner.

Ah, another BMW "I'm better than you" driver using the bus land. What a surprise there...:rolleyes:

smemon

Dub13 wrote: »

How did he know that the OP was not a cop...?or someone in a rush is hospital...?

as he was obviously driving at a slower speed than the taxi behind him

how did the OP know the taxi wasn't in a rush to hospital?

no getting out of this one i'm afraid.

it all started when the OP made the decision to hop into the bus lane, which he isn't entitled to use.

the op then claims he was being abused etc.. which in my view is like trying to claim of insurance when you've no license.

mac1970

To be honest the taxi was in the right and the driver is in the wrong even though his attitude was ott and i don't condone whatsoever. Taxis can use the buslanes even with no passengers as they could be going to pick up a customer. Theypay over 6000 euro for their license and one of the priveliges is to be able to use the bus lanes for convenience of paying public like ourselves so think about it the next time you are in a taxi and the traffic is manic and the driver uses the bus lane to get you to your destination quicker and cheaper and if its full of joe public you wouldn't be happy watching the metre tick away!!!

cantdecide

trellheim wrote: »

Get out of the bus lane. People who drive in it who're not supposed to get no sympathy. Are you a 'special' person ?

Well said.

This, folks, is a case of mummy patting little Jimmy on the head every day and telling him how special he his.

GERRROUADDA that bus lane and queue like the rest of us. Despite what your mother told ya, you're not special and it is the LAW so toe the f***ing line:mad:.

Dub13

smemon wrote: »

as he was obviously driving at a slower speed than the taxi behind him

how did the OP know the taxi wasn't in a rush to hospital?

no getting out of this one i'm afraid.

it all started when the OP made the decision to hop into the bus lane, which he isn't entitled to use.

the op then claims he was being abused etc.. which in my view is like trying to claim of insurance when you've no license.

Don't get me wrong as I said in my first post on this thread that the OP and the taxi driver were wrong.

My point been that the taxi driver must be used to this kind of thing at this stage and if he keeps acting like this he will get in trouble.

jackal

MarkN wrote: »

Stupid generalisation.

Bloody true though. Frequency of wanker sightings in bus lane:

1. Mercedes (especially SUVs)
2. BMW (Likewise)
3. SUV's
4. Taxis
5. Buses

MarkN

Well sorry Jackal but you're type of person who cut me up in traffic this morning right in front of the Dept. of Justice (where there is ALWAYS a guard standing but not this morning!!) not because I had a right to merge but because I was driving a BMW.

You and people like you, need to get the whole thing out of your head. A brand of car is not driving a car, a HUMAN is.

A LOT of Irish people need to lie on a couch belonging to a man/woman with a degree in psychology and stare at this sign for a long time!!

bcmf

As a taxi driver I see this every day.And not as a generalisation I would say that 95% of people cruising in bus lanes are BMW or Merc drivers.I dont abuse them in any I JUST PRAY THERE IS A GARDA IN A BAD MOOD WAITING DOWN THE ROAD.It is obvious that you dont give a **** about the other drivers who are queing in the normal lanes.
As for doing cause there are n o Garda around my response to you is this.
You,sir are an idiot.

Mr. Incognito

you're looking for sympathy? If I was that taxi driver I would have braked in front off you. I'd love to see you explain how your car was up the arse of a taxi in the bus lane. Sick of you pricks.

MarkN

bcmf wrote: »

I would say that 95% of people cruising in bus lanes are BMW or Merc drivers.

Howaya Mr Taxi.. seeing as we're generalising so. Here's a picture I've drawn for you.

jackal

the_syco wrote: »

Ah, another BMW "I'm better than you" driver using the bus land. What a surprise there...:rolleyes:

MarkN wrote: »

Well sorry Jackal but you're type of person who cut me up in traffic this morning right in front of the Dept. of Justice (where there is ALWAYS a guard standing but not this morning!!) not because I had a right to merge but because I was driving a BMW.

You and people like you, need to get the whole thing out of your head. A brand of car is not driving a car, a HUMAN is.

A LOT of Irish people need to lie on a couch belonging to a man/woman with a degree in psychology and stare at this sign for a long time!!

You had a right to merge... are you sure? Check my non-exhaustive list below to check whether you had a legitimate right to merge, or you were pulling manouver number 2 - which is a classic Beemer move.

Yes I bloody would cut you up given half a chance. If by cut up, you mean attempt to stop the drivers of the BMW/MERC/RANGEROVER/SUV brand (humans of a subtype WANKER) pulling their usual ****e:

1. Bus lanes
2. Driving in the empty right-only lane past a load of traffic then attempting to dive into the left... like you made a mistake.
3. Going through red lights 3-5 seconds too late
4. Pulling out.. and out.. and out until you completely block a lane of traffic when you do not have right of way.
5. Thinking that putting on hazard lights both absolves you of all wanker behaviour and allows you to park anywhere while you nip into the shops.

C_Breeze

markN no need for those huge pics

MarkN

jackal wrote: »

Yes I bloody would cut you up given half a chance.

Such a foolish comment to come out with.

You sound like a timebomb on the roads to be honest.

You'll either get a dig or a trip to explain yourself to a judge.

Lads, I hate people using bus lanes etc as much as the next person but taking the law into your own hands is not your job.

wyndham

The taxi driver was completely in the wrong. He got out of his vehicle and sought a confrontation with you. He stopped his vehicle in the buslane again to seek a confrontation. It's none of his business if you decide to take the risk to use the buslane. He can report it if he wishes. What if you were trying to get to a hospital in an emergency? What an uppity little f**ker.

jackal

MarkN wrote: »

You'll get a dig

Is that a threat?

Selective quoting is such fun no?

What I was saying, and you probably know this already.. is that from the posters point of view he is legitimately trying to merge and was cut up. Thats poor. I dont cut people up if they are trying to merge legitimately. If I see one trying to pull the driving past a queue and then "trying to merge" i.e. skip the traffic, then yes I would go out of my way to block them.

As for the chances of getting a dig/caught by the guards... A dig is much more likely on our roads. There is no fear of getting caught with bad behaviour on the road, therefore it is up to other drivers such as that taxi driver, to enforce etiquette on the road.

Based on the **** I see BMW's etc pulling, I do not give them the benifit of the doubt.

jackal

wyndham wrote: »

The taxi driver was completely in the wrong. He got out of his vehicle and sought a confrontation with you. He stopped his vehicle in the buslane again to seek a confrontation. It's none of his business if you decide to take the risk to use the buslane. He can report it if he wishes. What if you were trying to get to a hospital in an emergency? What an uppity little f**ker.

Why dont you point out the rule of the road about using bus lanes for emergencies to us all?

He was blocking a vehicle that had no right to be in that lane. The driver should have removed himself from the bus lane. Unless there is a sign on your roof that says "taxi" or you are in fact driving a bus, then get out of the bus lane.

MarkN

jackal wrote: »

Selective quoting is such fun no?

Depends how old you are I guess.

jackal wrote: »

therefore it is up to other drivers such as that taxi driver, to enforce etiquette on the road.

Taxi drivers in Dublin, the salt of the earth they are, salt of the earth.

wyndham

jackal wrote: »

Why dont you point out the rule of the road about using bus lanes for emergencies to us all?

Never said there was a rule. No right-minded person or Guard or Court would object to same.