So, had a taxi try to run me off the road. Here's how it went...

Surveyor11

Usual nondescript commute from central Dublin to the 'burbs in Carpenterstown this evening, until some loon in a taxi tries to run me off the road at the M50 bridge as it crosses just past Castleknock.

I've learned the hard way in terms of cars squeezing me, so I tend to ride defensively i.e. I'll take quarter of the lane, particularly when coming to pinch points. Anyway, as I approach the roundabout before this bridge, I take a quick look over my shoulder, see a vehicle approaching maybe 50 or so meters back, and indicate that I'm moving into the middle of the lane - still keeping up with the car in front of me. Usually, no issues - I take the line around the roundabout, then tuck back into the left and everyone's happy. Except this evening, this nut case behind me is having none of it - an he turns out to be a taxi driving a Rodius people carrier - quite a large vehicle.

Despite indicating that I'm moving out right to adopt my defensive position, this guy tries to pass me as I enter the round about. Keeps this up as we go around, driving right on my rear wheel, coming very close to me, and gesturing aggressively and finally barging past me as I go across the bridge, almost ramming me into the kerb. As he passes, his left hand side window is down he's roaring some weird taxi dialect. I pull along side him, he's still shouting verbal abuse at me, then veers in front of me, almost squashing me against the kerb again. To be honest, its the first time I've come across such overtly aggressive behaviour, so I calmly pulled along side and suggest he maybe takes an alternative career other than taxi driving where he'd be less likely to kill people. To be honest, taxi drivers are taxi drivers, and I know there's an unwritten rule that they can quite acceptably kill a pedestrian, cyclist or anyone else that gets in there way of a fare, but this evening this guy was so overtly aggressive, I should have reported him to the gardai. Alas, didn't get a reg or taxi plate number and just cycled on perplexed. Ah well.

rollingscone

Surveyor11 wrote: »

Usual nondescript commute from central Dublin to the 'burbs in Carpenterstown this evening, until some loon in a taxi tries to run me off the road at the M50 bridge as it crosses just past Castleknock.

I've learned the hard way in terms of cars squeezing me, so I tend to ride defensively i.e. I'll take quarter of the lane, particularly when coming to pinch points. Anyway, as I approach the roundabout before this bridge, I take a quick look over my shoulder, see a vehicle approaching maybe 50 or so meters back, and indicate that I'm moving into the middle of the lane - still keeping up with the car in front of me. Usually, no issues - I take the line around the roundabout, then tuck back into the left and everyone's happy. Except this evening, this nut case behind me is having none of it - an he turns out to be a taxi driving a Rodius people carrier - quite a large vehicle.

Despite indicating that I'm moving out right to adopt my defensive position, this guy tries to pass me as I enter the round about. Keeps this up as we go around, driving right on my rear wheel, coming very close to me, and gesturing aggressively and finally barging past me as I go across the bridge, almost ramming me into the kerb. As he passes, his left hand side window is down he's roaring some weird taxi dialect. I pull along side him, he's still shouting verbal abuse at me, then veers in front of me, almost squashing me against the kerb again. To be honest, its the first time I've come across such overtly aggressive behaviour, so I calmly pulled along side and suggest he maybe takes an alternative career other than taxi driving where he'd be less likely to kill people. To be honest, taxi drivers are taxi drivers, and I know there's an unwritten rule that they can quite acceptably kill a pedestrian, cyclist or anyone else that gets in there way of a fare, but this evening this guy was so overtly aggressive, I should have reported him to the gardai. Alas, didn't get a reg or taxi plate number and just cycled on perplexed. Ah well.

Report him for dangerous driving. The fact that he did it with intent raises serious questions about his mental fitness.

If he'd beeped and shouted without using his vehicle in manner to cause injury it'd just be bad juju but if you'd reacted differently to the cut offs etc there'd be.blood on the road.

Even if the Gardai do nothing else at least make sure there's a record of it so if he does something again they'll see the pattern.

Seweryn

rollingscone wrote: »

Report him for dangerous driving. The fact that he did it with intent raises serious questions about his mental fitness.

If he'd beeped and shouted without using his vehicle in manner to cause injury it'd just be bad juju but if you'd reacted differently to the cut offs etc there'd be.blood on the road.

Even if the Gardai do nothing else at least make sure there's a record of it so if he does something again they'll see the pattern.

Gardai will most likely do nothing with it, unfortunately.

I reported an incident with an aggressive driver, who even went a step further in his behavior. That was over three weeks ago. I followed it 5 times and no action was taken, as far as I am aware. You can really see the recent cuts in the budget, I am afraid. But do report it anyway, we can't leave situations like these without actions.

Sunnyisland

If your not going to report it and follow through the likes of this ****ing eejit will continue on his nearly death of cyclist ways until a serious accident happens,Report him to the garda or if you were that sort of person lay the law undo to them there and then,in which I would have done in no certain terms.

Jawgap

Report it to both the Guards and the NTA.

Sunnyisland

Jawgap wrote: »

Report it to both the Guards and the NTA.

And the taxi regulator.

Surveyor11

Don't have enough details to report him, have the first two digits of his taxi plate and the type of vehicle, next time the phone will be coming out, I'll photo the culprit.

But yeah, brings into mind his fitness to be on the road, in any sort of vehicle, especially a PSV one. I use taxi's a lot in work, and I usually sound out the taxi drivers to get an insight into their attitude to cyclists. Most in fairness are grand, generally taxhi man is happy when the cyclist lets him know his intentions, hand signals etc.

In this case, this numb nut was intent on simply ramming me off the road. It's the first time someone's used a vehicle with intent to injure me. On hindsight, probably should have been a bit shook up, but pretty battle hardened to traffic at this stage.

Bunnyhopper

Surveyor11 wrote: »

have the first two digits of his taxi plate and the type of vehicle

If you do feel like reporting it then that might actually be enough to narrow it down. It's a relatively unusual vehicle.

morana

Dont waste your time absolutely nothing will happen. you have gotten it off your chest and we are all sympathetic.

Had an incident like that 2 weeks ago in howth just turned onto the hill and a BMW x5 01-D (didnt get the rest) threw a bottle of water at me. I was quite angry but alas didnt catch them because I think I would have assualted him. I went thru I should go into the station etc but realised it would be waste of my time.

Cee-Jay-Cee

If you don't have the car reg number or taxi plate number then there's no punt wasting your time or the guards as they won't be able to do anything without either of those details so it's a non starter.

fran17

unfortunately lowlifes such as the one driving the taxi are allowed to breath the same air as us.i've been in dozens of taxi's in dublin and none of em have been pleasent.a good percentage of em are no more than petty criminals imo

AverageJoe82

always try get reg and plate number, i no most the cops do noting , but lucky ive an uncle who is sargent in a station in town, ive told him a twice before about I taxi and 1 old lady in a micra, they will call out and give out saying there was a report about them

Jawgap

realies wrote: »

And the taxi regulator.

NTA is the taxi regulator now

Undercover Elephant

Jawgap wrote: »

realies wrote: »

And the taxi regulator.

NTA is the taxi regulator now

... and they will just refer you to the Gardai because they only deal with passenger carriage regulations, not general road traffic issues. That's what they told me a few weeks ago anyway.

Jawgap

Undercover Elephant wrote: »

... and they will just refer you to the Gardai because they only deal with passenger carriage regulations, not general road traffic issues. That's what they told me a few weeks ago anyway.

You shouldn't let them fob you off - the behaviour described runs to the heart of whether the driver is a "fit & proper" person to hold an SPSV licence.

Undercover Elephant

Jawgap wrote: »

You shouldn't let them fob you off - the behaviour described runs to the heart of whether the driver is a "fit & proper" person to hold an SPSV licence.

That's a good point. My own issue was different - inept driving rather than aggressive idiocy.

BostonB

Surveyor11 wrote: »

Don't have enough details to report him, have the first two digits of his taxi plate and the type of vehicle,....

That and the fact its a Rodius would identify it I'm sure.

Sean02

Sorry to hear about incident Surveyor. However, you in my opinion were not cycling defensivly as stated. if you were this nut case would not have got the opertunity of perhaps seriously injuring or killing you. Defensive cycling, driving and even walking have to take account of the lunitic behaviour of road raged and seriously mentally impaired drivers and also a small proportion of inexperienced road users.

Bunnyhopper

Sean02 wrote: »

Sorry to hear about incident Surveyor. However, you in my opinion were not cycling defensivly as stated. if you were this nut case would not have got the opertunity of perhaps seriously injuring or killing you. Defensive cycling, driving and even walking have to take account of the lunitic behaviour of road raged and seriously mentally impaired drivers and also a small proportion of inexperienced road users.

What would you suggest the OP ought to have done?