MTBc Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 Good morning hubbers, On my commute in this morning, I had a close call with a taxi on Cedar at 8:20, just past Broadacres. I was riding inside the yellow lane (which was about 10cm wide, just on the road verge), when the taxi basically rode into me from behind, hooting about 2 seconds before impact, and then hitting my elbow & then handlebar with his rear view mirror. Close call, and really grateful at the outcome - no severe damage to me (still saying my thanks) or the bike, but if the taxi was 15cm more to the left, there's a good chance I would have ended up under his wheel. I feel angry (as most of us do when threatened) at his reckless driving. As I tried to flag him down, he just shrugged at me and drove off. I don't believe these sort of incidents should be left undealt with, and there should be some recourse for the driver's recklessness. The taxi was DA branded and I have the registration number (XNX 023 GP), and besides reporting this incident to the police, another cyclist who was just in front of me who witnessed the incident suggested that I take this up with a local DA rep (thanks for the suggestion bud, whoever you are) as it's not likely anything will come about by reporting it to the popo's. I know it's not the DA's responsibility, but should they not have some responsibility in following up / dealing with the drivers negligence? Before I head down that route, i wanted to get some feedback from the cycling community as to what I could / should do.
Hairy Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 The DA will more than likely take this matter seriously as they are being put in a bad light with drivers like that and they are trying hard to win voters in the Guateng region. Send this to them via twitter too ..... this seems to be a very good way of getting this done/attended to. Glad you are ok MTBc MTBc, Rata Del Spruit, ichops and 1 other 4
umhlanga101 Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 Police are very good with assisting as simialr thing happened to me, give them some credit and try them before calling them popo's MTBc 1
Hairy Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 Police are very good with assisting as simialr thing happened to me, give them some credit and try them before calling them popo'sNooit hey .... make as much stink as possible with all the parties so that someone get's up and does something.
MTBc Posted January 16, 2014 Author Posted January 16, 2014 Police are very good with assisting as simialr thing happened to me, give them some credit and try them before calling them popo's No disrespect meant by "popo", it originates from an acronym for Police Officer and isn't derogatory as far as I'm aware. Will definitely swing past later. Thanks for the confirmation Hairy.
Super Sywurm Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 I once also had a close encounter with a taxi. The taxi was parked in a 1m wide yellow line and then as I was passing the taxi, the driver opened his door. Luckily for me, I am an observing cyclist and I thought something like this might happen (I saw from a distance that the driver was moving in the taxi on his way to opening the door). I managed to stop before hitting the door of the taxi. If I had hit the door, there might have been some damage to the taxi, my bike and me. If I had drove around the open door, I may have been hit by a car from behind (not cool).
IndianRoadie Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 taxi drivers, most of them i don't want to pick a colour at who is worse,, are stupid Ah#les finish and kla i was almost taken out in fish hoek ! their mother purse for all i care, some of them show courtesy the rest are just morons
divernick Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 Glad you''re ok man! I really feel pretty despondent about how the taxis are behaving on our roads. I don't foresee a solution....
Patchelicious Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 Glad you are ok, that road give me nightmares. I have just tweeted Tannie Zille, hopefully she responds. @helenzille DA branded taxi reg: XNX023GP nearly killed cyclist in yellow lane, GP Cedar Road this morning. @bicyclesafetysa Hairy, Metzet, MTBc and 1 other 4
MTBc Posted January 16, 2014 Author Posted January 16, 2014 Glad you are ok, that road give me nightmares. I have just tweeted Tannie Zille, hopefully she responds. @helenzille DA branded taxi reg: XNX023GP nearly killed cyclist in yellow lane, GP Cedar Road this morning. @bicyclesafetysa Thanks.
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