nickvink30@yahoo.com Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Please use this forum to share your experiences with regards to Minibus Taxi's on our roads. Have had three near misses, in fact two near misses and one hit, in the last week alone and all of these incidents were Taxi's. First near miss was opposite Cape Point in Cape Town late evening with nobody on the road and this taxi comes flying past and extremely close to my shoulder. The road is seriously wide along that strip, WTF. Second incident happened ealrier this week on Kommetjie road in bumper to bumper traffic. I have an incredibly bright front light with epileptic inducing blinker and cautiously approached on his inside when he decides to ride me into the pavement, with his left rear mirror hitting my shoulder in the process. Jumped off my bike and gave him a piece of my mind while he staired at me with a blank expression on his face, probably thinking I'm crazy AND in the wrong. Third incident just happened half an hour ago (late Friday morning), again along Kommetjie road in Kommetjie, a quiet suburban area. Taxi comes so close I could feel the left mirror shave my earlobe. Made a few polite gestures at him as he drove into the distance as you do because I mean what else is there to do? Am seriously considering carrying pepper spray and emptying the can into the drivers face should I be given half the chance. Somethings gotta get the message across and asking nicely ain't gonna cut it. So I'm guessing this sort of thing happens all the time with Taxi's on our roads and we should just sit back and accept that when it's our time, it will almost certainly be at the hands of an incompetent, ignorant and lawless taxi driver. Do they not understand the concept of safe passing distance, or just good driving practice FFS and what can be done about this?
Heel Drop Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 I trained in Centurion this week on the side of the road on my MTB on gravel , next moment a taxi was on my back just hooted like 2 m behind me , I had to move into the road full of traffic knowing this guy wont stop for me. I wonder this disregard of live is that on purpose ( knowing they will worst case get manslaughter if they hit you?) Its insanity how they disregard all rules and the law - One feel like something should be done
Escapee.. Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Taxi's wont change their ways. Expect the unexpectedBe safe out there Merry Christmas son
PJP2013 Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Like with anything I think it's dangerous to generalise. I have had both good and bad experiences with taxi's while cycling. Some go out of their way to give me a gap or let me change lanes even when they have right of way and then others have cut me off or come too close for comfort. I have had two collisions on the road and both those were with normal cars.
DIPSLICK Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 sorry to hear about your close calls, but........we commuted for years(3). about a year ago our commutes varied from 60-80 km per day depending on how busy we were,,,touch wood our closet calls were def . not taxis sorry ladies but most my close calls were ladies or old grumpy men, recently my commuter partner was taken out by a guy rushing into a parking spot, the urgency and the lack of him (driver)paying attention was because it was the last spot he could get, which happened to be outside the local pub, we rode as clever as we could opposite flow to the traffic and the most important thing he taught me about commutes, road riding was simple MAKE EYE CONTACT if you dont assume he didnt see you
splat Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Taxi's generally flout common sense and most traffic laws, but my worst incidents/near misses have been with ordinary cars. Cycling anywhere near cars and traffic comes with big risks. Different roads in different areas require different Spidey senses and ninja skills.
dirtypot Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 I used to commute down Kommetjie Road, and one of the main reasons that I've stopped is because of the taxi's. Just too many closes calls, and I could feel my number was coming up.
Hennie VR Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 I do not fear taxis. I fear people in their SUV/Bakkie/Cars thinking the road only belongs to them. I honestly feel safer riding around/close to the townships than the posh suburbs where the rich hang around. The close calls I had with SUV's and cars far outnumber the close calls I had with Taxis.
Winstonian1984 Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 In my experience, I have also found that taxi drivers to be more aware of cyclist than other drivers, to the extent that they could be considered curtious.
DJR Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Go watch Premium Rush! Now!, Yes, now! Before the weekend! Before you touch your bike again! Do it!
dirtrider Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Wow now this is unexpected !! Well behaved taxi drivers !! It's like saying "Zuma did not steal any money today "
KarlvN Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 I do not fear taxis. I fear people in their SUV/Bakkie/Cars thinking the road only belongs to them. I honestly feel safer riding around/close to the townships than the posh suburbs where the rich hang around. The close calls I had with SUV's and cars far outnumber the close calls I had with Taxis. I believe this has to do with all those peckers playing with their phone's, when they shoul dbe focusing on driving..
RABUBI Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 the most dangerous of the dangerous are Gautrain busses an women in fortuners
DIPSLICK Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Wow now this is unexpected !! Well behaved taxi drivers !! It's like saying "Zuma did not steal any money today " when i started commuting with my mate and this gent has been doing it for years, it was like grade 1 for me,,,,,watch SUVs.watch bakkies, ladies, other commuters riding on the wrong side,,,MAKE EYE contact,,,,,,,for all the years he rode taxis were lower on the list,,,,,,,the difference i think with taxis they are constantly looking around for passengers so they are looking around most the time,,,,, at a robot look around how many taxis vs ladies/gents are texting,,,,yes we paid attention for jumping robots but generally we found their awareness was great,, also as said above also , not being a plank towards a taxis goes a long way,,,,in no way am i saying this was the OP issue, but dont get clever
Escapee.. Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Is this not the problem? No depth perception? http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1254/548/1600/1kellogg15_200505.jpg
Patchelicious Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 I don't fear taxis, even though there are some idiots. They do have a blatant disregard of the law, but usually seem aware of their surroundings. If you engage with them, they can even be cool and let you go first etc... The people I do fear are women in expensive SUVs because they are on their phones the whole time very unaware of their surroundings. The other lot are men who drive Hilux's or Rangers, they are agro, if they have a Monster sticker or EFC T-shirt it's worse.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.