What is it with Cabbies?

ooooh, get you.

In my ignorance I thought the rule (the law???) was that empty cabbies could NOT use the bus lane, only cabbies with paying passengers could. Nevertheless I see tons of passenger-free cabbies on bus lanes... am I wrong? is that kosher?

I've never heard this interpretation before.

My understanding is that if it is a taxi ( not mini cab) it is generally allowed in most bus lanes irrespective of fare paying passengers on board or not

Changing focus slightly, but just saw this - motorbikes were only allowed in bus lanes on an 18-month trial from 1-Jan-2009. Does that mean that from July they won't be?

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/finesandregulations/10151.aspx

No, the Experimental TRO will most likely be made permanent.

The most important thing to remember when dealing with cabbies is to remember that the PCO will listen to you if you report a cab driver and quote the number on the back of their car. If you get into an argument with a driver, it's worth pointing that out.

After a cab driver pulled out on me, then pulled over and threatened violence after I shouted at him, I notified the PCO and they put a formal note put on his record. Think there was corroborating evidence from a traffic camera that filmed him getting out of the car, although not the original incident.

This morning cycling to work I very lightly knocked a Taxi as I passed it on the way to the lights after the lights the Cabbie caught up with me and started accusing me of kicking his taxi, he went absolutely bolistic and it was only 9:30 in the morning it is like there is some magic halo around taxi's which you are not allowed to infringe

Did you stop and say sorry when you knocked his taxi, or just ride off? I'd probably be angry too.

i think the bit where you " cycled past his cab and knocked it " is what he might have had issue with
i cycled past many taxi's this morning not knocking any of them and none of them shouted at me

coincidence ... i think not

imagine if it had been the other way around ?!

You should get FUCK TAXIS tattooed on your calves.

We all should.

This morning I kicked a womans dog, by accident mind, but I kicked it's cute little face off. And she had a go!

Unbelievable.
What is it with dog walkers.

it is like there is some magic halo around taxi's which you are not allowed to infringe

Yes, there is around other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians too!

Did you stop and say sorry when you knocked his taxi, or just ride off? I'd probably be angry too.

^ this.

I have heard that cabbies are not allowed to operate if they have damaged bodywork.
True or false?

have you seen how fat some of them are
and they are still allowed to drive their cabs

I've been de-Scobled.

This morning I slapped a child, the little blighter looked at me funny, so I slapped it quite hard, on it's ruddy little cheeks.

Its mother started screaming at me to get the fuck away from her child and that she'd call the police! - What is it with parents?

I think they're not getting slapped enough at home with these bloody liberal left wing parents - bring back afterschool factory working I say - that'll teach them some respect

It's when you break into their homes and slap them while they're having breakfast that they get most upset.

It's when you break into their homes in drag and watch them sleep that it upsets them

speaking from experience there ^ ?

I'm saying nothing til my brief arrives

I very lightly clipped a van a while ago, I stopped and apologised, the driver was initially angry but understood it wasn't deliberate, we parted on reasonable terms.

I touched a taxi once, stopped and apologised to the driver, but he shot me in the face and I died.

I accidently knocked a cab's rear view mirror with trainers tied to my bag once. It was at a set of lights, I was about to apologise as soon as I had a chance to take my hand off my bars (a couple of seconds), but I didn't get a chance as the guy slammed on the horn, blocked me off and started shouting at me incessantly.

I didn't feel like apologising then, not that I could of.

Pritty much the experience I had this morning

I touched a taxi once, I liked it.