Cabbies. | Page 2 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Cabbies.

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On Queens Quay yesterday on my way to Buskerfest. Cabbie ahead of the car in front of me kept hitting his brakes almost getting rear twice. Red light at Simcoe street I go around an pull up to his window. Not surprisingly he is on his phone. I tell him to " get off your phone and focus on the road". He responds "Don't tell me what to do".... So I reached in and tapped the phone out of his hand, green comes up and I continue on my merry way.
 
Maybe I'm just used to it, but I don't have any problems with cabbies or downtown drivers for that matter. I commute to work on my bike most days, from Thornhill into downtown, and have to say it's rare when a driver surprises me. Though I should say, the only motorcycle collision I've seen with my own eyes has been a cab rear ending a bike on the 401

I'll affirm that tow truck drivers are some of the most reckless drivers on the road
 
Anticipate, anticipate, anticipate.

Most cabs signal their intentions long before they make an actual move if you know what to look for.

It doesn't surprise me when a tow-truck driver makes a new collector to express lane ramp across a soft shoulder. They are trying to be the first to the scene. Many of them also ride motorcycles, bringing the discussion full circle.
 
I never used to have a problem with cabbies, until one broadsided my truck while he was driving on the wrong side of the road. Remember that the "professional driver", who is behind the wheel, may be no such thing. If a taxi isn't being used, it isn't making money, so someone's brother's best friend's neighbour might be the one behind the wheel.

Had one trying to race me, from light to light, this morning. I have no idea why but, as I was leaving him behind with my normal acceleration and the road was pretty much empty, I didn't worry about it. Normally I would have held back and just let him go, because it's easier to keep track of bad drivers who are in front of you, than behind you.

Behaviour, that I have observed from cabbies:

- "U-turn of death" (well described, RetroGrouch)
- straddling the line, during rush hour
- dropping fares into traffic
- illegal left and right turns, at signed intersections
- turns from the wrong lane
- driving at 20 under the limit, while on the phone or reading
- parking for extended periods, in no parking zones, during rush hour
- driving the wrong way, down a one-way street

Also worth watching out for are tow trucks (already mentioned) and plain white vans.
 
I also keep an eye on any car that is a rental or "zip car" / "auto share" as these tend to be "once a month" drivers who can be dangerous too.
 
This "u-turn of death" brought up a funny memory. A few years ago I saw a cab do one of these random u-turns, right in front of another cab, that broadsided him dead-on
 
cnr1993 said:
I give them more than enough space, I don't trust any car, but cabbies get extra space.

I never take a ride in one anymore. When I moved to Toronto I took a cab and asked to be let out one block early from where I wanted to go (I was photographing graffiti) and he went apesh1t! He was from Iraq (not that it matters)

I just think I got one of the "professionals".
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I have asked cabs to let me out. Got tired of being scared in the back seat and got them to pull over. Usually grabbing your phone and informing them you are calling 911 to report being kidnapped usually gets them to pull over.

But thats if asking them not to get me killed doesnt get them to slow down.
 
I can't stand being caught behind them while they are trolling for fare. Hitting the brakes non stop with no regard for the vehicles behind them. I pass them every time, I'll use the oncoming lane if I have to.
 
I HATE Cabbies.

If they are driving beside you, 90% of the time they will cut you off with out signaling, then slow down with no traffic infront of them just so they can spot some fare.

I have so much anger to release about cabbies, I should stop right here before I get myself all worked up.
 
Yep. Cabbies are terrible. Especially for u-turns into traffic and making turns either signalling the opposite of the turn they are making, or from the wrong lane (ie right turn from left lane, usually in front of a biker or another car).

Cops are pretty bad too. Seems use of turn signals isn't part of their training. I took a driver's training course taught by an ex-cop that used to teach cops to drive and he also confirmed that most of them can't drive worth ****. Said that was part of why he started teaching civilians... they're easier to teach.
 
Downtown, even if a cab does manage to get in front, I usually find it pretty easy to slide up in the lane to their right at a stop light and get back in the lead when it turns green. They'll nearly always pick the left lane (left-er straight ahead lane, not left turn lane) at a light since the right lane on the opposite side of the intersection usually has parked cars in it, but that's not really a problem for a bike.
 
bombshelter13 said:
Downtown, even if a cab does manage to get in front, I usually find it pretty easy to slide up in the lane to their right at a stop light and get back in the lead when it turns green. They'll nearly always pick the left lane (left-er straight ahead lane, not left turn lane) at a light since the right lane on the opposite side of the intersection usually has parked cars in it, but that's not really a problem for a bike.
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Unless they are looking for a fare, in which case they ride the right lane and then randomly dodge into the left to avoid parked vehicles, without signalling.
 
GentlemanRacer said:
Trust no one.
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This is precisely it.

I live really in the middle of downtown and the constant grid of incomparably unsynchronized traffic lights, combined with the general careless and (stress induced?) "all-out attack" attitude of drivers, just drives me (no pun intended) insane.

Living downtown surely has a variety of interesting plus-points, but driving and riding in the city is one of the most annoying and downright unnerving activities I can think of.

I love riding (and driving as a matter of fact), but I understand that if everyone else felt the same as I do, it would be chaos out there, yes worse than it is now...
So overall, for as bad it is, it could be worse still...

Frio
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