Cycling in Melbourne Australia

Taxi's ... standing in Cycle Lanes, Car Dooring

I remember a few years back on a Melb. Ride of Silence we had a the police cycle squad as escorts front and back... as we rode down Collins Street we passed a line of taxis parked at a rank and standing in the bike lane were a gaggle of taxi drivers having a chin wag. As we approached the drivers the leading police rider asked them to stand clear and leave the lane, they ignored him, so he proceeded to ride towards them, they continued to ignore him, then surprise surprise they realised it was actually a POLICE officer on a bicycle giving them a directive ( but I doubt the significance of that sunk in...) but their eyes opened up...but too late, the left shoulder of constableX was firmly impressing upon the remaining driver in the lane that his presence there was a danger to himself and other persons ( those legally using the lane)... it had its effect at the time, but since then drivers continue to mill around in bike lanes and fling their doors open willy nilly...just visit Collins St or Swanston Street any day of the week to view them in full force ignoring the law...

now where am I leading.... well today another incident, this time me in stead of constable x... I was quietly but observantly riding west along Collins Street at the Spring Street end, came upon a line of cabs, this time only one driver in the street, but the very leading parked cab decided to fling open his door without looking when i was at the rear of his cab.

I had visions of my life flying before me, of me being splattered through his door window and and coming out the other side a minced mess.... somehow, good management, luck, skill or whatever I swerved and missed the door I and it seemed huge at the time)... so I stopped, went back to cabbie who had got back in his cab and had started it up about to leave, I stood in front of cab, took out mobile phone and took photo of cab plate and then went to the driver, took a photo of his oputstretched hand ( he was shy) and suggested he might kindly not threaten lives by flinging open his door... now I had never seen this guy in my life... but according to him, " I know you, you are a trouble maker, I've seen you around... why are you picking on me, I Melbourne's best taxi driver... report me I dont care, I'm the best... they won't do anything... "... hmmm now this tirade was abit much, especially as he seemed to be somewhat delusional... I had to wonder how he is still driving... naturally all his cab mates sat back in their cars, not one came forward in defence of him or in any effort to send me on my way... I guess they knew he was a dork, had done a stupid thing ( maybe I'm too kind to them).. or they didnt like to mix it with my 6'3' angry frame when they were all 5' nothing...

whatever... it wasn' t pretty to experience something that we have occur too often...

what did I do, well I wasnt injured, the cops couldnt give a fig... I cant get far with the VicTaxiDirectorate, they too dont give a fig... unless a driver murders someone, they couldnt care less.. so all I can do at this stage is drop the rego on Rate The Plate
here is his plate and his happy hand.

I'm doing the calm blue ocean thing and a Matilda Bay Honey&Wheat

now I wonder where my trouble making twin is, I will have to find him and congratulate him on being " known"

Tags: bikelane, cardooring, city, riding, taxi

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by DamianM on December 28, 2008 at 12:01am: One of these days....
reaching in and grabbing the keys, and depositing them into the middle of a busy street isn't really breaking any law I can think of.

Been very tempted many times.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cory on December 28, 2008 at 12:35pm: The one time I have been doored, I was on my ChroMo fluorobeast with its bar-ends. The 'wall' of the door got a big dent in it. I did come off (clipped in). The driver was very shaken and apologetic.

The next day I understood why. I had a massive bruise on my forearm. Reenacting the incident... the only thing that could have caused that was his head. I don't think it would have tickled. Hopefully, a lesson learned for him.

But... to the cabbage issue. Changes to the laws 'prima facie' or whatever it is, is the only way I can see a change in attitude in the near future...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by RobE on December 28, 2008 at 9:20pm: ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by RobE on December 28, 2008 at 9:26pm: Take the lane is the only answer to save one self at the time, but overall introduction of primafacie liability for drivers of motor vehicles for injuries to vulnerable road users is a must ( and I understand it is now getting a lot of mileage in the transport beaurocracies, so let's watch that space and keep up the pressure..). meantime if the death of Sean Brindle isn't enough to push for liability change I don't know what is... he was hit from behind... for crying out loud, that is prima facie negligent driving... the law exists already on point why isnt the driver behind bars for culpable driving NOW... ???; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by RobE on January 14, 2009 at 6:42pm: ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jack on December 29, 2008 at 6:38am: Working in a service industry I spend a lot of time in my van moving from one job to the next I am very aware of what to look out for. Being a recreation bike rider I always give bikes a lot of time (well I hope I do that is my intention) Looking at some of the comments in the thread about breaking the road rules it is obvious that some riders are just confirming what the general public believes all riders are like. Rob did the right thing by letting the driver know to be more carefull in the future. A couple of weeks ago in the Whitehorse Leader (local rag) there was a report of road rage between a cyclist and a motor car, in this instance a woman reversed out into the street and didn't see the cyclist coming, he was able to stop in time and should have done what Rob did but decided to really get angry so much so he proceeded to inflict thousands of dollars damage to the car. One of his acts was to open one of the doors past the limit of the hinge. He then got back on his bike and rode off. I know a lot of you are probably smiling that the cyclist got his own back but can you imaging what most of the car drivers thought reading this report.
One of my pet hates as a driver is people that open car doors without looking, I know that one day I am going to collect one so I am always very nervous driving past an opening door. I always try to remember to look before opening the door and usually wait until any car or bike has past before opening it up. However I do remember one day popping the door about 100mm and realising that I have not looked yet so I stopped then I heard: "cyclist" followed by a young girl rolling past. This was very embarassing for I like to think I am aware of the car door thing and I was very cross with myself for being slack.

Jack.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by vx255 on December 29, 2008 at 10:33pm: On the topic of opened doors, I had a situation about 5 yrs ago in the truck, was passing a stationary little truck when all of a sudden I hear a clunk and a ting ting ting, hit the brakes and look in the left mirror to find the drivers door of the little Hino wrapped around the front. I notice there's no one in the cab and for a split second have that blood draining, sickening cold sweat moment thinking he was hanging onto the door when it opened and I've spat him out and run over him. To my relief I see a head pop up from the cab.

Turns out, he popped the door open, then pulled it to without clicking it, then was leaning over the passenger side grabbing some paperwork when I've gone past (not that fast mind you, maybe 20-25kph) and the suction caught the door and pulled it out between the prime mover and the A trailer then wrapped it around the front of his truck.

In retrospect it was amusing to see a confused head look around to where his door should have been only to see the curtain of a dirty great tautliner instead.; ▶ Reply to This