I upset the taxi drivers in Macclesfield
My workplace looks out over a little cul-de-sac in Macclesfield that is lined with double yellow lines, but has a small taxi rank thirty yards down the road that is opposite the Tesco Metro. Given its very close proximity to the town centre (30 seconds walk), the road is popular with disabled drivers and shoppers despite it being illegal to park there. It is also popular with taxi drivers that "extend" the rank size by around ten vehicles

Now the problem is that the number of available taxis outstrips the rank size by around 5 to 1. Add delivery bays for Tesco, M&S, Waterstones, Iceland and the Post Office in a reasonably narrow road and it is a recipe for disaster.

I have witnessed two people being mown down (none seriously) and a couple of traffic accidents. The final straw came when a taxi tore up the street and nearly knocked me over as he threw his car against the kerb (and double yellows). He (along with all the taxis) were ignored by the traffic wardens who patrol the town. Everyone got a ticket except the taxis.

So I complained to the Council. Who ignored me. So I hit them with two Freedom of Information Act requests and then emailed the top brass.

The result: menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1121083_ten_roads_where_you_shouldnt_leave_your_car

Traffic Wardens enforced the rank size for around six to eight weeks thus upsetting all the taxi drivers. And the traffic was better and there was no accidents. You could cross the road without it being a free-for-all.

It is still better than it was now. Unfortunately the council has decided to extend the rank up the street so it will go back to being shit again.

But a small victory for all of us against the taxi drivers who think the law doesn't apply to them.
(jdharding, Tue 7 Sep 2010, 0:33, 4 replies)

Hooray for you!
But how does someone get non-seriously mown down?
(Smale is stuffed, Tue 7 Sep 2010, 9:01, closed)

run down
The one that sticks in my mind is a colleague who crossed the road to have a transit van reverse into her. The reason for this was the taxis in the turning area at the end of the road. Illegally.


She wasn't badly hurt but an ambulance was called but couldn't get through. That was the final straw for me!
(jdharding, Wed 8 Sep 2010, 8:00, closed)

I clicked
simply because I HATE taxi drivers.
(xanthine, Tue 7 Sep 2010, 10:12, closed)

Taxi drivers are second only to cyclists
in their complete contempt for the Highway Code. Fuck 'em. Fuck 'em all.
( Snappyuk gets BIGGER with free sample., Tue 7 Sep 2010, 13:47, closed)