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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that taxi's should NOT be allowed in bus lanes.

68 replies

cherryrednose · 06/12/2016 22:06

I've never understood why they are. They are not public service vehicles, as buses are, they are private businesses. They are not reducing congestion, as a bus is, as they quite often only have one passenger who might presumably otherwise have taken the bus.

I ride a bike and get sick of taxis harrassing me in bus lanes. As a driver I also get sick of taxis speeding past on my inside then cutting in at the last minute to get in the 'normal' lane.

AIBU?

OP posts:
NapQueen · 06/12/2016 22:07

Well you aren't a bus. You ought to be in the cycle Lane or the normal car Lane.

Fwiw I like my taxi using the bus lane. It reduces the time and Makes me more likely to book one.

treeelights · 06/12/2016 22:08

As a bicyclist YAABU I'm afraid!

QueenMortificado · 06/12/2016 22:10

In London they have traffic cameras so if taxis are wrong they'll get charged eleventy bajillion pounds.

Original poster
cherryrednose · 06/12/2016 22:10

Bikes are allowed in the bus lane NapQueen you donut

OP posts:
BlueFolly · 06/12/2016 22:10

What are you lot in about, bikes are allowed in bus lanes!

Bluntness100 · 06/12/2016 22:11

I also think this is unreasonable, I like the fact if I order a taxi I'm not about to be bankrupted by sitting in traffic. When I'm driving I have no issues with taxis pulling into the normal lane, and I think it's a big arrogant to suggest people in taxies could have just got the bus instead.

NapQueen · 06/12/2016 22:11

Please don't call me a donut.

I think you will find that taxis are allowed in them too.

BlueFolly · 06/12/2016 22:13

Yes, she knows they are. She's saying they shouldn't be.

Alabastard · 06/12/2016 22:14

In my city private hire vehicles are permitted to use bus lanes.

Which pastry would you like to call me in an attempt to be condescending?

Original poster
cherryrednose · 06/12/2016 22:14

Exactly bluntness - your 'order' you taxi and then are allowed to lord it over all the other poor buggers queueing up. Why should you be? Why is your journey more important than theirs?

OP posts:
wasonthelist · 06/12/2016 22:16

They are not reducing congestion, as a bus is,
They aren't reducing congestion by as much as full bus, but when I am using a taxi it's often as part of a multi-stage journey which has involved at least one train, possibly a tube and/or a bus too - surely better than me bringing my car into your city?

YelloDraw · 06/12/2016 22:16

NapQueen ha ha you are funny!

Yeah I don't think black cabs should be in bus lanes. Bus lanes are to enable public transport to work more effectively and be more attractive to use.

NapQueen · 06/12/2016 22:16

Ok. So taxis are allowed. Bikes are allowed. Op is a cyclist who gives the following reasons for why taxis shouldn't be in bus lanes...

. They are not public service vehicles, as buses are, they are private businesses. They are not reducing congestion, as a bus is, as they quite often only have one passenger who might presumably otherwise have taken the bus.

Am I the only one seeing the irony?

4sausages · 06/12/2016 22:16

OP, how are they not public service vehicles? Members of the public pay for the service. Hmm

Bluntness100 · 06/12/2016 22:16

Because of two things, the cost involved and the taxi companies would go out of business, no one would get a taxi if they risked the bill being hundreds of pounds because they were stuck in traffic.

Knittedfrog · 06/12/2016 22:17

But you're in there on your bike, are you lording it as well? Are you more important? Get in the queue with the rest of us poor buggers!

SoftSheen · 06/12/2016 22:17

YABU. Both buses and taxis are usually both public service vehicles AND businesses.

Original poster
cherryrednose · 06/12/2016 22:17

Anyone who sees the irony please explain it to me, thanks

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 06/12/2016 22:18

OP, how are they not public service vehicles? Members of the public pay for the service. hmm

Original poster
cherryrednose · 06/12/2016 22:18

How is a taxi a public service vehicle?

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 06/12/2016 22:19

The irony is you are one person in that lane and you too could have taken the bus. It's not that hard to work out,,,cmon.,😂

Knittedfrog · 06/12/2016 22:19

NapQueen, your post was not lost on all of us Wink

Bluntness100 · 06/12/2016 22:20

Because they provide a service to the public? Is this a joke thread?

NapQueen · 06/12/2016 22:20

Cherry
Your argument for no cabs - not a public service vehicle. Often carries only one passenger.

Your bike is neither a public service vehicles nor does it (I.assume) carry more than one passenger.

Yet that's allowed in the bus lane?

Chuck the lot in there I say. But surely you can't get annoyed about taxis being in a bus Lane when you are also in the bus Lane and are not on a bus.

DeadGood · 06/12/2016 22:21

I think taxis do reduce congestion, actually. They are an "on demand" service that are on the go all day, it's more efficient than using a car for every journey. I agree with wasonthelist