Are black cab drivers using a different highway code to the rest of sheffield?

Outide the rail staion they are parked all along the road right down to the undertakers usually 2/3 deep on yellow lines and will they hell move outta the way!

Also at night they are not using the station rank even if people are waiting but pulling up on sheaf street. The police ought to take a wander down and sort em out.

It's not me guv
Without being apologetic for any culprits who might have offended you, I would like to explain. The re-organization of the station has meant that the black cabs there have lost the rank under the station canopy on the other side. They have been given permission to park up to the undertakers, and some of their ranking area has been coned off nearer their pickup point. It’s frustrating for everyone going into the station to drop people off, which in itself takes time, so you always have a traffic jam situation in such a tight space. Work is progressing and the completed project may even turn out to be an improvement.
The Taxi-drivers probably feel in their right to wait in an orderly queue to wait for a fare, and perhaps can't appreciate your desire for them to move out of your way. The station authorities in this case Midland Mainline have charged each driver around £400 per year for privilege of using that rank, and should shoulder some of the blame.
Less than one third of the total number of cabs have been given badges, (some choosing not to pay the £400/annum and others being refused by Midland Mainline even though they were willing to pay). That is why you see the badge-less cabs not wanting to be fined by sometimes keen Transport Police, and avoid the official rank, so picking up legally as they are flagged down in the street.
I am not a member of the station fraternity and therefore not guilty of annoying you sir. :thumbsup:
The station rank is only operational till midnight or till the last train arrives. At night at the weekend Sheaf Street is the best palce anyway or bottom of Granville Road, get them as they are coming into town empty.

Originally posted by D_A_V

The Taxi-drivers probably feel in their right to wait in an orderly queue to wait for a fare, and perhaps can't appreciate your desire for them to move out of your way.

I work in that area, what about my right to drive to and from work legally and safely?

Some of the places taxis stop to pick up on sheaf street is frighteningly dangerous considering the way the road snakes round the station area and that visibility of the road ahead is poor.

Sorry but your collegues are nothing more than a dangerous menace to the rest of us.

ole.

P.s. Can I get a copy of the taxi drivers highway code, it seems different to the ones in WH Smiths. From what I've witnessed while driving around the city I would guess its little more than a pamphlet saying "do what the hell you like."

P.p.s You all thought it was just buses I hated didn't you.

Originally posted by D_A_V
It's not me guv
The station rank is only operational till midnight or till the last train arrives.

And before people start shouting about taxi drivers providing a valuable public service, the passenger trains operate 24 hours a day at Sheffield station during the week, where are the taxis when the 0320 arrives?

Originally posted by ole1
P.s. Can I get a copy of the taxi drivers highway code, it seems different to the ones in WH Smiths. From what I've witnessed while driving around the city I would guess its little more than a pamphlet saying "do what the hell you like."
[/B]

Perhaps it's this highway code that they follow? :) http://www.selfmadejournalist.com/newhighwaycode.htm

Originally posted by ole1
I

Sorry but your collegues are nothing more than a dangerous menace to the rest of us.

ole

P.p.s You all thought it was just buses I hated didn't you.


Now having got your rant out of the way ole1 hope you feel although bitter but better.
If you flagged down a taxi on Sheaf Street, you would want it to stop to pick you up. The Law does allow them to pick up and drop off almost anywhere. A balance has to be struck because to somebody needing a cab, its not the cab but you are the menace tailgating the taxi and ranting and raving because it stopped to pick up.
If I get flagged down and providing it is safe, I would indicate my intention and stop just for as long as it takes for someone to jump in and shut the door, I am sure your life is not put in any danger by waiting ten seconds, and besides there is the other lane you could use to overtake.
As for the dangerous and windy roads please bark up the right tree namely Sheffield city council or even Midland Mainline. Your safety sir is primarily your responsibility not mine. Remember all going slower are idiots and all going faster are maniacs, which one are you? Lets not always blame others slow down and live long.

All I tried to do was to explain the other side of the station situation not to apologies for other people's bad driving.:hihi:

Believe me there are worse offenders than taxi drivers around the station area, I've seen people park on Sheaf Street to pick up passengers at the station much to the fury of the line of rush hour traffic behind them who cannot get past.....

There is free car parking provided for them a few yards round the corner - are these people stupid or just lazy? Or both?

I've been very annoyed at waiting in the rank after arriving on the last train from London and found no taxis have turned up, and ended up with everyone else jumping into the road in Sheaf Street to get a taxi. The problem is of course the taxis are getting flagged down before they get to the station. Maybe a private hire firm rather than black cabs should service the station rank?

I think this is just a symptom of there not being enough black cabs in Sheffield (although that said there seems to be loads during the day when no-one needs a taxi!)

After reading that alternative highway code, what I want to know is:

Why, every time I try to cross Division Street, when I step out into the road just where The Forum is (when its completely clear of moving traffic), some complete twit pulls out of Westfield, sees me crossing the road, and promptly puts his foot down and increases his speed to 40/50mph and tries to mow me down???? I've had two extremely close calls in the last week, and as I said its not my fault because when I started crossing the road it was clear.

because motorists are often selfosh so-and-so's (especially around there)

The station is a bit of a nightmare and I think people have to bear with it. I play football at Pitz and often get dropped off (along with others) at the station. It has become a case of pulling into the bus stop round the corner.

Suppose pulling into the bus stop isn't as bad or stupid as the examples I was talking of, although I guess it means buses having to stop in the middle of the road to pick passengers up, stopping traffic behind it.

Yet the station car park entrance is literally next to that bus stop..

It has become a case of pulling into the bus stop round the corner.

Lol I know what you mean! My Parents used to pick me up there. It looked like I was getting into a get-away vehicle... Was shutting the door as the car was half way down the road! ... and they wonder why people pull up at bus stops... the words "no" and "choice" spring to mind!

Just out of interest, near to the funeral place on that road, theres an old derelict building (used to be a kitchen/bathroom centre i think) where I see a few cars parked up on... Its usually full, but I was just wondering if it was legal and free! lol! I work in that area so I'd prefer to find some free parking around the station area for about 8.5 hours. I know I'm pushing it a bit, but when you earn £5 an hour like I do, you object to working the first hour of your shift for nothing!

Originally posted by D_A_V
Now having got your rant out of the way ole1 hope you feel although bitter but better.
If you flagged down a taxi on Sheaf Street, you would want it to stop to pick you up. The Law does allow them to pick up and drop off almost anywhere. A balance has to be struck because to somebody needing a cab, its not the cab but you are the menace tailgating the taxi and ranting and raving because it stopped to pick up.
If I get flagged down and providing it is safe, I would indicate my intention and stop just for as long as it takes for someone to jump in and shut the door, I am sure your life is not put in any danger by waiting ten seconds, and besides there is the other lane you could use to overtake.
As for the dangerous and windy roads please bark up the right tree namely Sheffield city council or even Midland Mainline. Your safety sir is primarily your responsibility not mine. Remember all going slower are idiots and all going faster are maniacs, which one are you? Lets not always blame others slow down and live long.

All I tried to do was to explain the other side of the station situation not to apologies for other people's bad driving.:hihi:

So my saftey is my responsibility, i will agree to a point but other drivers also have to play their part in that by driving and parking sensible so as not to cause a hazard. Its quite scary that you, a proffesional driver, do not realise this, and who says i'm tailgating? The road bends where the roundabout used to be (can you see round corners?) and the street lighting in that area is poor at the moment.

As for pulling out into the second lane, have you tried around there? remember there are bends in the road and you cannot always see whats approaching in the second lane.... oh sorry I forgot you're a taxi driver, it doesn't matter.

Am a idiot or maniac on the roads you ask, I've been driving for 13 years with no accidents or convictions. So how about you, are you an idiot or a maniac or a taxi driver?

Originally posted by ole1
So my saftey is my responsibility, i will agree to a point but other drivers also have to play their part in that by driving and parking sensible so as not to cause a hazard. Its quite scary that you, a proffesional driver, do not realise this, and who says i'm tailgating? The road bends where the roundabout used to be (can you see round corners?) and the street lighting in that area is poor at the moment.

As for pulling out into the second lane, have you tried around there? remember there are bends in the road and you cannot always see whats approaching in the second lane.... oh sorry I forgot you're a taxi driver, it doesn't matter.

Am a idiot or maniac on the roads you ask, I've been driving for 13 years with no accidents or convictions. So how about you, are you an idiot or a maniac or a taxi driver?

I didn't realise this was a contest of who is safer driver and since you mention time scales mine is twenty five years accident free sir. Perhaps it must be the ability to see round corners that I have been able to avoid maniacs and the idiots.

As for overtaking a stationary vehicle on Sheaf Street, the answer is yes I have tried and done so quite safely on many occasions. They are not all morons out there I assure you. If seriously ole1 you find that maneuver of passing a stationary vehicle difficult, it is because of other people with attitude similar to yourself who won't let you in their lane. Should you then be advocating everyone to buy a car because public tranport users are a burden on the taxpayer?-- and you can't even see round corners, and get scared having to change lanes, You are a good driver arn't you? tut tut I don't know!!!

Instead of ranting on about what others should do, Learn to be a little more considerate and do what you yourself should be doing, to keep stress free and safe, alternatively maybe consider taking the bus.
As for being professional, don't worry I want my safety too, and if managing to last almost twice as long as you’ve been driving so far sir, must have done something right eh? :)

If however any offence caused I do offer my appology but in most professional driving circles it is often mention that we all regard anyone going slower than ourselves as an idiot and someone faster as a complete maniac, ie Always blame others. It's apparent you've not come across it before.

Thanks for your reply D.A.V i appreciate it though i don't agree with it all.

I'm sure alot of the black cabs shouldn't be there and when there are 40 cabs queueing infront of you why not drive off elsewhere?

The behaviour too of some of the drivers is undesiable too...(from where i work i have an excellent vantage point)..spitting into the street and pour empty flasks out onto it...nice..great first impression.

Midland Mainline and the council and other groups are trying to improve the station area and its long over due.It requires co operation ON all sides......a rank and turning point has been built for cabs and I am aware that cabs can park down to the undertakers...but 2 or 3 wide and infront of exits to other buildings? (the undertakers and the signal box behind the tall fence) This is dangerous and blocks emergency access.

And in no way am i being racist buton days sometimes its like a mosque out there with drivers all stood in the road middle chatting and looking aghast if they are asked to move.

They make be making a living to which they are entitled to do so but they should not ignore the safety of other people using the area.

You say you drive safely and i have no doubt you do..but the number of cabs that just stop 'dead' when hailed on sheaf street is dangerous.

You might be interested to learn that there are virtually no traffic wardens around to enforce any parking regulations anyway!

See this thread: http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29302

Just found this thread having been absent for the last few days, oh how i wish i`d had the foresight to take a quick photo of the black cabs today. They were parked right down past the undertakers on both sides of the road and then hogging all the road so that cars could not get access to the station from sheaf street at all.

Originally posted by semerpus
Thanks for your reply D.A.V i appreciate it though i don't agree with it all.

I'm sure alot of the black cabs shouldn't be there and when there are 40 cabs queueing infront of you why not drive off elsewhere?

The behaviour too of some of the drivers is undesiable too...(from where i work i have an excellent vantage point)..spitting into the street and pour empty flasks out onto it...nice..great first impression.

Midland Mainline and the council and other groups are trying to improve the station area and its long over due.It requires co operation ON all sides......a rank and turning point has been built for cabs and I am aware that cabs can park down to the undertakers...but 2 or 3 wide and infront of exits to other buildings? (the undertakers and the signal box behind the tall fence) This is dangerous and blocks emergency access.

And in no way am i being racist buton days sometimes its like a mosque out there with drivers all stood in the road middle chatting and looking aghast if they are asked to move.

They make be making a living to which they are entitled to do so but they should not ignore the safety of other people using the area.

You say you drive safely and i have no doubt you do..but the number of cabs that just stop 'dead' when hailed on sheaf street is dangerous.

I am in total agreement on this issue. If anyone behaves bellow certain levels of civility that is bad no matter what walk of life they are from including taxi drivers. It is perhaps time for the people issuing the permits to build in some rules of conduct and enforcement before taking their money off them. I find myself in the luxury of being immune from that station clan by not having the permit to work there anyway. I hope you will not see the behavior of spitting and emptying of flasks on any other ranks because it doesn’t happen.
I suppose no one would notice the good and law abiding taxi drivers going about their business every day, but of course no one is likely forget a plonker who almost causes you to crash. The image and attitude of many in the trade needs to change but that can be compared to asking every builder and road maintenance worker to pull up their trousers, there will always be some that can’t change. Perceptions and images take a long time changing.
I am neither an apologist nor a spokesman for the taxi drivers but when you have a permits sold to more than 200 taxis and ranking space for about 20 then overcrowding is inevitable. You suggest they should go somewhere else, the nature of job dictates they compete against other drivers for work; being nicy nicy would mean hours longer waiting on another rank going to the back of the queue on each they arrive at so they try to hang on till cabs at front move off and they can find space on the actual rank.
On another thread I posted a question “do we need more cabs?”, and with limitation off the number of taxis this competition is inevitably going to lead to more problems of ranking in the city.
The city council has to decide on a policy that is balanced on how many cabs we need with amount of work available for those cabs. You can't JUST keep selling tickets when STADIUM IS FULL and then complain of overcrowding. oh and which mosque is it where they all stand in middle of the road sir?

Maybe the number of permit's does need reducing then.

It is a constant problem,inconvienient to both the cabs,other drivers and pedestrains.......BUT and I still stand by this the problem IS contributed to in a large way by the selfishness of the black cabs parking where they like (are they allowed to queue up the side street next to the undertakers back onto the main road? Happens every day?)

Are they allowed to park 3 wide blocking emergency access and access to other peoples buisness? Should they have to be asked to move when they are blocking an access?

Lets hope if there's an emergency that fire engines can get!

There IS a constant ammount of spitting/flask emptying and while it may not happen in all ranks it does here and you arequite right that standards need raising.

This whole area needs policing to sort this out.


And like I said in no way was i being racist but sometimes the middle of the road DOES resemble a mosque..........just they forget to build the building!

I am with you all the way on that point along with a great many collegues, that bad behavior by grown up responsible people should not be tollerated. If more people actually complained to the proper authorities then we may see results, here is the link for licensing http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/business-economy/licensing- (http://) you can mail to for starters, and then of course is the Midland Mainline who gave out the permits for rank in the first place.