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Junction of Horton Square and Belgrave Middleway (source Google Street View)Rumble in Brum as "vigilante" cyclists stage bus lane protest
A group of cyclists in Birmingham have been described as “vigilantes” following an incident on Monday evening in which it is claimed a taxi was surrounded by riders, with one of the vehicle’s wing mirrors ripped off. The vehicle was attempting to use a bus lane from which taxis are excluded.
The cyclists were taking part in a flash ride organised via Facebook to urge Birmingham City Council to enforce rules that prevent black cabs, also known as Hackney Carriages, from being driven in some bus lanes in the city.
That includes the junction of Belgrave Middleway and Horton Square where Monday evening’s incident took place.
Writing on the event’s Facebook page on 7 October, organiser Toby Draper said:
“Too many cyclists have been injured, endangered or felt at risk at this junction due to motor vehicles using it illegally.
“This flash ride is being organised to send a message to the council that if the plans improve safety for cyclists, we welcome them.
“But we are watching closely and we expect enforcement to take place and fines to be issued in the event of ALL future violations.”
The junction is one that Birmingham City Council specifically identifies on its website as being subject to the next phase of bus lane enforcement in the city.
The council has launched a public consultation into its proposals for minor changes at the junction, saying:
In February 2013 Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet approved a city wide civil Bus Lane Enforcement (BLE) regime to be implemented on a phased basis, starting with the city centre where enforcement commenced in summer 2013. As part of the next phase, we are looking to introduce BLE measures at the junction of Belgrave Middleway with Longmore Street and Horton Square.
There is a bus gate situated at this junction allowing bus movements to and from the City Centre. The Rea Valley Cycle Route (NCN5) also crosses Belgrave Middleway at this location. Only buses, cycles and emergency vehicles are allowed through the bus gate.
According to the time logged on a series of still images from the taxi’s dashboard-mounted camera and accompanying a report on the incident on the Birmingham Mail’s website, the cyclists positioned themselves for at least 27 minutes in front of the vehicle to prevent it from moving straight on through the traffic lights.
The taxi driver involved, 42-year-old Abid Hussain, gave his version of events to the newspaper and claimed that inadequate signage and an inconsistent approach form the council as which bus lanes black cabs are permitted to use caused confusion for drivers.
The image from Google Street View above, assuming that the sign and road markings are unaltered since it was taken, suggests however that it is clear that only buses and bicycles are allowed to go straight on.
Mr Hussain said: “They [the cyclists] were a law unto themselves. I couldn’t move anywhere because of the sheer numbers.
‘‘These people on two wheels, who don’t even pay road tax, were acting like vigilantes.’’
Road tax was abolished in the 1930’s, as documented on Carlton Reid’s website, IPayRoadTax.com. Motorists now pay Vehicle Excise Duty, based on their vehicles’ emissions, with no payment required for some low-emission vehicles.
The taxi driver continued: ‘‘I’d picked up a lecturer from Aston University and was taking her to Kings Heath.
“I could see a gathering of cyclists in the road. They just blocked me off and said I couldn’t pass because it was for buses.
“I had nowhere to go and they were becoming increasingly aggressive. I was concerned that one of them would jump in front of the taxi and get hurt, so I stopped.
“My passenger told me not to speak to them and she was the one who called police.
“The police arrived and it all seemed calm. I tried to move around them but, as I was crawling along, one of them blocked me again and another came up the side and ripped off the wing mirror.’
“We are a public service. We are here to serve the community but we are being attacked.
‘‘Part of the problem is the city council and the inconsistency in road signage and rules for lanes. The council needs to decide whether Hackney Carriage drivers are included in public transport networks.’’
Comments from West Midlands Police, who were called to the scene at approximately 6.40pm on Monday, suggest that there is also confusion among officers about the bus lanes that Hackney Carriages are permitted to use.
A spokeswoman for the force told the Birmingham Mail: “Three police officers and a police community support officer responded to reports that a group of cyclists were blocking the path of a black cab driver.
“They were under the impression that he was not allowed to use the lane and the driver was saying that he could.
“Officers advised the group that they were causing an obstruction on the highway.
“The situation seemed to have been resolved, when one cyclist rode into the path of the driver who was moving away. A second cyclist broke off a wing mirror and rode off.
“The group refused to give details to officers at the scene.
“Officers are investigating a report of criminal damage and are examining CCTV.”
One cyclist who said she had taken part in Monday’s ride is Nazan Fennell, whose 13-year-old daughter Hope was killed by a lorry while cycling in November 2011.
Last month, the driver was jailed for six months for dangerous driving – as distinct from causing death by dangerous driving – with the court hearing that he had sent a series of text messages to his girlfriend in the time leading up to the collision, and had also deleted several messages afterwards.
Later in September, Hope’s mother staged a sit-down protest in front of a lorry during a ride in memory of her daughter.
Contacting the Birmingham Mail after Monday’s flash ride, Ms Fennell said: “This crossing is a vital link across the ring road for cyclists, but those cyclists’ lives are put at risk by other vehicles abusing this lane.
“The flash ride received strong support from passing pedestrians, cyclists and law-abiding motorists.
“Unfortunately a single taxi driver chose to block the entrance to the bus lane leading out of the city centre for over 30 minutes, and argued that he had the right to use the bus lane.
“Push Bikes is very disappointed that the first police officer to speak to this taxi driver was uncertain about the meaning of the clear signs at this crossing, and did not persuade the taxi driver to take the legal route out and argued that he had the right to use the bus lane.”
We have asked Push Bikes – founded in 1978 as the Birmingham Bicycling Campaign, changing its name a year later – for a statement on Monday’s incident, as well as whether Ms Fennell holds a position within the organisation and whether her comments reflect its views.
Ms Fennell added: ‘‘The message from Monday night is clear - our streets are made dangerous by a minority of bad drivers, and it is vitally important for the police and local authorities to punish drivers who think they are above the rules of the road.
‘‘Proper enforcement of regulations on highway infrastructure is vital to the success of Birmingham’s cycle revolution.’’
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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57 comments
[Is getting in a taxi any more transport friendly than getting in your own car?]
If you mean environmentally friendly, then yes. Whilst the trip itself might not be any different in terms of emissions than your car, if occasionally taking a taxi means you don't need to own a car, and that applies to X number of passengers, then the existence of that taxi has saved the world the embodied energy of making X number of cars. Which is significant.
But in terms of congestion, I take your point. Bus Rapid Transit and bikes are the way forward!
My view: The taxi driver inconvenienced his passenger by trying to take a short cut he wasn't entitled to. I do not believe he was confused. I think he - and probably most of the taxi drivers locally - think it's OK to take that route, but this time got owned.
That said, the people on two wheels should have let him back out of the junction rather than trapping him there. Stopping his progress was enough - kettling him and his passenger inside the vehicle was over the top. Ripping off a wing mirror is unacceptable and counter productive.
The police need to sharpen up their act. No change there.
Sorry, meant to add, this incident will have done more to highlight issues with the junction (and perhaps others) than any 'normal' action could hqve. The council, police, media and taxi drivers have all been put on notice as a result. Whether you agree with the means or not, you can't buy that sort of publicity.
This. I don't believe for a second that the taxi guy genuinely didn't know if he can use that lane or not- he knows full well that in practice he can and that's enough for taxi drivers. I can't get behind the actions of the cyclists though.
Interesting that they chose that junction though- I use it pretty often and it's never struck me as being any sort of hotspot.
Sums up my thoughts.
I have found that taxi drivers take more liberties than most drivers. It's as if they feel their trade allows them to somehow bend/break more rules more often than everyone else. It's time they were told that it won't wash.
And of course don't forget the journalist's need for a story - how an incident is communicated makes a HUGE difference to how it is perceived by those who were not present.
While others may not share GKam's views about Critical Mass etc I don't think you need to abuse him for having them. Equally Keith, calling someone a moron isn't helping.
They're professional drivers though, innit?
I'm sure that somebody said somewhere that women throwing themselves in front of horses gave women a bad name.
I don't condone criminal damage and at the moment that has not been proven. However, a bit of peaceful protest, even not so peaceful is a good thing. I've never been on a critical mass ride or anything like it, but if their actions raise awareness of people on bikes and as a result my journey home is safer then I thank them.
The wing mirror aside, the worst thing that happened here was two people got inconvenienced for half an hour. Compared to the daily dose of close passes, punnisment passes, MGIF's and SMIDSY's, any one of which could kill me, it's nothing.
As for giving me a bad name, I'm not certain that every driver on the road now thinks less of me, but if they do, I think I can probably live with it.
Or block thge junction, but in a way that would have made it easy for the taxi to back out and take a legal route?
I saw the title of this article and thought 'ah..another group of well-intentioned, no doubt legitimately pissed-off but perhaps too excitable cyclists who end up going overboard on an individual motorist', and initially felt quite sorry for the taxi driver. Then I read his 'don't even pay road tax' comment. Oh dear.
BUT, despite my huge enthusiasm for promoting cycling, making it safer, and my despair at reading all the stories where existent laws fail to be enforced, I don't think ripping off wing mirrors is going to do anyone any favours. Even though I probably want to do it to at least one vehicle a week.
Oh to have the Dutch/French drivers' attitudes on our roads...
As an OT aside, I cycled a lot in the Vendee this summer and I thought France would be the land of milk and honey for cyclists. It was in general only slightly better than my experiences here, although I could still guess the English cars coming past due to the totally butchered rather than iffy overtakes.
Back on topic, I don't think this group of cyclists has helped at all. Wouldn't it have been less antagonistic to photograph vehicles illegally using that turn rather than blocking the junction (although I suspect it would have done a fat lot of good)?
as said in another thread, and got poo poo-ed, unless the law does something about law breaking drivers there will be far more of this sort of thing.
Traffic enforcement needs to be taken seriously against ALL parties, zero tollerance of any motoring offence for a starter.
*fucks off and moans in private*
Get a grip moron
I never said I didn't understand what its about, but I have never attended one, because of the way that those involved conduct themselves
If I could be arsed to go through past articles, I would dig out where you say exactly that.
Face it, you're another moaner who indulges in pathetic childish tribalism, especially when it involves people empowering themselves.
...
GKam, youve never had anything good to say about Critical Mass despite admitting a while ago that you didn't understand what it was about, nor having ever attended one.
Not a good look.
The frank truth: its these people (and people like Hope Fennells mum) that will get changes made in how liveable our cities are, not wet liberal campaign groups like the LCC, who have existed for 35 years yet have achieved very little in that time.
If youre going to moan about people taking direct action to get things changed then quite frankly, fuck off and moan in private.
Its drivers like that giving us drivers a bad name! Yes, its illegal, but simply driving up the bus lane is just antagonising cyclists and pedestrians! Access to bus routes will never improve until drivers start obeying the rules.
But this sort of thing wouldn't happen if the laws regarding motoring were ever actually enforced. Unfortunately the police seem to consider such matters insufficiently glamorous to bother with (and, to me, it appears that traffic wardens simply no longer exist - haven't seen one since the 1980s).
The only time motorists are held accountable is when it involves private land and cowboy car-clampers (and in that case I actually sympathise with the motorists as the abuse-of-power seems to be on the other side.)
I have to say I sometimes think it should be legal to vandalise an illegally parked car. Because there's no other sanction on parking on pavements and in cycle lanes or dangerously close to junctions or on the zig-zags outside schools, etc. The 'authorities' certainly don't do anything about it.
Agreed... this will do nothing to improve safety for cyclists and is likely to just antagonise other taxi drivers and the authorities.
Its "cyclists" like this that give others a bad name. Yes, the taxi shouldn't have been using that section of road, whether the driver knew it or not.
But to block him in for 27 minutes, with a passenger on board is a shocking display of behaviour.
This is why I am sick of seeing videos from critical mass in London and this "Space for cycling" get a group of people together, there are always going to be idiots if you have a large enough number. There should be ride "leaders" who stamp this out
I'm sick of this "bad name" meme. Cyclists already have a "bad name" because they are quite simply in the way of other road users. You can try to wish that we are a homogeneous group of saints, but we're not and we should not accept such attempts to make us into a group or class. No more than we should accept attempts to paint all vehicle drivers as evil, stupid fuckers that squash 13 year old girls on bicycles, or the cops as ignorant, lying tossers that don't even know the rules of the road.
He wasn't blocked in. He could have turned left but refused to. Have a look at the newspaper article.
As to this 'give others a bad name' business - how does that work? I don't subscribe to this collective guilt nonsense. A speeding driver doesn't give me a bad name when I get into my car.
Rider leaders for Critical Mass? I think you've missed one of the fundamental aspects of CM. A critical aspect which means it can continue.
I sort of agree but I don't think it's the same thing- it's that out group stuff. People don't cut the same slack to a minority group they don't belong to that they do to their own- they're far quicker to tar everybody with the same brush. The issue is whether or not it manifests itself on the roads.
Are you serious, I think you've got a bloody cheek, there were approx 10,000 cyclists at London's last Space for Cycling ride and as far as I'm aware it went without incident. There were both police and stewards at the ride.
And if you don't like the videos, then why are you watching them? Fool.
What did you expect? The guy has never been on a CM nor any other kind of advocacy ride, yet is always one of the first on each thread moaning about how others are damaging his image of being a cyclist.
The guy just comes over as a joke.
What few on this thread have asked themselves is why a substantial group of cyclists felt it was necessary to do something about infringements by taxis into these bus/cycle lanes. You do not get a large number of people to perform direct action at the drop of a hat, without good reason.
What if the action was to stop any other kind of illegal activity? Would anyone who has expressed a displeasure about these peoples action, have an issue with that?
I dont get this at all. It falls into the "action like this gives all cyclists a bad name" bullshit, AFAIC.
While I do not advocate smashing up property for the fun of it, I am very supportive of people who destroy things that are used as tools to kill, oppress, or destroy the environment/endanger the safety of others. If that taxi driver was revving his engine and trying to force his way through the cyclists, I would support them smashing the fuck out of his vehicle. People ALWAYS trump property, especially if that property is used to against people.
That said, smashing his wing mirror while he was sitting there then dodging out is just 'rebel without a clue'.
Zanf. You need to look at yourself and think a little harder. What a Wally.
Vandalising a taxi just for doing something slightly wrong is wrong in itself. I really does not help. People like you are the ones that should be arrested. The taxi drivers need educating to cyclists needs and clearer signage.
Go and re-read my comment and allow it to digest before you make another ignorant reply. If you're having trouble then acquire the assistance of an appropriate adult to spell it out for you.
Making any comment with phrases such as "people like you..." just makes you look like a generalising idiot wanker.
The thing is, that when a huge number of people do things that are 'slightly wrong' on a very regular basis, it can produce anger disproportionate to any one single instance. Especially when the norm is for them to get away with it.
Look at the harsh sentences handed out for even minor thefts during the riots. Its the backdrop of anger at more general lawlessness that leads to individual cases being treated more harshly than they might appear to merit. That's human nature.
As for 'educating' the taxi-driver - isn't that what this group were attempting to do?
Zanf. Clearly pondlife. no further comments.
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