95 thoughts on “Tailgategate

  1. Gorugeen

    “It was an accident”….in which case driving off without stopping is perfectly acceptable!
    Accident my ass. Two blatant attempts. Surely that’s a seriousish road traffic offence?

    1. Dhod

      It has to be. The cyclist is lucky it’s all on camera, otherwise it would be tough. I’m going through an insurance case (motorist) with a taxi driver at the moment. He cut me off then slammed on his brakes when directly in front of me- road was clear ahead. He claims I rear ended him while he was stationary. It’s my word against his and I’ve been told he’s likely to win as I hit him. It’s infuriating

  2. Donal

    10 year driving ban
    Custodial sentence of at least 12 months for assault, or perhaps something harsher

    Anything less and road safety will be made a mockery of in my opinion

    1. Worlds Biggest Ranter

      Couldn’t agree more. That’s essentially a lethal weapon he’s brandishing. The law does amaze me sometimes. Knock someone off their bike and you get three weeks picking up crisp packets and a €200 fine. Cyclist bangs his head and dies though and its catastrophic for him and his family. Why does that get treated so differently. If he (the car driver) is ever allowed to drive a taxi again its a crime in itself. Scumbag.

    2. stephen

      I am the first to moan about cyclists and making them pay road tax and insurance but this is unacceptable
      The garda must prosecute this lunatic of a taxi driver and ban him from ever being a taxi driver again
      He must be dealt with and an example made

    1. Con Kennedy

      Remember Bob, it’s better to keep your mouth shut and let people think that you’re an idiot than to open it and confirm you are

    2. Matt Fitzpatrick

      Maybe if motorists paid road tax they’d realise that motor tax and road tax are not the same thing?

  3. Ollie Cromwell

    Seems to me the cyclist is looking for a confrontation – hence cameras front and back.
    There’s plenty of room for both of them on a virtually deserted road without the cyclist whining about tail-gating.
    Six of one and half a dozen of the other.
    Cyclists don’t help their cause by constantly jumping red lights,using pavements and riding two or three abreast having a chat.
    Anyway,why post this online before making a complaint to the police.It’s going to make any conviction a lot harder to achieve especially if it went to a jury trial.

    1. Bertie Blenkinsop

      “Seems to me the cyclist is looking for a confrontation – hence cameras front and back.”

      And people with house alarms are looking to be burgled.

    2. Worlds Biggest Ranter

      Which for all we know may well be true. You still dont point a car at someone with intent to injure them. There is never justification for that. Never. You just say to your self “what a prick” and move on. Very nice cyclist to let him off so easy. He’d still be picking parts of my bicycle out of various different parts of his anatomy now if it had been me he tried that on with. What a monumental c — t

    3. Lurch

      You’re OK with the bit where he drove his one tonne car into the cyclist. He was asking for it was he? That’s gas

    4. Cú Chulainn

      Old bean, what are you doing trolling here.. you have trade deals to negotiate. Chop chop.. the clock is ticking..

    5. pedeyw

      “Cyclists don’t help their cause by constantly jumping red lights,using pavements and riding two or three abreast having a chat.”
      It’s just capitalism at work, Ollie. If you don’t like it move to North Korea.

    6. LeopoldGloom

      Fupp off. This is the sort of nonsense that has entered far too many minds.

      There are circa 230,000 drivers with penalty points at present. That’s somewhere between 10-15 of all drivers.

      Yet it’s cyclists who are the lawless brethren who need to be stopped??!? Mornic attitude

      1. Con Kennedy

        Leo, gopoo. 90% of cyclist have a full driving license (85% in UK) what makes you think that people on 2 wheels behave differently than when they are on 4? Oh yeah, you saw a guy on a bike jump the lights once

  4. rotide

    Cycling activists are fairly annoying but this is an open and shut case of attempted GBH.

    Go to the cops and the taxi authority

  5. Ollie Cromwell

    Attempted murder me hole.
    There might be some sort of road traffic offence committed which would probably incur a slap on the wrist and a fine.
    But the spanners on here need to get a grip.

      1. Ollie Cromwell

        Probably.
        But it’s not attempted murder.
        A decent brief could argue the cyclist was being confrontational,his bike and clothing wasn’t illuminated properly on a dark morning and plenty more.

        1. Ollie Cromwell

          Have another look.
          I doubt the cyclist was going more than 5-10mph when there was a shunt.
          The motorist could quite easily argue he was pulling over

          1. Brother Barnabas

            “I doubt the cyclist was going more than 5-10mph when there was a shunt.” *

            and blighty’s economy is booming!

            *the speedometer in the corner of the video says 31km/h, you cretinous dunce

          2. Ollie Cromwell

            Bollocks.
            At the moment of ” impact ” he was doing 24kph which is around 14mph.
            I’ve fallen out of bed faster than that.
            You’re not made of very stern stuff are you lovey ?

          3. Gav D

            Twice. Pulling over… twice. At separate points. Before pulling off at a high speed. Twice.

            I hope you’re not a lawyer by profession.

          4. Brother Barnabas

            “I hope you’re not a lawyer by profession.”

            claims he used to be a barrister, actually. there’s a strong dose of walter mitty to our charger.

          5. Ollie Cromwell

            You’re becoming delusional matey.
            I may well be a cn ut but I can assure you I’m not a fat cn ut and I’ve never been or claimed to be a barrister.
            Perhaps you might consider stepping away from the internet for a while – certainly dismantle your camp bed and put away your emergency supplies because I think you’re losing the plot a tad.

          6. Brother Barnabas

            it’s ok, charger. didn’t mean to upset you. just stop putting so much sh 1t into your mouth and move around a bit more.

        2. LeopoldGloom

          He quite clearly has 2 lights. The driver clearly had lights on, and there are plenty of street lights. get a griip.

          It’s aggrevated assault with a vehicle at a minimum. He should never be allowed drive professionally again. I would personally ban him from ever driving again, but minimum of 10 years, after which he has to start as a learner.

          Some custodial time would be appropriate too. I’ve been hit at slower speeds by a car, it can do serious damage. His leg could’ve gone under the car and been crushed by the rear wheel. He could gone forward and under the car. Any attempt to dismiss this is low level trolling and nothing more.

          Unless you’re Dermot?

    1. Scundered

      Since it’s well known that cars kill people very easily, when you deliberately try to collide with a cyclist yes that would amount to attempted murder.

      You can’t slap someone in the face using a car.

    2. Blo Jo Brexit

      Oh dear, you appear to be losing your Enid Blyton ejaculations. “Me hole”, “Spanners”?

      Standards slipping in Trinity….

      Wrong to boot…

  6. Spaghetti Hoop

    Hope the taxi-driver was reported. They HATE anyone driving in ‘their’ precious bus lanes. I do it regularly when they open for general traffic, driving at speed limit, and often get a taxi driver up close behind me flashing lights and having a meltdown.

    I can see why cyclists record their trips. Unfortunately I didn’t have a camera on me when I got knocked by a cyclist breaking the lights at a pedestrian crossing. Morons of all transportations out there.

  7. LeopoldGloom

    And the irony of it all that he was racing up to a red light anyway. Had he just waited, 2 seconds, overtaken properly he’d be on his merry way.

  8. Liam Deliverance

    Lowest of the low, should loose his license and never be allowed one again, if that man was seriously injured he would deserve time for that. Manslaughter charge is not off the cards. Premeditated, two attempts, and regardless of the speed if you go down and hit a kerb or a lamppost in the wrong way it could be your demise. Taxi drivers are dreadful in Dublin City, their attitude and inability to use the driving skills they must have learned at some point is shameful. Bus drivers are not far behind, they used to be some of the most considerate and careful road users. It’s become a dog eat dog world on the city streets.

  9. Hansel

    The below Taxi drivers forum is enlightening, if disheartening.
    Some variously feel that the cyclist is “vermin”, that he had it coming to him, that cyclists shouldn’t be on the road because they don’t pay “road tax” etc. The general theme is that the taxi driver is – if not totally in the right – not totally at fault.

    http://intaxi.org/forum/index.php?topic=9194.0

    Personally I’m shocked that people who drive for a living have the attitudes on display.

    I actually hope there’s a lot of publicity about this and that the views on display are brought into question.

        1. Papi

          I have absolutely no idea who those people are. Should I be hurt or happy or honoured, what? You tell me, tubs.
          Thought you didn’t engage with the dross, chargey? Is it getting to you, boy?

    1. Con Kennedy

      So, that makes it ok to endanger his life with a motor vehicle?

      Have you ever tripped up? By that token you should be put down like they do horses

  10. Mick Mucksavage

    Taxi driver totally in the wrong . But as a cyclist myself I know it’s not much use being in the right if you’re also in the dead . Cyclist should have realized there was a serious danger after the taxi pulled over into him the first time and taken to the path where there is a bit of a cycle lane until the cab was well gone

    1. Matt Fitzpatrick

      It’s very hard to know what to do when dealing with a dangerous person like that though. Taxi driver could just as easily have pulled in and hit yer man a slap.

    2. The Dude

      I think this is what is referred to as ‘victim blaming’. The taxi driver was not only in the wrong – but aggressively, intentionally, and repeatedly so. The logic suggested could also be applied for women going out at night, that they would probably be safer to stay at home. That logic did not do George Hook any favours.

    1. The Dude

      1) There is not a cycle way ‘the whole way’ along North Strand / Amiens Street.

      2) The bits of cycleway that are present weave at shap angles abruptly. That might suit a child who is cycling 5 kph – but is impossible at 20 – 30 kph. Perhaps you might like to try it sometime?

      3) Cyclists are entitled to use roadway as much as any other vehicle. As Irish cycle ways are substandard, it is not mandatory that they be used – as otherwise that would likely result in many more accidents and deaths, with the state then being sued.

      4) If you look a bit more closely, you might notice that the road was largely deserted – and that the taxi driver was well able to overtake the cyclist in the adjacent lane, also heading in the same direction.

      5) Unlike cyclists who are allowed use bus lanes at any time, taxi drivers are only allowed use them while carrying a passenger – which was not the case in this instance.

      6) I genuinely hope that you do not drive any vehicle, as if you need the above explained to you, it seems that you do not have sufficient knowledge of the Rules of the Road in order to be able to drive a vehicle in a competent and safe manner, without posing a danger to other road users.

      1. LeopoldGloom

        5) Unlike cyclists who are allowed use bus lanes at any time, taxi drivers are only allowed use them while carrying a passenger – which was not the case in this instance.

        This isn’t quite true. This is what the law states.

        ( b ) Sub-article (2) shall not apply to a taxi or a wheelchair accessible taxi which is being used in the course of business.

        They can be on their way to a pickup, or plying for trade

      2. Ollie Cromwell

        It’s dark,the cyclist is hitting nearly 40 clicks on a city road and he initiates a row with a taxi driver over something completely innocuous.
        Six of one and half a dozen of the other.

        1. Brother Barnabas

          in fairness, it’s a long time since you were on a bicycle – or engaged in any form of physical exercise (cranking one out while the wife’s at work doesn’t count) – so what would you know, lardass?

          1. Ollie Cromwell

            Do you have to wait while your better half is at work too ?
            Or doesn’t he mind helping you find it ?

          2. Brother Barnabas

            you can do better than that, surely ?

            tell you what: go off and get yourself some biscuits (three max, because, let’s face it, this isn’t heading for a good place), have a think about it and come back

          3. Ollie Cromwell

            Not biscuits matey.
            I’m off to meet a few chums for a Friday night convivial.
            I’m sure you like widen the circle of your friends.
            And is so do you meet all of them in a telephone kiosk ?
            Laters,Quentin.

          4. Brother Barnabas

            i’d like to respond to that but it’s nonsensical gibberish:

            “I’m sure you like widen the circle of your friends.
            And is so do you meet all of them in a telephone kiosk ?”

            or perhaps it’s a case of fingers too fat for the keyboard?

          1. millie st murderlark

            Lol no.

            He’s enjoying himself waaaay too much, which if you think about it… is incredibly sad.

            It’s an awful lot of time and energy to be putting into trolling.

    2. LeopoldGloom

      No there wasn’t. A little after their clip starts there is an of f road cycle lane that is so poorly designed, to cycle in it would be dangerous generally. You’ve to access it at a weird angle from the road anyway, then you’ve to give way within 2 metres at an exit, go around a lamp post, negotiate people standing at a busstop and then give way at least 2 more times before the lights. It’s an absurd design

      Anyway. notice the huge bike painted in the bus lane. The cyclist was in a “cycle lane”

      Why are you victim blaming?

  11. The Dude

    Good to see the taxi driver named and shamed with his photograph provided in the video.

    Sadly I suspect that it would be unlikely for any action to be taken by the authorities – except that the attacker was filmed and that this is now in the public domain.

    The authorities – police, taxi regulator, etc. must be seen to act on this case or there will be even less faith in them then before.

    The Taxi Federation and any other taxi representative group must also actively condemn this outrageous behaviour if they are to have any credibility.

    The Taxi Federation should also seize the initiative, and deal with this type of behaviour that sadly has become increasingly common in the last few years. Ironically, it seems to me that people using bicycles are probably more likely to also use taxis – rather than car owners, as they already have vehicles full time suited for bad weather or other car dependent journeys.

    A clear lesson is that cyclists should be well-advised to have on board cameras filming at all times, for some prospect of comeback in these situation.

    It also seems the taxi driver actually got away very lightly. A different cyclist may have taken a different approach when he/ she caught up at the lights – such as taking the taxi driver out of his car, and kicking the absolute crap out of him. While such an approach should not be encouraged, it would in my opinion be completely understandable. No need then for follow-up with authorities who may well not do their job anyway. Fair dues to José Jiménez for not doing that and instead trying to go about resolving the matter in a proper manner; hopefully he will not be as disappointed in the outcome and service that he is provide with – as has already become the norm for far too many Irish citizens.

    It will be interesting to see what if any action is taken against the taxi driver – who is now forever documented online for behaving in such an unnecessary ugly and wicked manner. I hope his family are proud.

    1. Scundered

      You may be right, however if the online video is simply displaying the facts and not distorting them is it not time this was allowed, he is not telling people what to believe. Or is it more to do with viewers forming an opinion based on the comments left by others? Any legal heads who can explain this area?

  12. Starina

    What a scumbag and a thug. Should have his drivers license revoked and be charged with attempted manslaughter.

  13. The Dude

    Why do I get the impression that the commentators asserting that cyclists should use “cycle ways” on footpaths alongside roads are also likely to also complain when cyclists use such paths are a danger to pedestrians?

    Cyclists in Dublin – and Ireland – are being given a rotten deal by the authorities, and are left exposed to the dangerous behaviour of aggressive individuals whose behaviour would not otherwise be accepted. Lavish plans sit unimplemented after great cost incurred by officials’ time, consultants’ reports etc. A relatively minimal change of law to require a minimum passing distance by vehicles overtaking bicycles was disgracefully dropped earlier this year by minister Shane Ross, and the FF supported FG administration: blood on all their hands as the fatality levels of cyclists continue to rocket year on year.

    Stirring hate against cyclists appears to have become something of a hobby for a number of major media outlets. Those same media outlets also make a lot of money from selling advert space and other deals with car sales dealerships.

    A reasonably good article on the poisonous attitude of Irish media against cyclists while glamourising cars can be read here:

    http://cassandravoices.com/environment/drive-time-the-irish-medias-message/

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