Last night I had to make a decision.
Driving home from Clovelly to Potts Point, I was heading north along South Dowling Street. Approaching Oxford Street Artee said, "Go right and take Ward Avenue." Nubie disagreed, "Naaa. Go left and take Darlinghurst Road." As it happens, they're about the same. Darlinghurst Road is shorter, but Ward Avenue has less lights. I was in the left lane so I took Darlinghurst Road.
Bad move.
At Darlinghurst & Burton the lights were red. "Should've taken Ward Avenue," said Artee. At Darlinghurst & Liverpool the lights were red. "Should've taken Ward Avenue," said Artee. Approaching the Cross the traffic was slow, "Should've taken Ward Avenue," said Artee.
Bucking the trend entirely, the Bayswater Road lights were green. Even better, whilst there were about ten cars lined up to go left down Victoria Street, there were none in my lane. The one straight up to McLeay Street.
Then, f**k me dead. Just as I was about to cross Bayswater Road, a taxi pulled out of the Victoria Street line. Right there in front of me. Despite my tramping on the brake, a crash -- I hate "bingle" -- was inevitable. My front-right corner got gnarled; the taxi's front-left fared slightly worse. We both pulled around the corner so the cabby and me could exchange details. It was all rather civil, actually. The formalities done with, I drove off. "F**k," I said belatedly.
"Ward Avenue looks good."
I took Ward Avenue. You can't fight these things, you know.
Filthy Victorians. Shouldn't be allowed to drive in Sydney. Polluting our roads.
Posted by: SB | 20 January 2005 at 17:19
I would have put it the other way around. Filthy Sydneysiders! Are you taught to look before you change lanes?!?
Posted by: Tony.T | 20 January 2005 at 17:30
Filthy male drivers, will you listen to the back seat drivers already?!
Posted by: AdventureGirl | 20 January 2005 at 17:41
Now, that's not going to happen, Addy. Pass the filthy earplugs, please.
Posted by: Tony.T | 20 January 2005 at 17:53
Note that the accident occurred after the taxi pulled out of the Victoria Street line.
Sydneysiders.
Posted by: boynton | 20 January 2005 at 18:30
Filthy Victoria-Streeters!
Posted by: Tony.T | 20 January 2005 at 18:32
Filthy Victorians and New South Welshmen! Oh wait... no, I was born in Fitroy. Filthy Sydneysiders!
Posted by: AdventureGirl | 20 January 2005 at 19:40
Filthy Victorians and New South Welshmen! Oh wait... no, I was born in Fitzroy. Filthy Sydneysiders!
Posted by: AdventureGirl | 20 January 2005 at 19:41
D'oh! Tony censor my typos please. I'll be nice if you do.
Posted by: AdventureGirl | 20 January 2005 at 19:43
This is very unusual for Sydney traffic. It is normally expected that the Taxi driver gets out and attacks you with a screwdriver or car jack.
Posted by: pat | 20 January 2005 at 20:08
Great site man.
bad luck about the car. bastard taxi drivers.
Posted by: Rufus | 20 January 2005 at 21:10
Filthy car drivers, you're all as bad as each other. Viva la Vespa!
Posted by: hungbunny | 20 January 2005 at 21:38
Filthy bloody taxi drivers, more than anything else. Useless bastards.
Posted by: Adam | 21 January 2005 at 03:22
You had it easier there mate, last year a taxi hit me up the backside and an irate cab driver got out and claimed that i was driving too slowly ! Actually i was waiting at an intersection for traffic to clear and had stopped! Totally his fault and when i had the temerity to begin arguing he took a swing at me ! Bloody cabbies- never use them now.
Posted by: Brett Pee | 21 January 2005 at 04:33
I'm waiting for the report to come back from my insurance mob ...
"According to the taxi driver, you were drunk, you were going 125km/h, you drove up on the curb and you rammed him on purpose. Then you got out and abused him."
None of which I did. It was totally his fault. But it's almost a universal maxim; taxi drivers lie!
Posted by: Tony.T | 21 January 2005 at 16:39
Sorry, Addy, no can do. I consider double posts a compliment. They make my numbers look good.
Posted by: Tony.T | 21 January 2005 at 18:52
Haha! Bugger! Filthy After Grog Blogger!
Posted by: AdventureGirl | 21 January 2005 at 21:08
Ward Avenue, man. Even *I* coulda told ya that.
Posted by: a guy in pajamas | 21 January 2005 at 22:36
Anyway, loads of Taxi drivers over here have a distinctly and rather dodgy Slav look about them, and remembering Hookesy, probably better off avoiding arguing with them. A cab driver is NEVER wrong.
Posted by: Brett Pee | 22 January 2005 at 23:31
Dunno what this taxi driver was. Don't care. All I care is that he was a shit-house driver.
Posted by: Tony.T | 23 January 2005 at 22:25
there is a nice flat for sale just on that corner.
Posted by: daniel | 12 November 2005 at 16:26