Call Sign November 2011
Page 20
"He seemed to come out of nowhere, right
The DaC driver and an everyday strory of cyclists
across the front of my cab," Stuart Waterman
GRILLED!
(C36) told Call Sign, referring to the pedal
cyclist who collided with the sharp end of his
taxi.
"I came round Hyde Park Corner and
turned left into Grosvenor Crescent before
are suicidal, but it is more than just the odd
positioning myself on the crown of the road to
one that causes trouble," Stuart opined.
turn right into Grosvenor Crescent Mews,"
"I have since learned that it could be possi-
Stuart explained. "Suddenly a pedal cyclist
ble to claim under their household insurance
appeared from behind the scaffolding of the
policy, but that assumes you can confirm their
construction site on the north side of the
personal details, assumes they own a proper-
Crescent, darted between the waiting traffic in
ty and assumes they don't just cycle away
his haste to get across the road, appeared to
through the traffic!" Stuart grinned at the
lose his balance and crashed into the radiator
thought.
"If they actually waited to exchange those
grille of my cab! I had to brake really sharply
details but were rent-payers rather than own-
to avoid running him over, however one of
ers, you're unlikely to get anywhere. Maybe
the pedals from his cycle rammed into the
Stuart and new grille
someone out there in Call Sign land knows
plastic central section of the taxi grille and
the answer," he said with a sigh that suggest-
embedded itself in the vertical struts, smashing
could see I was not going to get very far by
ed he didn't think that to be very likely.
several of them beyond repair."
way of making him pay for the damage he had
"I made enquiries about a replacement sil-
Reddening with pent-up annoyance at the
caused and it became pointless arguing, so I
ver coloured grille like the original, but they
thought, Stuart continued his story.
decided to wipe my mouth and sort it out
are around £130. However, I went back to my
"The cyclist stood there cursing me while
myself."
garage - Pool Motors in Hornsey - and they
struggling to dislodge his cycle pedal, causing
As Stuart continued his story, his face began
very kindly sourced a second-hand one in
even more damage to the grille as he pulled
to steadily redden with anger as he recalled
good condition and also fitted it for me for a
and twisted his cycle while trying to release
the incident.
fraction of the cost of a new one.
the errant pedal," Stuart said pointing toward
"It really is annoying that we have numbers
Unfortunately it is a plain black one, but I'm
the cabs' front end.
and identification on ourselves by way of our
still delighted it turned out as right as it could
"How should I put this in a family maga-
Badges and on the cab, yet a pedal cyclist can
be in the end..."
zine? Well, let's just say we exchanged words
just take to the streets without any form of ID
and I left him in no doubt of what I thought
or public liability insurance and wobble
© Call Sign Magazine MMX1
of irresponsible cyclists with his attitude. But I
around without a care! True, not all of them
Every issue of Call Sign takes a look back at ODRTS history through the pages of the magazines of
the time with a flashback
DIAL-A-CAB FLASHBACK
This month's Flashback returns to July 1994 with DaC then-
Flash
b
a
Treasurer Keith Cain looking at the death of founder Board mem-
1994 ck
ber and long-time Society Treasurer, Frank Duncan...
From Call Sign July 1994...
Frank Duncan: The death of a founder Board member...
It was a sad moment this week when I heard the news that
Frank Duncan - founder member and former Treasurer of
this Society - had died.
Many will be aware of the dedication Frank gave to the
Society and although he stood down from his position in
1990, he always took an interest in ODRTS whenever he
could.
My recent and fondest memories of Frank were long
before I became a member of the Board. He always had a
listening ear and was prepared to offer advice as and when
needed. When the opportunity came for me to be
employed as one the Suburban Sales Representatives, Frank and I had many a long dis-
cussion of the type of business out there and how to generate it. When I was first
appointed as Treasurer, he again volunteered advice and history about Dial-a-Cab. This
helped me tremendously in fulfilling my duties.
Frank also had very strong views on the Government's decision to licence minicabs and
at our fortieth Anniversary Celebration at the Guildhall, he had to be restrained from
having a one-to-one with the Society's guest at the celebration and the Minister behind
the minicab green paper, Steve Norris.
Frank will be sadly missed by all of us at Brunswick House and I would like to express
my deepest sympathy to his family. Frank will never be forgotten.
Keith Cain
DaC Treasurer
