Traffic and travel
This section offers some general tips on how to keep yourself
safe and secure when you're making a journey - either catching a
bus or taxi, or when you're in the car. Use the links below to
fast-track to a specific travel section.
- As with everything, you are safest where there are other
people, and where it is well lit
- Plan your route
- Try to wait in busy or well-lit areas
- Sit near other people, the driver if you are on a bus, or near
the conductor if you are on a train
- Move if someone makes you feel uncomfortable.
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Driving
- Keep your car in good condition and try not to run out of
petrol
- Keep doors locked when driving and keep bags, phones and other
valuables out of sight, preferably in the boot
- Try to park in well lit or busy areas, and if you park during
the day, think about what the area will feel like after dark
- Some car parks have 'Secured car park' accreditation. Find out
which ones do locally and try to use them - look out for the
'Secured car park' sign or visit
www.securedcarparks.com
- If you break down on the motorway, follow the arrows to the
nearest phone. Do not cross the carriageway. Wait outside your car
(as far away as possible from the carriageway) unless you feel
threatened, in which case you should sit in the passenger seat
- Do not give lifts to or accept lifts with people you do not
know, or do not know well
- Do not drive if you have been drinking or taking drugs, and do
not take a lift from someone who has
- You may feel more comfortable carrying a mobile phone with you.
Try to keep it out of sight, and do not use it while
driving.
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Using taxis at night
City of London Police and the Met's Sapphire Team Issue
Safety Advice to Members of the Public Using Taxis at
Night.
- Always get a black cab or pre-book a car through a licensed
minicab operator
- Carry the phone number of a minicab company you've used before
and trust
- Check that the minicab you ordered is the one you get into
- Check that the driver has been given your name and destination
by his operator
- Always sit in the back and carry a mobile phone
- If you have a problem with the driver of a black cab, make a
note of the number on the white plate inside the cab and report it
to police or the Public Carriage office
- If you have a problem with a minicab driver remember the car's
make and number and report it to police.
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Marshalled taxi rank at Liverpool Street
station
Get home safely after a night out in the City by using the
marshalled taxi rank based at Liverpool Street station.
Funded by the City of London Safer City Partnership and supported
by Transport for London and City of London
Police.
It aims to help workers and visitors in the City get home
safely. Many people were finding it difficult to get a taxi
home due to a trend among taxi drivers to only take passengers
whose destination was on the driver's way home. It meant that
passengers were being turned away - particularly those trying to go
elsewhere within central London.
The Safer City Partnership employs two marshals - both of whom
are licensed taxi drivers - to manage the taxi rank near Liverpool
Street Station (at Great Eastern Hotel). They manage the taxi
rank from 10pm until 2am on Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday nights, supported by officers from City of London
Police. Any black cab can then join the queue for fares, but
only if they agree to take the passenger wherever they want to
go.
It has proven very successful with thousands of people taking
advantage of the scheme. Taxi drivers have also benefited,
previously they said they had avoided Liverpool Street as it was
difficult to get parked. With the introduction of the marshals
that has now changed and there's the added benefit of the marshals
being on hand to assist with drunk- would-be passengers as
well.
Assistant Commissioner Frank Armstrong, City of London Police,
said:
' The City of London Police is constantly working to make sure
that members of the public are able to travel safely to and from
the City.
' The taxi marshalling scheme helps ensure that people are taking
licensed cabs, from a safe area outside Liverpool Street
station.
'Overall I am very keen that wherever you travel in London you are
safe.'
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Safe and Confident
Cycling
The City of London promotes safe, confident cycling
and recognises that cyclists have the same rights as motorists on
our streets. Equally, cyclists share the responsibility of all road
users to adhere to traffic laws and to show consideration to
others.
There is more to safe cycling than helmets and
hi-visibility jackets. Good positioning, awareness and
communication are essential for safe cycling. The City promotes
Cycle Training to help cyclists to develop these skills.
Positioning:
-
Ride away from the kerb, not in the gutter and
keep well away from parked cars. Drivers tend to leave you the same
room on your right as you leave for yourself on your
left
-
Ride in the stream of traffic when you can match
its speed, or when you need to avoid car doors or are passing side
roads
-
At junctions position yourself in the middle of
the traffic lane, whichever direction you are taking
-
When approaching a side road on the left make
sure that you are not positioned on the inside of a vehicle that
may turn across your path.
Awareness:
-
Think ahead and anticipate the movements of other
traffic, especially at junctions and side roads
-
Be alert to where other road users may come
from-in particular look out for pedestrians who may step into the
road
-
Make sure you are aware of what is happening all
around, including behind you-always look back before changing
position on the road, even for small manoeuvres.
Communication:
-
Use road positioning, hand signals and eye
contact to communicate your intentions to other road
users
-
Looking behind you makes drivers see that you are
aware of them and also indicates to them that you might be about to
change position
-
Look behind before signalling.
Equipment:
-
Make sure your bike is well maintained with
regular servicing
-
Check your brakes regularly and keep your tyres
inflated to the correct pressure
-
You must have front and rear lights for cycling
at dusk and at night and at any time or location where visibility
is poor
-
If you wear a helmet, make sure that it is fitted
correctly. A helmet should fit snugly around the head, be
horizontal and cover the forehead. The straps should be done up
tightly around the chin.
Adult Cycle Training
The City of London provides subsidised adult cycle
training to all those who live, work or study in the Square Mile.
One-to-one training is offered for all levels, including those who
have never ridden a bike before, and can be arranged to take place
near the workplace, home, along the route from home to work or at
any convenient location.
For more information or to book a lesson call Cycle
Training UK on 020 7231 6005 quoting your City postcode, or visit
www.cycletraining.co.uk/.
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