Unkown hand/arm signal from cyclist
Discussion
Hello chaps .
What does a cyclist intend to convey to a motorist, after the motorist has passed him, by extending his right arm fully, at about the four o'clock position, should you be facing him ?
Situation occured yesterday, on a wideish nsl single carrageway road in welsh wales (near Barmouth).
Full boring facts (just in case it's relevant)
Driving my car along a wide-ish nsl "A" road (the type that would have had a suicide lane in days gone by).
Dry & clear conditions, broad daylight, approaching a group of six cyclists travelling two abreast, approach speed circa 60 mph.
At about 100 yards I give a quick "pip" of my horn, the rear outside cyclist immediatley drops in behind the one he'd been cycling next to, the other two outriders stay where they are, (but keep looking behind themselves),second and third pip achieve nothing, three cars plus approaching, I can accelarate and pass the cyclists before I meet the other cars, but that would increase my speed to 80 or 90 mph, apart from the legality (which doesn't worry me much), the speed differential of 70 ish mph isn't something I would aim for.
I could stay at my present speed, straddle the white line, and pass the cyclists without issue, I would have chosen this option if the front two outriding cretins would move over .... as they are supposed to do. Without them moving, again my speed differential (with respect to distance from them), is more than I would desire.
So, I slow to 20 ish mph , wait for the oncoming vehicles to clear, then overtake the cyclists.
As I pull out to overtake, the rear cyclist (the one who'd moved as requested), raised his hand in a gesture I'd take to mean "thankyou", the two outriding cretins put their arms out as I passed .... hence the question.
Many thanks in advance
What does a cyclist intend to convey to a motorist, after the motorist has passed him, by extending his right arm fully, at about the four o'clock position, should you be facing him ?
Situation occured yesterday, on a wideish nsl single carrageway road in welsh wales (near Barmouth).
Full boring facts (just in case it's relevant)
Driving my car along a wide-ish nsl "A" road (the type that would have had a suicide lane in days gone by).
Dry & clear conditions, broad daylight, approaching a group of six cyclists travelling two abreast, approach speed circa 60 mph.
At about 100 yards I give a quick "pip" of my horn, the rear outside cyclist immediatley drops in behind the one he'd been cycling next to, the other two outriders stay where they are, (but keep looking behind themselves),second and third pip achieve nothing, three cars plus approaching, I can accelarate and pass the cyclists before I meet the other cars, but that would increase my speed to 80 or 90 mph, apart from the legality (which doesn't worry me much), the speed differential of 70 ish mph isn't something I would aim for.
I could stay at my present speed, straddle the white line, and pass the cyclists without issue, I would have chosen this option if the front two outriding cretins would move over .... as they are supposed to do. Without them moving, again my speed differential (with respect to distance from them), is more than I would desire.
So, I slow to 20 ish mph , wait for the oncoming vehicles to clear, then overtake the cyclists.
As I pull out to overtake, the rear cyclist (the one who'd moved as requested), raised his hand in a gesture I'd take to mean "thankyou", the two outriding cretins put their arms out as I passed .... hence the question.
Many thanks in advance
If they had all moved to single file on hearing you blast your horn would you have slowed to pass them or blitzed past at 70mph while stradling the white line?
Maybe they use the road a lot and feel it's safer to ride like that than have people squeeze past with dodgy overtaking. Very easy to feel a safe move in a car which feels very dangerous when you're on a bike being passed.
No idea what the arm signal was after you had passed though (assuming you saw in your rear view mirror), maybe signalling rest of the group that all is clear behind again?
It might be a pain to slow to 20mph for a few seconds and wait but much better than endangering someone regardless of if they're a cretin or not. Also, if it's not safe to move fully over to the other side of the road to overtake like you would a slow moving car then it's marginal if it's safe to overtake at all.
Maybe they use the road a lot and feel it's safer to ride like that than have people squeeze past with dodgy overtaking. Very easy to feel a safe move in a car which feels very dangerous when you're on a bike being passed.
No idea what the arm signal was after you had passed though (assuming you saw in your rear view mirror), maybe signalling rest of the group that all is clear behind again?
It might be a pain to slow to 20mph for a few seconds and wait but much better than endangering someone regardless of if they're a cretin or not. Also, if it's not safe to move fully over to the other side of the road to overtake like you would a slow moving car then it's marginal if it's safe to overtake at all.
Nigel Worc's said:
Hello chaps .
What does a cyclist intend to convey to a motorist, after the motorist has passed him, by extending his right arm fully, at about the four o'clock position, should you be facing him ?
Situation occured yesterday, on a wideish nsl single carrageway road in welsh wales (near Barmouth).
Full boring facts (just in case it's relevant)
Driving my car along a wide-ish nsl "A" road (the type that would have had a suicide lane in days gone by).
Dry & clear conditions, broad daylight, approaching a group of six cyclists travelling two abreast, approach speed circa 60 mph.
At about 100 yards I give a quick "pip" of my horn, the rear outside cyclist immediatley drops in behind the one he'd been cycling next to, the other two outriders stay where they are, (but keep looking behind themselves),second and third pip achieve nothing, three cars plus approaching, I can accelarate and pass the cyclists before I meet the other cars, but that would increase my speed to 80 or 90 mph, apart from the legality (which doesn't worry me much), the speed differential of 70 ish mph isn't something I would aim for.
I could stay at my present speed, straddle the white line, and pass the cyclists without issue, I would have chosen this option if the front two outriding cretins would move over .... as they are supposed to do. Without them moving, again my speed differential (with respect to distance from them), is more than I would desire.
So, I slow to 20 ish mph , wait for the oncoming vehicles to clear, then overtake the cyclists.
As I pull out to overtake, the rear cyclist (the one who'd moved as requested), raised his hand in a gesture I'd take to mean "thankyou", the two outriding cretins put their arms out as I passed .... hence the question.
Many thanks in advance
Why do you call them cretins? What does a cyclist intend to convey to a motorist, after the motorist has passed him, by extending his right arm fully, at about the four o'clock position, should you be facing him ?
Situation occured yesterday, on a wideish nsl single carrageway road in welsh wales (near Barmouth).
Full boring facts (just in case it's relevant)
Driving my car along a wide-ish nsl "A" road (the type that would have had a suicide lane in days gone by).
Dry & clear conditions, broad daylight, approaching a group of six cyclists travelling two abreast, approach speed circa 60 mph.
At about 100 yards I give a quick "pip" of my horn, the rear outside cyclist immediatley drops in behind the one he'd been cycling next to, the other two outriders stay where they are, (but keep looking behind themselves),second and third pip achieve nothing, three cars plus approaching, I can accelarate and pass the cyclists before I meet the other cars, but that would increase my speed to 80 or 90 mph, apart from the legality (which doesn't worry me much), the speed differential of 70 ish mph isn't something I would aim for.
I could stay at my present speed, straddle the white line, and pass the cyclists without issue, I would have chosen this option if the front two outriding cretins would move over .... as they are supposed to do. Without them moving, again my speed differential (with respect to distance from them), is more than I would desire.
So, I slow to 20 ish mph , wait for the oncoming vehicles to clear, then overtake the cyclists.
As I pull out to overtake, the rear cyclist (the one who'd moved as requested), raised his hand in a gesture I'd take to mean "thankyou", the two outriding cretins put their arms out as I passed .... hence the question.
Many thanks in advance
anyway...I use a similar gesture usually followed by the w
ker sign to get the attention of dheads who pass within 1 foot of me. Not sure if that applies here because I assume you moved over to the other side of the road as there was no oncoming traffic.The amount of f
kwitts who pass with 1 or 2 feet of you is unbelievable. Its very frightening to get a car passing 60mph only inches from you. It leaves no margin for error on behalf of the cyclist, even very proficient cyclists need to avoid potholes etc. When cycling in a group I would normally go into a single file formation to allow cars to overtake unless however in the rare event of the car blowing the horn, i then let them sit there and wait.
Blowing the horn is very aggressive, you dont need to blow the horn, they will have heard the engine noise.
Maybe you could see the arms but not the fingers and what signal they were giving you. If you sit behind them beeping in order to get them to move over so you can overtake without it being safe to do so (ie on-coming cars and you wanting to squeeze by) then Im sure they were saying choice words as well as just hand signals.
Why did you feel you needed to use your horn at all? Im sure the cyclists had ears and could hear you approaching from a long way off.
Why did you feel you needed to use your horn at all? Im sure the cyclists had ears and could hear you approaching from a long way off.
Nigel Worc's said:
I could stay at my present speed, straddle the white line, and pass the cyclists without issue, I would have chosen this option if the front two outriding cretins would move over .... as they are supposed to do.
Excuse me? Where exactly in the highway code did you glean that nugget of information from? A cyclist is entitled to take up an entire lane, in exactly the same way as a horse or a motorcycle is. It is called riding defensively.Learn a bit of patience, moron
itsnotarace said:
Excuse me? Where exactly in the highway code did you glean that nugget of information from? A cyclist is entitled to take up an entire lane, in exactly the same way as a horse or a motorcycle is. It is called riding defensively.
Learn a bit of patience, moron
Read that bit again and the OP refers to the riders riding in two's side by side and I believe is suggesting they should move into single file when a driver uses there horn.Learn a bit of patience, moron
The piece below is the only thing I can find about the rules when riding two abreast nothing about the use of drivers using the horn, and by the sounds of it the statement is very vague in relation to what constitutes a busy road ?
"never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends"
The Walrus said:
"never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends"
It also precedes that sentence with "you SHOULD" not "you MUST"When common sense dictates that you would be safer forcing overtaking traffic into the oncoming lane then do so, or get clipped as cars squeeze past. It's up to you really.
Short toot(s) of the horn is to notify (make sure as best you can) that someone is aware of your presence, it is still taught in advanced driving cirles, it is not an agresssive use of anything ........ this is PH, I'd have assumed you all knew that.
It really is what your horn is supposed to be there for, like a bell on your bicycles
There was no jesticulating from the cyclists, other than a thankyou hand up from the rear rider, and that arm signal from the two outriders, although it was their right arms, I've missled you into thinking it was their left (rear view mirror).
If they had adopted single file, then I'd have straddled the white line (remember I said the road was wide enough for a suicide lane), and not altered speed, I could still have done that with the outriders, and indeed probably would have if it was a tractor, car, etc, but even though I personally consider cyclists to be an annoyance in the main, I'm not out to cause them distress or worse.
I didn't pull completely onto the opposing carrageway to pass them, even with the outriders, no need by this time, there was very little speed difference, I just straddled the dashed white.
If it was a new(ish) signal of some kind, I was just after learning what it's meant to convey to me.
It really is what your horn is supposed to be there for, like a bell on your bicycles
There was no jesticulating from the cyclists, other than a thankyou hand up from the rear rider, and that arm signal from the two outriders, although it was their right arms, I've missled you into thinking it was their left (rear view mirror).
If they had adopted single file, then I'd have straddled the white line (remember I said the road was wide enough for a suicide lane), and not altered speed, I could still have done that with the outriders, and indeed probably would have if it was a tractor, car, etc, but even though I personally consider cyclists to be an annoyance in the main, I'm not out to cause them distress or worse.
I didn't pull completely onto the opposing carrageway to pass them, even with the outriders, no need by this time, there was very little speed difference, I just straddled the dashed white.
If it was a new(ish) signal of some kind, I was just after learning what it's meant to convey to me.
Nigel Worc's said:
What does a cyclist intend to convey to a motorist, after the motorist has passed him, by extending his right arm fully, at about the four o'clock position, should you be facing him ?
4 o'clock (across their body) or 8 o'clock (towards the center line)?After you passed them or before you passed them?
Could they have been making sure you gave them a bit more space?
Nigel Worc's said:
Short toot(s) of the horn is to notify (make sure as best you can) that someone is aware of your presence, it is still taught in advanced driving cirles, it is not an agresssive use of anything ........ this is PH, I'd have assumed you all knew that.
The cyclists were more aware of their surroundings than you were of yours. They don't need a horn to know you're there, they'll have heard you well before you used it.When people "beep" me while I'm cycling my first thought isn't "oh how helpful!"
ewenm said:
Cyclists in groups often use hand signals to warn riders behind them of potholes/road furniture. Right arm pointing outwards/downwards would indicate an obstacle coming up on the right, most likely a pothole. It's very helpful when your view ahead is restricted by other riders.
What's this one mean..? ----> click
Parrot of Doom said:
The cyclists were more aware of their surroundings than you were of yours. They don't need a horn to know you're there, they'll have heard you well before you used it.
When people "beep" me while I'm cycling my first thought isn't "oh how helpful!"
what he said. I often won't let cars have a go at passing me if it is in a dangerously narrow or otherwise dangerous place, they can blast the horn all they want and I won't appreciate it, nor will I move into a more dangerous position.When people "beep" me while I'm cycling my first thought isn't "oh how helpful!"
It may be that they were pointing something out, it might be that they wanted space. Had it been a dump truck or tractor moving at the same speed but taking up more space on the road, you probably wouldn;t have beeped at it
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