Unkown hand/arm signal from cyclist
Discussion
swerni said:
I disagree with most of the people on here.
If cyclist are riding in groups (which I often do) and they are 2 or 3 abreast, it's important for them to be aware of what is around them. If there is a car behind on of the riders will often shout "car" and everyone goes into single file.
It's about being considerate to other road users.
It helps us all peacefully coexist.
Many thanks, I appreciate sharing the road with cyclists like yourself, and the rear rider of the group on Sunday who not only moved into single file as I approached, but saw fit to thank me as I passed.If cyclist are riding in groups (which I often do) and they are 2 or 3 abreast, it's important for them to be aware of what is around them. If there is a car behind on of the riders will often shout "car" and everyone goes into single file.
It's about being considerate to other road users.
It helps us all peacefully coexist.
The other chap who suggested they may have been signalling a pot hole or other hazard to themselves may well have been correct, I hadn't thought of that.
many thanks for the helpful answers ..... b
ks to the rest of you :-)I find it interesting that you mention advanced driving in the same thread as your describing how you were looking to overtake a group of cretinous cyclists at speed 
I've no idea about the hand signal but it's all about a bit of give/take and some appreciation of what other road users perceive to be safe or acceptable.
I ride a lot and generally pull in for other road users. However I can fully understand why people insist on riding two abreast as it forces cars to slow down to an equivalent speed. It's not cretinous but simply ensuring that 1.5 tonnes of metal at 50/60/70/80mph isn't going to become a life/death situation.
Personally I don't mind a pip of the horn at distance (a few metres away and I'd take it as being agressive) but it generally isn't necessary and I could see how some would take it the wrong way. Perhaps the guy that refused to pull in took offense at your horn pipping?
I agree with the other poster that said we need to coexist with other road users but we also need to understand how our behaviour can have a possible effect on others.
I've no idea about the hand signal but it's all about a bit of give/take and some appreciation of what other road users perceive to be safe or acceptable.
I ride a lot and generally pull in for other road users. However I can fully understand why people insist on riding two abreast as it forces cars to slow down to an equivalent speed. It's not cretinous but simply ensuring that 1.5 tonnes of metal at 50/60/70/80mph isn't going to become a life/death situation.
Personally I don't mind a pip of the horn at distance (a few metres away and I'd take it as being agressive) but it generally isn't necessary and I could see how some would take it the wrong way. Perhaps the guy that refused to pull in took offense at your horn pipping?
I agree with the other poster that said we need to coexist with other road users but we also need to understand how our behaviour can have a possible effect on others.
I blame 'Society'!
The replies on here are quite diverse - as is the nature of living in an over crowded country.
Why the immediate aggression? Why shoot the driver down in flames?
Even I remember the Highway COde re riding two abreast. Common courtesy is all that is required.
Unfortunately, it is not that common.....
The OP/Driver showed a reasonable amount of care and patience - together with manners. I have occasionally 'beeped' cretinous cyclists who have not seemed aware of me - or have given no indication whatsoever which way they intend to go at a junction. It is not rude! 4 seconds of constant horn blowing is rude and aggressive.
WHen out riding (although a novice who has already had a couple of scary moments) I have a mission to be nice and polite. I wave a 'thanks' to people who sit behind my lardy 4rse and wait til it is safe. ON a long fast downhill on SUnday, I indicated out into the middle of the road as that was the safest thing to do. Car behind waits patiently - I would have hardly been slowing him down as quite a steep hill - and then when I felt it was safe to do so, I moved back into the 'gutter' and waved a big thanks. The driver acknowledged my care and gesture with a nod and a wave.
Common Courtesy!!!!! Goes a long way... (Even though I am sure I am in the minority)
ps - I find it embarassing that there have been so many aggressive comments on here already to be honest.
The replies on here are quite diverse - as is the nature of living in an over crowded country.
Why the immediate aggression? Why shoot the driver down in flames?
Even I remember the Highway COde re riding two abreast. Common courtesy is all that is required.
Unfortunately, it is not that common.....
The OP/Driver showed a reasonable amount of care and patience - together with manners. I have occasionally 'beeped' cretinous cyclists who have not seemed aware of me - or have given no indication whatsoever which way they intend to go at a junction. It is not rude! 4 seconds of constant horn blowing is rude and aggressive.
WHen out riding (although a novice who has already had a couple of scary moments) I have a mission to be nice and polite. I wave a 'thanks' to people who sit behind my lardy 4rse and wait til it is safe. ON a long fast downhill on SUnday, I indicated out into the middle of the road as that was the safest thing to do. Car behind waits patiently - I would have hardly been slowing him down as quite a steep hill - and then when I felt it was safe to do so, I moved back into the 'gutter' and waved a big thanks. The driver acknowledged my care and gesture with a nod and a wave.
Common Courtesy!!!!! Goes a long way... (Even though I am sure I am in the minority)
ps - I find it embarassing that there have been so many aggressive comments on here already to be honest.
zebedee said:
I never ride in the gutter. Asking for trouble from potholes, punctures and 'inviting' people to pass you far too close. But then I am not a novice and ride 1000s of miles a year.
Sorry - when I said riding in the 'gutter' the '' was meant to signify left edge of the road. I don't think anyone these days expects cyclists to ride within double yellow lines etc - if you see what I mean? 
(And having ridden motorbikes for a very long time, I know all about defensive positioning and riding - I would like to think so anyway...)
I suspect that they were thanking you for waiting until there was no oncoming traffic until you passed. I always thank drivers who delay a pass to give me more space.
I have to say, I clench pretty hard when a car passes at 60 ish unless they give me a lot of space. Passing at 60 when you are straddling the white line and the interaction between you and the oncoming traffic is unpredictable (to the cyclist at least) is a recipe for scaring the bejesus out of cyclists, IMO. The number of times I've be pushed towards the curb because the overtaking driver has misjudged the approaching speed of the oncoming car are too numerous to recount. A woman did it to me last week at low speed - her excuse was "I thought I could squeeze through".
You may be a safe driver, but I am sure most cyclists' experience of overtakes into oncoming traffic are so bad, "taking the lane" is a better option than risking a high speed flyby.
I have to say, I clench pretty hard when a car passes at 60 ish unless they give me a lot of space. Passing at 60 when you are straddling the white line and the interaction between you and the oncoming traffic is unpredictable (to the cyclist at least) is a recipe for scaring the bejesus out of cyclists, IMO. The number of times I've be pushed towards the curb because the overtaking driver has misjudged the approaching speed of the oncoming car are too numerous to recount. A woman did it to me last week at low speed - her excuse was "I thought I could squeeze through".
You may be a safe driver, but I am sure most cyclists' experience of overtakes into oncoming traffic are so bad, "taking the lane" is a better option than risking a high speed flyby.
NitroNick said:
Blowing the horn is very aggressive, you dont need to blow the horn, they will have heard the engine noise.
to be honest i do most of my riding off road, but there have been times when i have not realised a car was behind me until it is on top of me because of wind direction etc.a little toot of the horn is fine, leaning on it probably not so.
DrMekon said:
The number of times I've be pushed towards the curb because the overtaking driver has misjudged the approaching speed of the oncoming car are too numerous to recount.
Know exactly what you mean. Sounds as though you need to be more assertive with your road position on roads that you know cause a problem if it happening a lot, adopt a 1/3 or middle of lane stance to force them to wait if needed, far safer than cruising the kerb (provided you are plenty visible so don't get driven over of course!) Many will try and squeeze past, but if they have to cross the line and head towards oncoming traffic, they usually think twice and wait.Many motorists think that they have priority and cyclists are obliged to get out of their way, but that simply isn't the case. I thought I would get all kinds of abuse when I started to be more assertive with my road position, but in 3 years have only had about 3 idiots tell me to get to the side of the road, and chances are if I had been riding there one of those 3 would have clipped me trying to pass unsafely.
zebedee said:
DrMekon said:
The number of times I've be pushed towards the curb because the overtaking driver has misjudged the approaching speed of the oncoming car are too numerous to recount.
Know exactly what you mean. Sounds as though you need to be more assertive with your road position on roads that you know cause a problem if it happening a lot, adopt a 1/3 or middle of lane stance to force them to wait if needed, far safer than cruising the kerb (provided you are plenty visible so don't get driven over of course!) Many will try and squeeze past, but if they have to cross the line and head towards oncoming traffic, they usually think twice and wait.Many motorists think that they have priority and cyclists are obliged to get out of their way, but that simply isn't the case. I thought I would get all kinds of abuse when I started to be more assertive with my road position, but in 3 years have only had about 3 idiots tell me to get to the side of the road, and chances are if I had been riding there one of those 3 would have clipped me trying to pass unsafely.
If you get a cretinous driver (of which I have no doubt there are more of than cyclists
) would you let them know what you think? Even if just a knowing exasperated shaking of your head? I would!A few years back a group of us went to the Alps on a cycling holiday. After the first day and getting tooted nearly all day we were all starting to get very short fuses. Anyway in the bar in the evening we found out that its normal to give a toot to cyclists when approaching from behind, after we found this out it didnt bother us.
By the end of the 2 weeks we treated it as the norm, the problem is we dont use it as the norm here and dont expect it, when someone toots me from behind it usually makes me jump which then annoys me. If the whole country did it, it wouldnt be an issue.
By the end of the 2 weeks we treated it as the norm, the problem is we dont use it as the norm here and dont expect it, when someone toots me from behind it usually makes me jump which then annoys me. If the whole country did it, it wouldnt be an issue.
Slaav said:
I may have misjudged one of your posts above but would you, as a matter of habit, thank someone who sits behind until safe to pass? Would you signal that you were staying out of the 'kerb/gutter' and then move back in slightly when safe to do so; and again acknowlege them?
If you get a cretinous driver (of which I have no doubt there are more of than cyclists) would you let them know what you think? Even if just a knowing exasperated shaking of your head? I would!
I don't always thank them no. I do if they have been there a long time or I have had to really take up a dominant position in front of them, but if they are just waiting until safe to pass, that is what they should be doing anyway, so no need to thank them for it! If you get a cretinous driver (of which I have no doubt there are more of than cyclists
) would you let them know what you think? Even if just a knowing exasperated shaking of your head? I would!I don't signal that I am staying out of the kerb as I am usually one or two feet into the road anyway - swerving in and out is a surefire way of being knocked off. I do move right over when someone has been behind for a while round blind bends and the road opens up briefly as if to say "go on then" but I don't wave them past or anything as I don't want to invite them to do something they may not be comfortable with. I do often give a little wave when they come past in those circs, or if I am aware they are being extra cautious.
Cretinous drivers often get a smack on the car if they are heading into me, a hand gesture or two and some bad language, or all of the above depending how bad it is. Always best to keep one's head though, the best is usually just an exasperated "Hello?" or "can't you see me" as you point to the high-viz. And yes, in my days of commuting I have seen probably as many cretinous bits of riding in total as I see every single day from motorists. Can't tar them all with the same brush, but I do think probably 50% of motorists believe a cyclist in front should get out of their way.
Best excuse heard yet when a guy pulled out of a side road and I went into the side of his car? "The van behind you was flashing to let me out." Says so much about the mentality of some, that is what you are up against!
zebedee said:
I don't always thank them no. I do if they have been there a long time or I have had to really take up a dominant position in front of them, but if they are just waiting until safe to pass, that is what they should be doing anyway, so no need to thank them for it!
I don't signal that I am staying out of the kerb as I am usually one or two feet into the road anyway - swerving in and out is a surefire way of being knocked off. I do move right over when someone has been behind for a while round blind bends and the road opens up briefly as if to say "go on then" but I don't wave them past or anything as I don't want to invite them to do something they may not be comfortable with. I do often give a little wave when they come past in those circs, or if I am aware they are being extra cautious.
Cretinous drivers often get a smack on the car if they are heading into me, a hand gesture or two and some bad language, or all of the above depending how bad it is. Always best to keep one's head though, the best is usually just an exasperated "Hello?" or "can't you see me" as you point to the high-viz. And yes, in my days of commuting I have seen probably as many cretinous bits of riding in total as I see every single day from motorists. Can't tar them all with the same brush, but I do think probably 50% of motorists believe a cyclist in front should get out of their way.
Best excuse heard yet when a guy pulled out of a side road and I went into the side of his car? "The van behind you was flashing to let me out." Says so much about the mentality of some, that is what you are up against!
Fair point and it is a sign of the standard of driving that I can whole heartedly believe a driver saying that last bit to you.... Most are absolute retards to be fair!I don't signal that I am staying out of the kerb as I am usually one or two feet into the road anyway - swerving in and out is a surefire way of being knocked off. I do move right over when someone has been behind for a while round blind bends and the road opens up briefly as if to say "go on then" but I don't wave them past or anything as I don't want to invite them to do something they may not be comfortable with. I do often give a little wave when they come past in those circs, or if I am aware they are being extra cautious.
Cretinous drivers often get a smack on the car if they are heading into me, a hand gesture or two and some bad language, or all of the above depending how bad it is. Always best to keep one's head though, the best is usually just an exasperated "Hello?" or "can't you see me" as you point to the high-viz. And yes, in my days of commuting I have seen probably as many cretinous bits of riding in total as I see every single day from motorists. Can't tar them all with the same brush, but I do think probably 50% of motorists believe a cyclist in front should get out of their way.
Best excuse heard yet when a guy pulled out of a side road and I went into the side of his car? "The van behind you was flashing to let me out." Says so much about the mentality of some, that is what you are up against!
Not sure it is 'most', if it was most I wouldn't ride a 40 mile round trip commute. It is a lot though and some of the stuff you see beggars belief. The popular one at the moment seems to be passing and forcing oncoming traffic to swerve or slow down or even stop. The overtaker presumably believes this is merited because "it was only a cyclist". One day, one of those cars coming the other way will be driven by someone changing a radio/satnav or sending a text, and that is when I will be glad of the foot and a half gap I have created for myself on the left...
Fluffsri said:
A few years back a group of us went to the Alps on a cycling holiday. After the first day and getting tooted nearly all day we were all starting to get very short fuses. Anyway in the bar in the evening we found out that its normal to give a toot to cyclists when approaching from behind, after we found this out it didnt bother us.
By the end of the 2 weeks we treated it as the norm, the problem is we dont use it as the norm here and dont expect it, when someone toots me from behind it usually makes me jump which then annoys me. If the whole country did it, it wouldnt be an issue.
A toot is good. When cycling at speed, it's not always possible to hear a car behind because of the wind noise.By the end of the 2 weeks we treated it as the norm, the problem is we dont use it as the norm here and dont expect it, when someone toots me from behind it usually makes me jump which then annoys me. If the whole country did it, it wouldnt be an issue.
When I was cycling a lot I would happily be lumped in with the cretins - if ensuring my safety holds you up for 30 seconds, you are waiting 30 seconds - I don't care who you are or where you are going - but my life _is_ more important.
The two abreast thing is a non argument - you can bleat about common courtesy all you like, but I really couldn't care - if it comes to being polite or being safe then guess which one I'm going for? The majority of drivers will slow and pass the cyclists properly if the are in single file, but there might be 1 in 100 who doesn't slow and just squeezes past - the problem is not knowing when that 1 in 100 will show up - hence forcing everyone to slow down and pass properly. If I was two abreast and someone got on the horn I definatley wouldn't be moving to single file.
I know that comes across as a bit confrontational, but from my experiences, if you don't assert yourself, bad things will happen - in no way am I saying all car drivers are bad, but when on a bike, you need to treat them like they are.
The sad thing is that in the 20,000ish miles I put in on a bike in university, I considered myself lucky to have only been knocked off my bike 3 times (with numerous other close shaves) - can you imagine if someone crashed into your car every 6,000 miles and you considered yourself lucky?
The two abreast thing is a non argument - you can bleat about common courtesy all you like, but I really couldn't care - if it comes to being polite or being safe then guess which one I'm going for? The majority of drivers will slow and pass the cyclists properly if the are in single file, but there might be 1 in 100 who doesn't slow and just squeezes past - the problem is not knowing when that 1 in 100 will show up - hence forcing everyone to slow down and pass properly. If I was two abreast and someone got on the horn I definatley wouldn't be moving to single file.
I know that comes across as a bit confrontational, but from my experiences, if you don't assert yourself, bad things will happen - in no way am I saying all car drivers are bad, but when on a bike, you need to treat them like they are.
The sad thing is that in the 20,000ish miles I put in on a bike in university, I considered myself lucky to have only been knocked off my bike 3 times (with numerous other close shaves) - can you imagine if someone crashed into your car every 6,000 miles and you considered yourself lucky?
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff