Got A Compliment From A Motorist Today...
#1
20+mph Commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Greenville. SC USA
Posts: 7,517
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1434 Post(s)
Liked 331 Times
in
219 Posts
Got A Compliment From A Motorist Today...
...and anybody who has been on BF for over 5 years should get a good laugh out of this.
I was riding to work this morning in a light drizzle, knowing I was going to be late but not a problem, just putting along at 17-19mph in a painted bike lane on Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans. Traffic was slower than usual and I was keeping up for the most part. First red light I caught was at Broad (4-Lane artery) and cross traffic was heavy enough to make me just put a foot down and wait for a green - something I am OK with so long as I have someplace to be (painted bike lane) when the light changes.
While I stopped there a woman driving a Jeep pulls up next to me on my right and says: "You are a great biker! Thank you!" without a hint of sarcasm. Not sure why. I was running a super bright daytime flasher in the rear so she likely saw me a long way off, and I stopped for the red light BEHIND the white stripe where no motorist ever stops at NOLA intersections. I have no memory of anything special going on the last minute before the stop.
Then, before she makes her right-on-red she says to me: "Now if some of these drivers would just give a turn signal...." because she waited longer than she had to due to a bunch of turning traffic on the cross street not signaling their turns.
The kudo really tickled me. If only she knew!
I was riding to work this morning in a light drizzle, knowing I was going to be late but not a problem, just putting along at 17-19mph in a painted bike lane on Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans. Traffic was slower than usual and I was keeping up for the most part. First red light I caught was at Broad (4-Lane artery) and cross traffic was heavy enough to make me just put a foot down and wait for a green - something I am OK with so long as I have someplace to be (painted bike lane) when the light changes.
While I stopped there a woman driving a Jeep pulls up next to me on my right and says: "You are a great biker! Thank you!" without a hint of sarcasm. Not sure why. I was running a super bright daytime flasher in the rear so she likely saw me a long way off, and I stopped for the red light BEHIND the white stripe where no motorist ever stops at NOLA intersections. I have no memory of anything special going on the last minute before the stop.
Then, before she makes her right-on-red she says to me: "Now if some of these drivers would just give a turn signal...." because she waited longer than she had to due to a bunch of turning traffic on the cross street not signaling their turns.
The kudo really tickled me. If only she knew!
Last edited by JoeyBike; 08-03-17 at 11:13 AM.
#2
Arizona Dessert
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AZ
Posts: 15,030
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5345 Post(s)
Liked 2,169 Times
in
1,288 Posts
I have had about half a dozen compliments from motorists over the past decade during my cycle commute. Some for my signaling, some for my bright jersey, some for my athletics, some for my regularity... I've also twice had motorists pull up next to me to offer a cold drink.
#3
Standard Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Posts: 4,268
Bikes: 1948 P. Barnard & Son, 1962 Rudge Sports, 1963 Freddie Grubb Routier, 1980 Manufrance Hirondelle, 1983 F. Moser Sprint, 1989 Raleigh Technium Pre, 2001 Raleigh M80
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1297 Post(s)
Liked 940 Times
in
490 Posts
It sounds as though you ride courteously. This is always appreciated by drivers, whether they tell you or not. It's nice to be appreciated.
__________________
Unless you climb the rungs strategically, you’re not going to build the muscle you need to stay at the top.
Unless you climb the rungs strategically, you’re not going to build the muscle you need to stay at the top.
#5
20+mph Commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Greenville. SC USA
Posts: 7,517
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1434 Post(s)
Liked 331 Times
in
219 Posts
Last edited by JoeyBike; 08-03-17 at 03:34 PM.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,237
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18413 Post(s)
Liked 15,536 Times
in
7,328 Posts
Did you ask for her digits?
#8
Standard Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Posts: 4,268
Bikes: 1948 P. Barnard & Son, 1962 Rudge Sports, 1963 Freddie Grubb Routier, 1980 Manufrance Hirondelle, 1983 F. Moser Sprint, 1989 Raleigh Technium Pre, 2001 Raleigh M80
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1297 Post(s)
Liked 940 Times
in
490 Posts
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
obviously never saw your videos. was she cute?
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,237
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18413 Post(s)
Liked 15,536 Times
in
7,328 Posts
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: New Jersry the beautiful Garden State
Posts: 1,920
Bikes: 2007 Ridley Excalibur, 2003 Orbea Orca, 199? Cannondale Headshock MTB hardtail
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 520 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
I've not received a compliment yet. But do get some feedback on stuff like my rear tail light. A motorist that pulled along side me today commented an how bright and easy to see the tail light was. A cyclist earlier in the year mentioned that the same light bugged him a little and to try another setting. So you can't keep 'em all happy now, can you? I'm just glad that the tail light is bright and works. Can't be too bright, IMO. Cyclists following me be damned...
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Brisbane Aust
Posts: 1,643
Bikes: Giant ToughRoad Giant talon
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 705 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
I have had about half a dozen compliments from motorists over the past decade during my cycle commute. Some for my signaling, some for my bright jersey, some for my athletics, some for my regularity... I've also twice had motorists pull up next to me to offer a cold drink.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bogydave
General Cycling Discussion
32
03-22-18 09:39 AM
TwoFourOne
Advocacy & Safety
15
08-10-13 09:13 AM