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the importance of the "slow" hand-signal

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View Poll Results: How often do you use the "slow" hand signal"
I use a mirror and I often use the "slow" hand signal.
13
24.07%
I don't use a mirror but I often use the "slow" hand signal.
10
18.52%
I use a mirror but I rarely if ever use the "slow" hand signal.
10
18.52%
I don't use a mirror and I rarely if ever use the "slow" hand signal.
21
38.89%
Voters: 54. You may not vote on this poll

the importance of the "slow" hand-signal

Old 06-29-06, 11:05 AM
  #26  
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For those of you who selected, I use a mirror but I rarely if ever use the "slow" hand signal. (4, or about 15%, so far), I have a few questions:
  1. Have you ever tried using the slow signal to communicate "back off" or "I know you're there", etc., to motorists behind you? See post #25 and the OP for more ideas.
  2. Would you consider giving it a shot a few times per ride for a week or so, and report your experience back to us here?
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Old 06-29-06, 11:17 AM
  #27  
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I guess I do it wrong. I don't use the signal (usually) to indicate that I'm slowing down. I use it to communicate that I would appreciate i if traffic behind me would slow down, usually so I can merge left to make a turn or avoid an obstacle. Does anybody else do this?

EDIT: Sorry I didn't see this when I posted:

Originally Posted by HelmetHead
I don't think I ever use the slow signal to indicate I'm slowing down. I use it more like when I tap the brake pedal in my car to cause the brake lights to flash to get a tailgater to back off.
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Old 06-29-06, 11:18 AM
  #28  
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i would think issuing the slow signal to only indicate 'i'm not unpredictable' is pretty much that, exactly. Unpredictability.

and it's like tapping the brakes? ...... wondering how all this weaves togther in the machinations of your macadam imaginings, helmet head.

the one that started the thread... he's a little confused.
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Old 06-29-06, 11:24 AM
  #29  
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Anybody remember that song "I need a lover with a slow hand"? I think it was Maria Muldaur?
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Old 06-29-06, 11:33 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by Bekologist
i would think issuing the slow signal to only indicate 'i'm not unpredictable' is pretty much that, exactly. Unpredictability.
You might consider not just thinking about it, Mr. Beck, and actually trying it, and see whether it works for you the way it works for everyone else who actually uses it (see Roody, OP, and others who do it, not just me) before you criticize it. I know that's not your normal approach, but you might try it for once...
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Old 06-29-06, 10:58 PM
  #31  
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bwaughhahahaha!!!!

how does the signal that doesn't indicate anything work again?


is this 'signalling' to show the cagers you are wise to their car driving tricks?

keep the 'unpredictability factor' nice and high?

pull a fakey signal, keep 'em guessing???

Last edited by Bekologist; 06-29-06 at 11:55 PM.
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Old 06-29-06, 11:00 PM
  #32  
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it works nearly every time. giving direct instructions with not option to ignore gets response.
but be careful ,it is addictive and can be abused
al
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Old 06-30-06, 12:00 AM
  #33  
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hey, I'm waving my hands, pointing directionals, and wiggling my fingers for lane clearance like i was a compulsive tickler at a pajama party, and i think signalling when you AREN'T going to require or do something is a bit unpredictable.

signalling when you don't mean to slow, and not signalling when you actually do, is the contradictory report that seems to be coming from the RV driving, armchair bicycling original poster.

Last edited by Bekologist; 06-30-06 at 12:13 AM.
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Old 06-30-06, 12:10 AM
  #34  
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Personally (and this is just me being my cRaZy self), if I were looking to exhibit predictably (which I generally am), one thing I would not do (and generally don't) is ride down the center of the lane and then duck out of the way when cars come within X number of seconds from me. There's a name for that, now what was it again...

Like I said... cRaZy me.
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Old 06-30-06, 06:25 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by mechBgon
If I were looking to exhibit predictably (which I generally am), one thing I would not do (and generally don't) is ride down the center of the lane and then duck out of the way when cars come within X number of seconds from me. There's a name for that, now what was it again...
Wacky.
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Old 06-30-06, 01:24 PM
  #36  
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rarely if ever for me.

only time i use it is when some patiant driver is stuck behind me. Basically ill move over use the signal then motion them past. In these cases i know he or she will be passing close so it dont bother me long as they go slow.
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Old 06-30-06, 01:55 PM
  #37  
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So, the preconceived notion that I was testing in this poll was to confirm my belief that there is a correlation between mirror use and slow signal use. Apparently, there is.

Of those that use a mirror (17), 58% (10) say they "often" use a slow signal.
Of those that don't use mirror (25), only 28% (7) say they "often" use a slow signal.
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Old 06-30-06, 03:51 PM
  #38  
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Is the 'slow hand signal' for motorists or other cyclists?

I really don't think any motorist is going to follow my cue to slow down, they're going to do what they want and I'm getting out of the way as fast as I can. For other cyclists that I'm riding with, I'm always pointing at upcomming obstacles in the road as we approach them, or pointing with a finger which way we have to turn. I never use the right angle elbow bend signals unless my junker car is acting up again.

Use a mirror? .... nope.

jw
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Old 06-30-06, 04:11 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by John Wilke
I really don't think any motorist is going to follow my cue to slow down,
Why would they follow my cue every single time without exception I use the slow hand signal, but wouldn't for you?

Besides, since you don't use a mirror, you don't have a very effective way to find out if they're following your cue or not.

Until I got a mirror and started using the slow hand signal, I would never have believed how effective it was either.
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Old 06-30-06, 04:37 PM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by silversmith
sbhikes,

Do you think people don't notice you because of your low position? Your avatar makes your ride look very low-profile.
I ride three types of bikes:
Mountain bike
Trike
Regular recumbent

I'm noticed more on the trike and given more clearance. I do have to give signals to people about equally on each. (have to means to tell them not to do something vs. just regular ordinary signaling)
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Old 06-30-06, 05:28 PM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by John Wilke
Is the 'slow hand signal' for motorists or other cyclists?

I really don't think any motorist is going to follow my cue to slow down, they're going to do what they want and I'm getting out of the way as fast as I can.
It could be useful if you want to pass back an "on guard, people, something's goin' down ahead" type of signal. Example: I was heading south on Regal in a line of cars at probably 25mph and accelerating (obligatory "400 watts!" comment here ), and was able to see up the right side of the line of cars ahead of me. The lead car hit its brakes. I gave a slow/stop signal and froze my pedal stroke to give the person behind me an early heads-up that hey, the line's slowing down, cover your brakes, folks, while scrubbing some speed with my rear brake. I do the same thing in my car, I'll drag my brake just to "pass back" a heads-up to the people behind me, if it looks like it would help.
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Old 07-01-06, 03:43 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by Helmet Head
I don't think I ever use the slow signal to indicate I'm slowing down. I use it more like when I tap the brake pedal in my car to cause the brake lights to flash to get a tailgater to back off.

Motorists are often uncertain what to do when they encounter a cyclist up ahead in their lane. Given the unpredictable behavior of many cyclists, they get nervous. A slow signal is a very useful way to quickly and efficiently communicate all of the following:
  • I know you're behind me.
  • I know what I'm doing.
  • I'm not unpredictable.
  • At least for the moment, I'm not getting out of your way.
  • When it's safe and reasonable to pass me, I'll let you know.
  • You don't need to be nervous.
  • Back off (if you're too close).

I would be oblivious to the usefulness of the ability of the slow signal to be able to accomplish all that if I did not use a mirror.
I agree with all of this, except the last sentence. Yes, a mirror is helpful, and I use one. But most of the time when I use the slow signal (or almost any signal for that matter), I also turn my head, if only briefly. This makes the driver more likely to notice and heed the signal (and communicates that I'm aware of his/her presence, not just slowing down obliviously), and gives me some feedback on whether my signal was understood. So I imagine I could accomplish almost the same thing without a mirror. The mirror just makes it a bit easier to monitor the traffic behind me.

If my trigonometry is not mistaken, a straight arm at a 45-degree angle will stick out further to the left (albeit lower and perhaps less visibly) than the right-angle, across-and-down signal that HH uses. Plus it strikes me as more appropriate, because it has less of a literal association with the meaning, "I'm slowing down". I most often use it on narrow two-lane city roads with parallel-parked cars on each side, where an impatient driver is behind me and I'm looking for an opportunity to move right (into a long enough gap between parked cars) and allow the driver to pass (rather than incite his anger and let him hassle/tailgate me until the next and possibly unsafe opportunity to pass). So my meaning is, "Hold your horses, I'll let you pass me in a second." Then when I move over, I wave the driver to pass. I may have a right to stay my course and hold him up, but in such cases we'd both prefer him to be in front of me, so I'll do what I can to accomodate that safely and courteously. Plus he probably believes I don't have a right to be there -- thus he believes himself justifiably angry -- and nothing I say is likely to change that belief/attitude. (I used the male pronoun only for convenience; female drivers can be equally impatient and ignorant.)
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Old 07-01-06, 03:47 PM
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I wonder if anyone has ever ridden, or seen anyone riding, a bicycle with a brake light and turn signal lights. Preferably, the brake light could be activated either automatically by braking, or with a separate lever.
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Old 07-01-06, 05:41 PM
  #44  
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Originally Posted by marcm
I wonder if anyone has ever ridden, or seen anyone riding, a bicycle with a brake light and turn signal lights. Preferably, the brake light could be activated either automatically by braking, or with a separate lever.
It's been done. Check this out: https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=.

Problems:

1) if a cyclist wants electrically-powered brake/turn signals that are visible in full sunlight, it's going to take some serious lights like my Nova or something similar. Not cutesy-pie rinky-dink little lights like I see people posting pics of occasionally.

2) for turn signals to be comprehensible on a narrow vehicle from anything but point-blank range, a strong red running light is needed to show the vehicle's centerline, so people can tell if the amber turn signal is on the left or right of the vehicle. Otherwise, wow, a flashing amber light that doesn't mean anything.

Also, the lights need enough separation that they don't just blend into eachother... some of the sporty motorcycles today are an example of how NOT to do it, since the whole rear light is only about 6 inches wide and incorporates brake + turn signals. Not everyone wants to go around with light struts protruding from their bike

3) the cyclist needs signals that are visible from the front, not just the rear. So that means a headlight as a centerline reference, and front turn-signal lights too.


Back towards the thread topic: A person who wanted a fairly serious brake/running light could get a typical round or oval LED truck brake/turn light, buy that little Nashbar brake light just for the trigger switch, and then wire the switch to the truck light. The truck lights have a running-light mode and then the full-output braking mode. www.superbrightleds.com, www.led-r-us.com, https://www.4statetrucks.com are some sources for truck lights.
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