Fifty Plus (50+) - Don't cyclists signal anymore?

Am I just a curmudgeon, or what? I typically signal my turning intentions with an arm pointing where I'm about to go. I've noticed that few cyclists around here bother to signal. It is so uncool to signal? By the way, I use my right arm to signal a right turn, as opposed to the old bent left arm which people used to use in their automobiles way back when, since their right arm wouldn't stick out the window.

You folks signal?

Signal?? Most cyclists around here can't even be bothered to stop, ride with traffic, use lights, etc, etc, etc. (end of rant) Not to sound high and mighty or whatever, but I as a rule do all of the above. It may not be the cool thing to do, but "better Fred than dead".

Scott P
Bend, OR

I always signal unless I'm absolutely took a good long look over my shoulder sure no one's around. Actually, even then....ya start getting selective you might make the wrong selection at the wrong time.

Definitely right arm for right turn....I assume most drivers would think I was waving at somebody if I did the left arm in the air thing. Well, the 10% who actually noticed I'd done anything would assume that.

Then again I have to admit to not really noticing what other cyclists are doing. So there.

Yeah, I signal. Right arm for right turns too. I also point out road debris, potholes and other dangers to anyone riding behind me.

I'm curious, no joke, what's the difference between a pothole and a chuckhole?

Chuckhole x Pothole = Pie.hole

I sit up straight so I can be seen better and signal with the arm on the side I am turning. I wondered about the left arm bent signal but I think the right arm straight out is more visible. I haven't really noticed what other cyclists do. Oh, and I never heard of a chuck hole. Maybe from the old days when there might be a wood chuck hole in a dirt road, but I don't know what a wood chuck is either.

I've noticed that few cyclists around here bother to signal.

They signal. It's just not a signal that you see listed in the driver's license manual.

They signal. It's just not a signal that you see listed in the driver's license manual.

Care to elaborate?

Care to elaborate?

I wave. Drivers who are polite and smile and leave a comfortable amount of space when they pass get a full five finger wave. Some get less.

Ah, I should have guessed, it's kind of a colloquialism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pothole

No.

You sure? :D

As often as I can. Much less than I did in California. The reason being that the roads are narrow, potholed and hilly. Avoiding getting run over and maintaining control come first and if I have time, I signal.

I take pride in a nice well excuted signal. I use the driver's manual signals. That's what motorists expect. It's also easier to do all signals with a single arm. Less thinking needed.

They signal. It's just not a signal that you see listed in the driver's license manual.
I've pretty much given up using that signal. These days it could cost me my life.:eek:
It was fun while it lasted. :o

You sure? :D

You're right. I revised my answer.

You're right. I revised my answer.

Ah! Now I get it. Sometimes I can be a little slow... :D

Cyclists are just following the examples of motorists... around here you'd think turn signals were an expensive option... they are used so infrequently.

Am I just a curmudgeon, or what?

It's not an either/or proposition. You are both a "curmudgeon" and a "what."

I signaled right turns with my left hand, but the drivers I was approaching thought I was telling them to move back. I signal with my right turns with my right arm now and there does not seem to be the same confusion. No one seems to know what the "L" signal means anymore.

If there is somebody to signal for, I do signal. Put either arm out and kind of wave hand only. Think that may attract more attention. Just me doing my part to be seen and understood where I'm going as opposed to being run over. The PA Bikers manual does say using right arm for right turn is quite acceptable. It's also an obvious signal, I doubt most drivers today have a clue what the old, for auto only, right turn signal is. Heck most don't seem to know what the turn signal lever is for.

["Signal?? Most cyclists around here can't even be bothered to stop, ride with traffic, use lights, etc, etc, etc. (end of rant) Not to sound high and mighty or whatever, but I as a rule do all of the above. It may not be the cool thing to do, but "better Fred than dead".

Scott P
Bend, OR[/QUOTE]

+1
I signal, check over my shoulder, make eye contact - whatever it takes- I want everyone to know what I am about to do!

(My pet peeve is bikers riding the wrong way down narrow one way streets.)

. Oh, and I never heard of a chuck hole. Maybe from the old days when there might be a wood chuck hole in a dirt road, but I don't know what a wood chuck is either.

Right. In Indiana, holes in the surface of the roadway are all made by woodchucks (who are trying to avoid being run over by cyclists), except we call them groundhogs. So, you might hear a grizzled Hoosier ask "Do you think Bobby Knight will come back to IU, and how about those groundhog holes on State Road 144?"

I signal most of the time. I only use my left hand for signaling. Mostly because of habit.

I also have a reflective band over my left-hand glove so my signal can be seen at night.

The peace sign hand signal.Hows that for a retro-geezer hand signal?
We all used it back in the day.

As often as I can. Much less than I did in California. The reason being that the roads are narrow, potholed and hilly. Avoiding getting run over and maintaining control come first and if I have time, I signal.

I take pride in a nice well excuted signal. I use the driver's manual signals. That's what motorists expect. It's also easier to do all signals with a single arm. Less thinking needed.


Colorado passed a law a couple of years ago.

Signalling a right turn with your right hand pointing is now the legal way for a bicyclist to signal a right turn.

I signal if there's someone in the vicinity to see it. I use right arm for right turn signal.

I like the idea of the reflective band over the glove for signaling after dark. I wear reflective bands around my ankles after dark.

Pothole... hole in pavement about the size of an old timey pot. Chuckhole... hole in the pavement about the size of the chuck wagon:eek:

I signaled right turns with my left hand, but the drivers I was approaching thought I was telling them to move back. I signal with my right turns with my right arm now and there does not seem to be the same confusion. No one seems to know what the "L" signal means anymore.

Thanks for your comments. I have been using the "L" and drivers don't know what to do with it.
Will try the right arm and see if it works better.

I try to behave like any other vehicle on the road. I signal, I stop where appropriate.

Because of the narrowness of my vehicle I use only 3 signals.

Left arm straight out finger pointing for left turn
Right arm straight out finger pointing for right turn
Right arm straight up finger pointing

Yes I signal by pointing where I am heading with either my left or right arm and I also sit up so I can be seen better. Its the drivers who I find don't bother to use their signals much around here.

I have trouble signaling while braking, particularly on a steep descent. I try to signal in advance, then keep both hands on the bars while slowing or while negotiating a turn. When bicycling, I have never signaled a right turn with the left arm -- that's for motorists, and only for the obvious reason of visibility to others.

May have different signals in use over here- But I want other road users to know my intentions. Left and right turns are the only ones I use but On the backroads we try to assist drivers by letting them know if it is safe for them to pass or not.

Now I know some of you ride in groups- but the one thing I cannot understand roadies with - is when they point to the ground with their right or left appendage- Arm Or Leg. Haven't they got a voice to say-"Hole in the road" or "Brick in the road". Doesn't matter to me whether it is a lump or a hole as I would bunny hop either (MTB Experience) But as soon as they point down to the ground- I start thinking "What the hell are they doing" And then it is too late.

Cyclists are just following the examples of motorists... around here you'd think turn signals were an expensive option... they are used so infrequently.

...and here I thought they were just too complicated for most folks. ;)

Scott P
Bend, OR

I always signal, and use my right arrm to signal right turn. On Jan 1, IL made it legal the use either arm to signal right turn.

My gloves have reflective stripes and I pack reflective ankle bands (and bike lights) if I expect to be out after dusk. But I don't really ride that much after dark.

My wife has recently taken to signalling straight ahead at intersections when there is oncoming traffic queued up to make a left turn in front of us, or cars on the cross street that look like they might make a right turn on red into our path.

As she enters the intersection, she raises her hand over head and brings it sharply down, pointing straight forward ... waives it a couple times like she's leading a cavalry charge. The movement seems to get the attention of the potential turners.

Now I know some of you ride in groups- but the one thing I cannot understand roadies with - is when they point to the ground with their right or left appendage- Arm Or Leg. Haven't they got a voice to say-"Hole in the road" or "Brick in the road". Doesn't matter to me whether it is a lump or a hole as I would bunny hop either (MTB Experience) But as soon as they point down to the ground- I start thinking "What the hell are they doing" And then it is too late.
Group rides that I'm on are usually going too fast for voice communication. Ya know, with wind noise and all. :p


Yeah...right!:rolleyes::D

I do. And I help other people who do, too...

http://www.cicle.org/

I like the idea of the "straight ahead" signal that Recycles' wife uses. I go throgh a couple of 4 way stops and sometimes one of them is a little busy. I always stop and try to take my turn like everyone else. Most of the time cars will wave me through, maybe because they are not sure which way I am going if I am going straight. I also wave people around me sometimes when I am on a 30mph road and they just follow me even when they can safely pass. I think they are being polite, but I would rather they go on around. There are many elderly drivers around here and I would rather be behind them.

There are many elderly drivers around here and I would rather be behind them.

Errr!:rolleyes:

I NEVER signal when riding our tandem, that's the stoker's job!
Do signal on my single bike

Around here cyclists seem to signal if they want a driver to do something (not turn in front of them, not run over them, wait while they turn, etc.) As for pedestrians or other cyclists - nope. Nothing. Most of them just barrel on through.