Advocacy & Safety - acknowledgeing polite drivers

On the fairly rare occations that a driver slows behind you so they can then turn off to the right after you have cleared their way. They are behind, so eye contact and a nod is out. I generaly just wave my arm around in a, well, wave and hope that they get it, and don't think its the bird.
This happens so seldom that its not a real issue, but I wondered if anyone else ever does something like this.

I like to give friendly waves.

I try and wave whenever someone passes me with plenty of room or waits behind me for a safe spot to pass.

I do it a lot. Most drivers give the few bikes around here plenty of room.

I enjoy giving a friendly wave.

friendly wave or even a friendly little "tip o the hat" salute. Usually the accompanying smile is also enough to convey the message.

I try and wave whenever someone passes me with plenty of room or waits behind me for a safe spot to pass.

Same here, though it's more of an upraised arm salute. Since I wear a rearview mirror I try to give it in anticipation of the driver's move so he sees it, otherwise just after he passes and presumably has me in his rearview mirror to make sure he clears. I call it the Bicyclist's Blessing.

(The Bicyclist's Curse is to repeatedly jab my index finger towards the offending driver, while shouting, "You, You, You." I give out a few blessings a day, a curse once every couple weeks.) :D

I enjoy giving a friendly wave.


I do it a lot. Most drivers give the few bikes around here plenty of room.

^ yip

Let's get something straight...

The "Friendly Wave" is neither "friendly" nor a "wave".
It's simply the time tested wisdom that sarcasm is far and away more satisfying than frustrated gestures.

And if properly executed, it can either disarm or frustrate the "wavee".
In either case it's a win.

I wave sometimes. Although, I usually just stand up and try to go at least a little bit faster. I know it only makes a couple seconds difference, if that, but I figure this would be more appreciated by the drivers than just a wave. I sometimes worry that they'll mistake it as a 'race to the intersection' though.

Be careful, because sometimes a driver behind you might interpret your wave as a rude gesture. I waved to a nice trucker who gave me plenty of room when he passed and the semi driver behind me thought I was flipping the bird and promptly tried to run me off the road.

The best gesture of thanks that I can give someone who waits for me to clear before they turn is to HURRY UP AND GET OUT OF THEIR WAY!

Isnt it almost kind of messed up that you feel motivated to give thanks to drivers who are just obeying the law and doing what makes sense instead of being a jackass? Ive felt the same motivation though.

At times I almost think this might be a little counter productive, like the driver will interpret your thanks for proper behavior as thanks for a special favor, a favor that they might not choose to "give" you next time around. Maybe thats just some sour grapes.

I often give a friendly wave to motorists just as they start to overtake me after they had to wait for a safe chance to pass.


Isnt it almost kind of messed up that you feel motivated to give thanks to drivers who are just obeying the law and doing what makes sense instead of being a jackass? Ive felt the same motivation though.

At times I almost think this might be a little counter productive, like the driver will interpret your thanks for proper behavior as thanks for a special favor, a favor that they might not choose to "give" you next time around. Maybe that's just some sour grapes.

I have sometimes thought the same thing, but most of my miles are on the work commute, where I am guaranteed to see the same people every day. Some now will wave back or give a friendly toot toot. It seems to bring goodwill.

On the fairly rare occations that a driver slows behind you so they can then turn off to the right after you have cleared their way. They are behind, so eye contact and a nod is out. I generaly just wave my arm around in a, well, wave and hope that they get it, and don't think its the bird.
This happens so seldom that its not a real issue, but I wondered if anyone else ever does something like this.

A "thumbs up", perhaps?

On the fairly rare occations that a driver slows behind you so they can then turn off to the right after you have cleared their way. They are behind, so eye contact and a nod is out. I generaly just wave my arm around in a, well, wave and hope that they get it, and don't think its the bird.
This happens so seldom that its not a real issue, but I wondered if anyone else ever does something like this.

Sadly, it seems like most of the time when I encounter a friendly motorist it's at an intersection. In which case I will wave and thank them for allowing me to pass through the intersection.

a friendly wave and if they are stopped at an intersection near me and i pull up i mouth "thank you" and wave

If someone gives me the right of way in a helpful manner, I'll wave. The same as I would if I were driving.

On the fairly rare occasions that a driver slows behind you so they can then turn off to the right after you have cleared their way. They are behind, so eye contact and a nod is out. I generaly just wave my arm around in a, well, wave and hope that they get it, and don't think its the bird.
This happens so seldom that its not a real issue, but I wondered if anyone else ever does something like this.



On the VERY FREQUENT OCCASIONS when motorists veer several feet to the left as they pass me, even though I am well inside the shoulder/bike lane and would be in no material danger even if they stayed where they were, I never fail to marvel at the courtesy of the vast majority of drivers. If i didn't have to keep my hands on my bars and shifters, I'd give em all a thumbs up, which I what I do if the courtesy borders on the bizarre.

Whenever people whine about having to wait out a light or be careful of a right hook, or whatever, I always remember the courtesies shown me and figure, under those circumstances, I am merely repaying the kindness shown to me on the roadway.


roughstuff

Yes.

My friendly-wave-to-flip-off ratio must be about 100-1.

I'd like to further reduce it.

Whenever people whine about having to wait out a light or be careful of a right hook, or whatever, I always remember the courtesies shown me and figure, under those circumstances, I am merely repaying the kindness shown to me on the roadway.


roughstuff

I was not insinuating that I am constantly getting right hooked, nor whining about the fairly rare times it happens. Rather I was asking about how folks express appreciation for the equaly rare times when a car waits, rare because of the average amount of times a car happens to be coming up on their turn at the moment that a cyclists is in thier way.
Thanks for all the responses, like drivers on the road, many were kind and helpfull. And roughstuff does have a point. many drivers will go out of their way to be polite.

i love the shaka. anybody in the mainland know the shaka?

and i used to "tip my cap" -helmet brim- to nice drivers before moving back to the islands.

I give a thumbs up.

I haven't had any negative encounters with drivers for weeks now; Either the world is a better place or I'm due for one nasty statistical correction.

New UK member - just started to give what I'd call a friendly gesture, rather than a wave, to acknowledge courtesy from drivers. Even if that courtesy is just doing what they should, it helps to reduce stress and makes a connection between 'them' and 'us'. Also, it's a bit like raising children - if you only ever punish, but never praise, they get to grow up crooked!

I give a thumbs up.

I haven't had any negative encounters with drivers for weeks now; Either the world is a better place or I'm due for one nasty statistical correction.

I just had one of those. Riding to the library I had a black pickup/SUV buzz me. I flipped her off, as well as cussed her out. Ironically we were both going to the library, the very first words out of her mouth were "a bike doesn't look like a car." And she kept trying to tell me that I was the one who was wrong even after I informed her of F.S. 316.083 (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=316.083&URL=CH0316/Sec083.HTM)

A friendly wave, small nod, and a smile go a long ways. :)

Give the same friendly smile and wave that you give to the buttheads out there.

I wave to people out of courtesy.

I wave to people out of courtesy.

Last night at about 2100 (9pm for those who can't read the 24hr clock) I was coming home from the Friendship Trail meeting in Tampa. I took the Gandy bridge from St. Pete to Tampa and vise a versa. They are doing some road work on the Tampa side of the bridge. On my return home the road is narrowed for what seemed like at least a 1/4-mile. For lack of a better description I was the lead vehicle out of I don't how many vehicles. Until the road opened back up to two lanes.

I was looking for a safe place to pull over and allow the cars to pass, but sadly there was none. And also fortunately NO ONE blew their horn at me. They all waited patiently for the road to widen and peacefully and safely passed me.