General Cycling Discussion - etiquette - acknowledging other riders

A quick search didn't help me find the answer so I thought I'd ask it directly...

When riding on a trail or on a narrow-enough road that you can look at an on-coming riders face, is there a generally accepted acknowledgement that their part of the riding community?

My frame of reference is with motorcycling. In general, any time you have an on-coming rider approaching you it's accepted that you'll drop your left hand off the bar and "waive". It gets a little less certain if you have a sports bike riding toward a Harley as the riders are part of different biking cultures but it still happens and is something you get used to doing.

So far I haven't seemed to experience any consistent acknowledgement and wanted to see if it just isn't part or the culture or perhaps I haven't learned the secret handshake yet.

thanks,

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! The wave thread rears its ugly head already!!??!! This doesn't usually come out till April or so.

Can you do a search on "wave" or does it tell you that "wave" is too common?


Welcome here, and here's the thing:

1) You can wave if you want, but please don't expect waves back. Some cyclists may wave back, but others are focussing on their rides and may not notice you out there.

Don't get upset, don't feel like you've been snubbed, don't think the cyclist is looking down on you. Often newbies think that everyone sees them, everyone is looking at them, but in reality ... quite often other cyclists are thinking about other things, or focussing on something about their rides (heart rates, cadence, technique, road conditions, traffic or whatever). I've been on the road, dodging potholes and paying attention to traffic, and somewhere out of the corner of my eye I have an image that there's another cyclist going by the other way, but there's no time to wave ... and besides, I'm busy. I also won't wave if I'm climbing a hill. When I climb, I focus on climbing, and there's no waving going on.

2) If someone waves back it is usually very subtle ... so subtle that newbies often miss it. If there's a wave, it's usually a teensy nod of the helmet or the lifting of two fingers off the handlebar.

3) Every year we get heaps of this question ... it's kind of like the "Support your LBS or not" question or others that just keep getting asked again and again and again. :D

One thought that comes up is these other cyclists don't wave back because they're too uppity. What I've found is that the guys riding Walmart bikes down the sidewalk at 8 mph, if you wave at them, they're about equally likely to ignore you. So it isn't an uppity thing. It's just that if you and I were the only two cyclists on the planet, we'd wave every time we met, but if we drive cars with 100,000 other people in the same town, we don't.

I noticed in hiking in the past, that when you got about 8 miles from the trailhead, everyone you met was your friend, but down near the trailhead, people wouldn't even say "good morning" to you if you said it to them.

Yes, I did a ride along the Great Ocean Road about a year ago, and it seemed like there were thousands of cyclists out that day. I waved for a while, but then there were just too many of them, and riding along the Great Ocean Road is quite a technical situation that needs focus and attention (potholes, traffic, curvy undulating terrain, etc.) ... so I gave up the waving. Aside from which, the Great Ocean Road also overlooks very beautiful scenery and when I didn't need to pay attention to the technical aspects of the road, I wanted to look at the scenery, not other cyclists.

I wave on my motorcycle, I wave on my bicycle, I even wave to other pedestrians. Many don't wave back but it doesn't stop me from waving. The wave is more than just a wave, it means that we're in this together and if you need any help, I'm here.

I have a bell to ring..

Speaking of etiquette.... What do you do if you ride on a path, and two cyclists approach riding side to side leaving you no space? They clearly feel their conversation is more imortant that somebody else's safety. Is it wrong to kick them as they pass? :D

Well, I haven't done that. Yet. But I so wanted to!

I'm a waver but I don't get too worked up if I don't get a response. But as mentioned above, many (most?) times, my wave is just a finger or 2 off of the hood and/or a nod of acknowledgement.

Speaking of etiquette.... What do you do if you ride on a path, and two cyclists approach riding side to side leaving you no space? They clearly feel their conversation is more imortant that somebody else's safety. Is it wrong to kick them as they pass? :D

Well, I haven't done that. Yet. But I so wanted to!

Yes to the kick. My wife hates when I play that game at the mall when you have a group of people walking side by side and don't move when there taking up 3/4 of a isle oblivious to anyone else who might be walking. I just walk right into them. Years of hockey have taught me how to use my shoulders. Same applies in this situation. If you can Bruce Lee it, go for it. If they turn around pretend your defending the jersey.

As for the wave, who cares. Wave if you want too, not all will wave back. The only time it is odd for is when I am way out on an empty country road that I might ride on 100 times without ever seeing another cyclist. Then when I do come across another rider and they don't acknowledge you, I think that is odd. On a bike path which I rarely ride, I nod if someone nods/waves but really it goes old after you've been waved at 20+ times on a ride!

I always do the classic nod. I don't expect a response

I use to years ago, now bicyclists are just traffic to me. I ignore them.

I just flip them the bird and blow a snot rocket on them.

If I'm in the zone, anyone around me is on ignore. And chances are, unless I'm doing a casual ride through the park with my grandma, I'm in the zone.

By the way, both of my grandmothers are dead, so do the math.

ahhh, didn't search wave...just the etiquette search. My bad. Cool on all replies to wave, not wave, nod, no nod. Just wasn't sure so I thought I'd ask.

And as for asking in early Feb and not April...well it felt like April today in NorCal. Mid 70's and sunny.

If I 'greet' another rider, and get nothing, I just grumble, "*******", and pedal on; they're out of memory in less than a minute.

+100 on the shoulder check; I'd do it at work if I wouldn't get fired for it, cuz THOSE folks...........

As far as oncoming two-wheeled obliviots, pull a manual and put your front wheel on their bar.

Have found that Cycling types have their own separate Clique. Casual riders are down at the bottom and although they will get some acknowledgement from other groups- They don't often acknowledge other riders either. Mountain Bikers will wave at anyone and "Do" get a response from other Mountain bikers- but rarely from Road riders. At the top you have the road riders and they only respond to other road riders and that is often just a lifting of the fingers from the bars as an acknowledgement that someone else is using their road. They will wave and respond to other road riders providing they are on top rate bikes or bikes that are better than theirs.

But to be honest- If mountain biking in the wilderness- it is so unusual to see other riders- especially in winter- it is probably with shock that they greet other riders. Casual riders haven't learnt the Etiquette of riding yet and may be struggling to turn the pedals with the lack of fitness they have. And road riders are so concered with keeping the eye out for cars and trucks- that they Don't see other cyclists in any case.:innocent:

My favourite trick is when I see two riders ahead of me riding two abreast is to overtake by cycling between them.

I often get a response.

Stapfam, where do touring cyclists fit into your hierarchy?

I've found that you're more likely to get someone wave or otherwise say 'hi' to you on a MUP rather than a road. On the road, you generally have other traffic to deal with and travel faster, as well as being further away on the other side of the road.

Interestingly, my old housemate had a motorcycle, and when riding pillion on it I noticed that passing motorcyclists would almost always wave at us.

I don't bother waving. No offense.

It's either:
1) We're all commuting, and nobody really feels like going "Hello, sunshine!" when they're going to work;
2) It's some training loop, and they're in too much pain to wave, "Hello, sunshine!" :p But, trading pulls can make for decent conversation to break the monotony, and waving to a cyclist right next to you is kinda silly (and risky).
3) There are too many others out riding, and I don't like riding one-handed for any length of time.

where I have been doing most of my riding in So Jersey (Mt Lauerl/Medford/Lumberton) it seems most cyclist are too busy training for the world championships to wave back.

I generally get passed more than I pass but I like Bob have a bell on most bikes. I give it a small ding or two well back and if I am lucky enough to pass I generally speak up and call out on you left.

BTW as for as the motorcycle wave thing.. I think in some places if you wave at a Harley rider from your Honda Rebel you get a different sort of wave in reply LOL

Speaking of etiquette.... What do you do if you ride on a path, and two cyclists approach riding side to side leaving you no space? They clearly feel their conversation is more imortant that somebody else's safety. Is it wrong to kick them as they pass?

Just move to the center of the path and slow down and wobble a lot and when they move just wobble and move again so you are going to collide like you are a noobie and eventually force the both of them to a stop by turning side on and dismounting really clumsily.

3) There are too many others out riding, and I don't like riding one-handed for any length of time.

Very good point ... bring rough road conditions and traffic into the mix, and I prefer to keep my eyes on the road and hands on the handlebars.

I don't wave to other cyclists when I'm riding for the same reason I don't wave to other shoppers when I'm pushing the shopping cart or wave to other urinators when I'm urinating at the urinals.

On the road, I politely acknowledge other riders when they are few in number. I extend the last three fingers of my left hand as I give a subtle nod. I can't tell you how many respond because I don't pay attention to that sort of thing - nor should I.

Ha--a fellow motor/cyclist! As you can see, we're just like the motorcyclists: some do, some don't, some are smart@$$es and some are just easily annoyed.

Pedaling or motoring, I'm one of those annoying wavers. I've had one or two (motorcyclists) respond by flipping me off or give me a thumbs down because I wasn't on the appropriate bike, but it's all in good fun.
Best episode so far was when my dog and I were rolling down Pacific Coast Hwy on my crotch rocket and I waved to a yuppy-renegade couple on a Harley Road King. The woman passenger waved back, but the male driver promptly slapped her hand back down!
Guess someone forgot to conduct a preflight briefing. :lol:

Around town I only wave/ring my bell if the other rider does it first.

If on a climbing ride I don't use a bell, so I wave or nod if I'm climbing and a descending cyclist waves or nods. If I'm descending I always nod at climbing cyclists to show my support. I don't wave while descending unless I feel it's safe.

The few times I ride my recumbent tadpole trike I ring my bell at other trikes. Two wheel recumbents get a ring if they wave/nod/ring first.

Speaking of etiquette.... What do you do if you ride on a path, and two cyclists approach riding side to side leaving you no space?

I usually wait until we pass, then yell out "a$$#0le!" If they want to turn around, we'll see what happens. If it's 3 or more and they look tough, i use a different (quieter) strategy.

On the waving thing, in Texas, some of us still wave at other drivers in cars. I'm used to people not acknowledging me, but I always try to be friendly.

I don't bother waving. No offense.

It's either:
1) We're all commuting, and nobody really feels like going "Hello, sunshine!" when they're going to work;
2) It's some training loop, and they're in too much pain to wave, "Hello, sunshine!" :p But, trading pulls can make for decent conversation to break the monotony, and waving to a cyclist right next to you is kinda silly (and risky).
3) There are too many others out riding, and I don't like riding one-handed for any length of time.

I see occasional oncoming commuters, or other riders across a two to four-lane road, and I give a simple, hearty "Yo." To me that's an easy and non-committal greeting. It also keeps me ready to yell out when I need to, in order to get the attention of a car-driver.

I always wave or nod to riders heading the opposite direction. If they miss the one or two second nod, they are welcomed to go post about it.:D

If we are traveling the same direction, I always say, "hi, how's it going?" while passing. If they fail to respond, I just say, "that good hunh?" and continue on my way.:D

I don't wave to other cyclists when I'm riding for the same reason I don't wave to other shoppers when I'm pushing the shopping cart or wave to other urinators when I'm urinating at the urinals.

Because you might lose control and crash or get wet?

I wave or nod or otherwise acknowledge other cyclists in every situation apart from those where cyclists are the clear majority - charity rides, the Parkways in Ottawa on a summer Sunday, etc. etc.

In terms of snobbery... I am a little ashamed to admit it, but me and my wife used to sit by the MUP in downtown ottawa and play a game we made up called 'Trash Factor.' We would people watch and try to spot the most outrageously trashy or tacky or ridiculous biker, rollerblader or walker. We developed a point system to award 'special' sightings - dudes with ten-speed handlebars turned upside-down and a pack of smokes under their t-shirt sleeves, aviator glasses and a trucker cap under a helmet with no strap; middle aged tourist women wearing high-heeled shoes for a walking tour; girls rollerblading while dressed like prostitutes.
We never judged people on the value of their bikes, though - anyone who was riding automatically got a minimum level of respect, which was usually negated by their fashion sense.

Riding a bike is difficult. It takes all your physical and mental effort sometimes, so often people can't break concentration enough to actually put a hand in the air to wave hello. But most will acknowledge and greet another without changing position on the bike - as mentioned above, hand-on-bar-wave or a nod, or maybe a slight smile, or just eye contact. All are a way of acknowledging the other's existence and shared experience as a cyclist on the road or path, and all take some effort... but sometimes we don't have much effort to spare.

One thing I wonder --

Are cyclists more likely to wave when there are lots of other cyclists, or when there aren't very many?

And/or, does it matter if they're out for recreation or just going to the store?

For the first, I can imagine waving if I haven't seen another rider in three days. Here, I can't go five minutes without seeing another rider.

And as for the second part -- it would just seem kinda silly to wave while returning late rented DVDs to Blockbuster or going to the drugstore ("Hi there, I'm picking up some condoms!" :D

One thing I wonder --

Are cyclists more likely to wave when there are lots of other cyclists, or when there aren't very many?


I'm more likely to wave when there aren't many cyclists. When there are a lot of cyclists, it gets very tiresome to be in constant wave mode ... as I mentioned earlier, I'd rather look at the scenery or pay attention to my riding than wave, wave, wave, wave, wave, wave, wave, wave, wave, wave, wave, wave, wave ...........

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! The wave thread rears its ugly head already!!??!! This doesn't usually come out till April or so.

Can you do a search on "wave" or does it tell you that "wave" is too common?


Welcome here, and here's the thing:

1) You can wave if you want, but please don't expect waves back. Some cyclists may wave back, but others are focussing on their rides and may not notice you out there.


I actually wrote a blog post (http://life-cycle.blogspot.com/2005/07/wave.html) about this a few years ago when I had more free time than I do now. I've always wondered why people make such a big deal about this issue. If you wave to someone and they don't wave back, what's the problem? Seriously, Get over it. If you're only giving a wave to get one back, you need to realign your priorities. Personally, I'd rather people concentrate on riding their bike in a safe manner than waving to me.



3) Every year we get heaps of this question ... it's kind of like the "Support your LBS or not" question or others that just keep getting asked again and again and again. :D

Well actually, since you're replying to this question, maybe you could tell me whether I should have Campy or Shimano parts on my new bike, and should I wear a helmet?

:D

3) Every year we get heaps of this question ... it's kind of like the "Support your LBS or not" question or others that just keep getting asked again and again and again. :D

So lets see.. people can resurrect year old threads and get criticized, or they can start a new one and get criticized. I guess a new thread is the lesser of 2 evils if you feel the need to have additional conversation on a topic.

As to the OP, I don't wave because I don't feel the need to wave to a person walking down the other side of the street either. Granted, I'm what's known as a "Fred" and my bike reflects that. As a result, most of the riders I see belong to a different subgroup of cycling than myself. It would be kinda like the Harley rider waving to a Kawasaki rider.. sure it happens, but the camaraderie isn't there.

There is an etiquette in France of greeting everyone you know when you meet. I used to race Karts over there and you get to the big meeting and there might be 3 to 400 people you know at the International meetings. Greeting all that lot personally is tiring but if you don't greet someone- they will feel slighted.

Reason I bring this up is that I ride Solo. not really as it's a Tandem but a couple of years ago came across a Tandem meet going the other way up a steep hill. After greeting 30 Tandems- we Put our heads down and did not acknowledge the next 30 or 40. Met them later in the day at a cafe and we got roasted by the ones we did not greet.

I don't think cyclists should expect other cyclists to greet them. If a cyclist wants to focus on what he/she is doing or on the world around him/her ... rather than a cyclist on the other side of the road ... that's perfectly OK.

These two pages show photos of a ride I mentioned earlier along the Great Ocean Road ... a ride where there were a lot of other cyclists both from our ride and from other rides on at the same time. The photos are labelled with 13Mar10_GOR_
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14302884@N04/sets/72157622681266839/detail/?page=5
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14302884@N04/sets/72157622681266839/detail/?page=6

I, personally, would much rather look at this ... than at other cyclists!!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4431233778_f3ce67f972_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14302884@N04/sets/72157622681266839/detail/?page=6)

I've done rides in the Canadian Rockies too, where there have been a lot of cyclists, and again, I'd rather look at the mountain scenery than the cyclists.

I'll wave now and then, but if I'm approaching a gorgeous view, I'll have one eye on the view and one eye on the road/traffic conditions ... and no eyes looking for other cyclists.

I'll give the ol' head nod if I get one first, but generally I see a lot of other riders on my commutes, it doesn't make sense to wave at everybody, just like I don't wave at other drivers when I drive, but this is a city, if I lived in the boonies and rarely saw other riders things might be different.

I'm one of those annoying wavers.

The vast majority of cyclists don't see wavers as annoying. What I see most, especially in some 'waving' threads, is that the wavers take offense if it isn't reciprocated.

Around town I only wave/ring my bell if the other rider does it first.

If on a climbing ride I don't use a bell, so I wave or nod if I'm climbing and a descending cyclist waves or nods. If I'm descending I always nod at climbing cyclists to show my support. I don't wave while descending unless I feel it's safe.

The few times I ride my recumbent tadpole trike I ring my bell at other trikes. Two wheel recumbents get a ring if they wave/nod/ring first.

Geez that's a complicated set of rules. You must have a cheat-sheet taped to your bars to keep it straight. Do you also have a set of rules for who must wave for you not to be offended? ;)

Yeah, it's random. About the only time I see greeting as common is on mountain bike trails. That's probably because I'm passing somebody or they're passing me. On single track, why not a quick "Good morning, thanks!" while you're both right there? People on MUPs generally yes, even with people who are walking. Out on the road? Only if going the same direction and passing is involved. Also on the road, I'll even wave (politely, no single fingers) to cars who respect my space on the road (and yes, I do live in Dallas). As with most things in life, it depends.

The vast majority of cyclists don't see wavers as annoying.

Speak fer yerself. All I need is some yahoo waving at me going, "Hello, friend! We're on bicycles!" Yeah yeah yeah, so's everyone else, from my doctor to the homeless guy down the street. Yee-haw, bro.

;) :D :p

I forgot to say...I'll only wave if I'm not busy, puffing up a hill, bombing down a hill, tired....If I'm "strolling" along and have the time...yeah, generally but far from always. Nod more often, and it still depends cuz that can be missed.

A friendly Dick Nixon wave from beyond the grave for all who feel they're not getting enough waves.................

189688

I just flip them the bird and blow a snot rocket on them.

Same here, unless I'm too engrossed in my IPod to notice them.

Just a nod for me. I nod or acknowledge people walking on the street too.
Most respond. Some don't.