datlas 

There have been several posts lately about hand signals for this and that.

I suggest we can consolidate all hand signals into one thread.

Feel free to post your own, and everyone can comment on them.

I do something like this to tell the rider immediately behind me that I am slowing down.

Willbird

I do not ride in groups, but I do that if my hand gets cold, or I need to stretch a little :-)

velociraptor

Rootman

Not sure what the original poster is wanting I also ride alone.

I use regular hand signals when riding if on the road to indicate change of direction and slowing / stopping. I strongly suspect that a good portion of drivers have no idea what the hell they mean, more times than I can remember I've been passed on the left and nearly struck while clearly indicating a left turn - I mean siting bolt upright with my left arm out fully parallel to the ground and hand outstretched. Also had people try to pass on the right while taking the lane and showing a right turn arm signal. People are just oblivious to it. Yet I still do it to let those around me where the heck I am going.

Otherwise if on a path with anyone around I just point.

SpeshulEd 

These seem a bit excessive.

GlennR

I have a hand signal that tells drivers they should stop at the stop sign and not half way into the intersection.

Homebrew01

Arm straight down at your side, slightly outward, palm back for slowing. Visible to more than the rider immediately behind you. More intuitive meaning I think

wphamilton

I just vaguely wave my hand around in the air, and people know that I'm signalling something. How are you, what's the honking about, flies in the air, maybe turning or going straight - it depends on the situation.

Seriously, different groups seem to have different conventions, and they all seem silly to people who don't ride in groups, so I don't think that a consolidated list is going to be very useful in general.

colnago62

I tend to watch body language to determine if someone is stopping or other common actions. Most riders have a certain behaviors that they do when coming to a stop. Once you figure out what those behaviors are, signals become unnecessary.

gregf83 

That's what I'm used to. If I saw a hand on the back I wouldn't know what was being signaled. My recollection was that hand down palm back was the accepted signal for stopping when in a vehicle. Seems to work fine for bikes as well.

Ghazmh

I have a hand signal I use when drivers are too close to me.

hairnet

I stick my arm out, bend my elbow, point to my ass and proceed to scratch it.

Machka 

And for me ... cycling over here in Australia or when I cycle in the UK ... that signal would mean:

There's a parked car in the lane, we've got to move to the right to go around it.

Or

My hand has gone numb.

Machka 

Yes ... this means slowing with the possibility that I might stop as well.

Machka 

Agreed.

Also from my experience riding in several countries, and several parts of the countries I've ridden in ... the hand signals vary from one area to another.

Pirkaus

While riding with a new group of guys last fall, I picked up when riding on the front slapping your thigh to get the attention of those behind you. We were going hard, and I'm not sure if this was solely for my benefit or not, but it seemed to be a habit among them. It was employed mainly when dealing with obstacles.

BillyD

This one clearly means "Oh Pulleeeze"!