Fred Smedley

IMHO a light tap on the horn back far enough down the road to not startle a cyclist is indeed a courtesy honk, is appreciated by me, and was widely practiced in the Bay Area when I started cycling in the mid -seventies.

spry

Frankly I,ve always been fond of honkers,but thats just me.

cytoman

You're going to flip the bird based on how long someone's hand is on the horn? Get a life. Not all motorists know what or how to use a horn. 1 ton of steel vs. 17 pounds of carbon. Why take the risk. Just wave and assume it was a courtesy honk.
Share the road!

ovrrdrive

Wow, it takes a man very comfortable with his own sexuality to just come right out and admit that in public. Way to go...

rufvelo

spry

+1 now that was a good one liner

banerjek

Here's the rub. Some people do honk to announce their presence. If this startles you, it's a sign that you either need to be more aware of your surroundings or you need to work on your reflexes. If courtesy honkers make you jump, then the jerks that buzz you while really laying on the horn could easily make you crash -- a very dangerous situation. Also, it means you probably won't react very well in a real emergency.

I tell people who know me to honk at me (but make it clear that you should never do this with other cyclists) specifically to help train my reflexes. Whether someone is giving a courtesy honk, buzzing you, or there is an actual emergency where they are warning that you are about to be hit, you are in a much better position if you can keep your cool, quickly assess the situation, and take your best option. As soon as you panic, you are relying on luck alone which is a great way to get screwed.

RichmondRider

I have a cheapo Walmart air horn strapped to the top of my steerer (and dipped in black to match the bike and feed the Fred in me). Cars are really surprised when I honk at them, and it gets out some of my anger without causing a confrontation.

Of course, sometimes I yell obscenities at them too which I agree is really stupid and asking for trouble. I guess I'm probably not thinking clearly enough when some moron almost puts me in a ditch.... I envy those of you who have more restraint.

daredevil

My feelings exactly. The majority of responders in this thread apparently have much more restraint than me, that is, if they are all being truthful.

CrimsonKarter21

That's 17 pounds of aluminum to you.

daredevil

leinad

crimson, just as an aside here, I have ridden in that park many times and it is one of the least bike friendly places I ride here in old O-h-i-O. I think most of the people down there veiw it as their own personnel freeway.
BTW have you ever seen the parkrangers radaring for speeders? In the 100's of times I've been down there I have never seen it done, the speed limit is 30 and I have been passed by numerous drivers going well over 60.

I have flipped off my share of drivers in that park too, oh well.

To give others out there an idea how bad things get in this park, a local radio station once told listeners to hit cyclist and call in to brag about it, thankfully local authorities got invloved and had them recend and apologize for it.

CrimsonKarter21

Leinad, I usually don't have any problems at all with the park. I only get hassled once or twice a month. For the old people, I like to steer my bike in front of them and go slow.

And was that Lannigan who told people to hit cyclists? Or was that Opie & Anthony?

wfrogge

I think its funny you wernt worried about the mini van that could have crushed you and instead backed down when a human bigger than you got in your face.

wfrogge

Courtesy honks are not BS cause you cant always hear them coming.

leinad

crimson, I can't remember, but I beleive it was the later, though I won't put it past lannigan to say something like that too!!

CrimsonKarter21

I wouldn't say I backed down. I called him a Lame-o McLamester from the planet LamO, then I ran.

pseudobrit

But they are because if you're being passed it doesn't matter what you can hear. It's the responsibility of the passer to make sure the situation is safe and that the pass is executed properly.

That is unless you're all over the road, in which case maybe you should reconsider your choice of hobby.

bmclaughlin807

That's actually against the law in some places.

bmclaughlin807

Has anyone in the history of cycling ever been honked at right before they were hit??? (well... other than someone actually TRYING to hit them?) Every time I've ever either been hit or seen someone else get hit the driver had their head so far up their ass that they had no clue what was going on around them.

bmclaughlin807

40 lbs of steel.

Fred Smedley

And your point is?

NotAsFat

If you can't hear an overtaking car without it honking at you, you need to turn the ipod down or get a hearing aid.

ChunkyB

I would suggest perfecting the art of pulling down your bike shorts with your saddle. My brother did it once on accident. One of the funniest cycling moments of all time.

You just sit down on your top tube and hook your waistband under the front of your saddle. Then stand up on your pedals, and you're set. That's more effective than giving the finger anyways. If someone did that to me, I'd pass as quickly as possible, and not go back for more.

ovrrdrive

No doubt. I'm glad I'm not the only one around here.

In the mornings you can throw in a 5lb battery too.