Well, I was approaching Washington Blvd on Wilson Blvd heading west in Arlington when I stopped at a light and a woman rolls down her window (I am going straight, she is to my right in the right hand turning lane). I expected to hear some version of "get off da road!" or "get on the sidewalk!"

But no, she said she appreciated that I signaled and road responsibly. She thanked me and left, all I could say was "no problem" before she was gone. Pretty funny, not at all what I expecting. Oh cagers, how am I supposed to hate you when you are polite? Oh well, one will probably try to kill me tomorrow.

Was it your mother?

A few years ago, riding to work in the pre-dawn gray, I had a young mother roll down her window and tell me my taillight was a great idea, made it easy to see me. I replied to the effect that THAT was the idea -- with a smile.

Not another one before or since.

I stopped at a four way stop sign waiting for the car on my right to go first. As he went through the intersection, he rolled down his window and said:

"Thank you for stopping."

I said back to him:

"Ummmm, you're welcome?"

I was riding in stop-and-go traffic a couple of years ago and was signalling stop every time I stopped even though each advance was only about 15 feet or so. I wasn't really doing it consciously, it's just automatic by now. Once I got through the traffic obstruction the driver who had been directly behind me moved into the lane to my left and at the next stop light said "Great signalling!" and gave me a thumbs up. I was so surprised I didn't know what to say to her and just said "Thanks". It really made my day. Of course it's only happened once.

Given some of the cager invective that gets tossed around this place, I wonder if sometimes the more telling question is whether a compliment has ever flown in the other direction.

Good for you, OP, for riding responsibly. On a per capita basis, I increasingly believe there are more psycho bikers than psycho cagers. Its just their irresponsibility is less potent.

I've been complimented on my lights by a driver (we were waiting at a red light).

Back in March, I had a driver give me kudos for riding so early in the season this year. It seems he was a cyclist too, but not ready to face the cold at the time.

This past Friday, riding in the rain, a driver honked at me (three quick beeps) as he drove past. Since I wasn't in his way at all (I was riding on a MUT parallel to the road) and there were no other cars around, I took it as a compliment for braving the elements.

A buddy and I stopped for a light and a guy stopped in a truck next to us, rolled down the window, and told us refreshing it was to see cyclists stop at a red light.

I had a carload of teenage girls yell "nice butt" as they drove by, I caught them at the next light and signaled for them to roll down the window and told them "we all know its not true,but you made an old mans day" We all laughed and off they went hootin and squealing as only teenagers can do. It was funny for sure.

I got a beep from behind in construction traffic from a fish delivery box truck. A block down the road, two lanes over, I called over from the left turn lane "hey what's the rush?" He waved and called out "You've got the right idea!" I brightened up and waved back. It was a nice thing.

Not really an on the road driver interaction -- but today, my boss, with whom I had an unfortunate string of falling-outs this year, cheerfully asked about my riding, if I were still at it in this "heat."

We had a really very delightful chat there with the secretaries that ended with him considering riding in this summer. Glad to be on better terms now-- it was like closure. Very cool.

Yep just last week at a four way stop, (yes shock, horror I actually stopped at it). Driver coming the opposite way complemented me on my front light, (Planet Bike Superflash).

Saved me a post. Feels awesome.

I get a lot of "nice legs" comments... just wish it was the girls doing it.

Seriously... now that it is nice enough to roll down your windows I have gotten quite a few positive comments about lights, lane position, or my bike and have had very few drive bys where someone was obviously annoyed I was sharing their space.

Two years ago, when I started commuting at 395lbs., I would get random people cheering me on and applauding.

Last Fall I had some kids follow me and honk a couple times. When we stopped at a light, the passenger rolled down the window and I thought I was going to get the standard abuse...but he said he was surprised that I was going so fast. When the light changed, they paced me calling out the speed (I didn't have a computer at the time) and cheering me on. I was amazed that I hit 25mph and was still accelerating when I had to make my next turn.
As I made my turn and we went our separate ways, I rode the next mile or so, slowly, to try and keep my heart from exploding. (heh)

This Spring I had a Patron come in to the library and say that I ride past her house everyday on my way to work, and that she really admired my dedication.

I wonder how many of the cagers giving compliments actually ride themselves?

With all the lights I run with at night, I often get compliments for being visible...

BTW... My avatar and my signature images are actual photos of my bike.

I often have motorbike riders give me a thumbs up as they go past.

z

actually I've had a lot of compliments this year. must be the shorts. some have noted the lights, some have asked how far I've been riding, some have actually oogled me as I rode by :-) I'm not that good looking but it made my ride sweeter, some have waved a friendly wave. must be the nice weather.... I suspect it's the gas prices and folks realizing bike riders are doing the right thing.

I've gotten compliments for my tail-lights several times. Sometimes drivers wave or give me a thumbs-up. I've gotten the "nice butt" call from teenage girls several times as well as "go Lance." At one traffic light, a guy in a pickup truck beside me rolled down his window to talk. I was expected a lecture about getting off the road, but instead he asked how far I rode and then said "I wish I could do that."

While I was waiting for my train downtown, I was riding around the parking lot where there was a kind of mass rummage sale. I was just rolling slowly around in granny gear, and one lady said: "Hey legs! Stop riding and come buy something!" All she had was junk, so I just smiled and kept riding. Then, she said to her friend: "Not that I was looking. But I was, hehehe" She was a good 20 years older than me, but I don't mind. Beggars can't be choosers.

As for the lights, I had one guy at the train station say he came up behind me and the red blinker is a good idea and that it works.

But the best and most frequent compliment is when I'm riding a dawn, dusk, or night, and I have my lights on, people give me lots of room when they pass. In broad daylight, they pass much closer in general. It is almost like the lights qualify me as more of a vehicle to them...

Cagers really like it when we stop at lights & signs. For some reason, it really burns them up that we can get away with rolling through almost every one. I find that if I roll through a stop sign because it is safe to do so, I get passed much more closely than if I stop. It is like I earn their respect by sacrificing my momentum.

Since I've always ridden bikes, I never understood that mentality. Whenever I was driving and saw a cyclist roll a light or sign, I always smiled & thought: "He deserves that privelege for going to the trouble of riding a bike."

People who don't ride don't realize (or have forgotten) how much work it is to start from a stop over and over again compared to keeping moving.

I get the usual "Can I ride?" from some creep who thinks his car is the best thing in town.

I've gotten the "great lights!" comment a couple of times. One was particularly comforting because it was on a super dark street (some of the streetlights weren't working) and the driver was backing out of his driveway and yelled that he could see me and thanks for using the lights. Apparently the streetlight thing was a big concern to the residents and lots of complaints were sent to the city maintenance.

I do my best to stop at each stop sign or at the very least come to a standing stop. One driver thanked me for stopping at the signs. The stop sign stops are the toughest, especially since the rule is one foot has to touch the ground. It's difficult to restart quickly and even harder if this happens uphill. And then of course there is the anger when most of the cars I see on my route roll through the stop sign even when there is traffic at the intersection.

I'm guessing my left turn signal abilities are epic because the past several days drivers have commented on it. Not sure what I'm doing other than signalling the left turn and heading to the left part of the lane... I swear there is no bell or sparkles emanating from my arm.

I've gotten compliments on my lights before. "We could really see you!" "Hey nice lights!". Granted, if I were female the "nice lights" might have meant something else.

That being said, riding home yesterday a guy drove slowly by, and when I looked over, he flashed the peace sign.

Yeah, a couple of times.

They were impressed that I was riding instead of driving a car.

The other time a fellow Nebraska alum complimented me on my Husker cycling jersey. My wife thinks I'm asking for trouble wearing it amongst all of the Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri fans but so far no problem.