There's one fellow who I occasionally see commuting to work, either on a Trek hybrid (narrow tires) or, more recently, on a road bike. He definitely works out, built like a brick poop house and his pedalling style and facial expression looks like he's working out on his bike. Occasionally, we'll be travelling in the same direction (he's always passed me on those occasions) and I will issue a "good morning" or some other pleasant greeting and never get a reply. When we pass in opposite directions, my nod or wave will not get a response. However, I will get greetings, verbal or otherwise, from almost all other cyclists, whether or not I have initiated them: cyclists include members of our local cycling/racing club in their club kit who you would think might ignore mere commuters.

Do you greet others? Do you respond to greetings? Do certain individuals seem to ignore you?

I'm an introvert, so I don't initiate greetings, and I don't care if other cyclists don't greet me, but I'll respond in kind if greeted.

I wave or ding my bell

No reason not to say hello. That's where bikes really differ from cars; you are free to interact with other human beings and so bikes are potentially a more social tool than cars. It's no skin off my nose if the person doesn't want to say hi back, though.

Generally no one around here waves or anything. Too many bikes. It's more common in remote areas. This morning, a guy training for cyclocross way out on the C&O Towpath raised his fingers, and I was a little taken aback, but managed to do the same in response.

I always say hello or nod to other cyclists. I'd say about 1 in 5 don't respond. I find it very rude.

Much the same way ... sometimes, if a person "looks" friendly I'll wave from the bars, or give a nod ... but like others have said, I don't get a lot of feedback in return. Doesn't bother me much really.

When there aren't many cyclists, depending on where I am, I greet cyclists. I don't expect everyone to return the greetings. People don't respond for a variety of reasons, and it's not worth figuring out what's up with one person or another.

With that said, I notice the high-power road riders don't want to say hi when I look like I'm not one of them, which is often, because I am often riding in street clothes on a heavy transport bike or a heavily-loaded bike. They may not see me as an insider. Whatevs.

Where I ride the other riders are spread out enough that I do try to greet or at least give a wave. If I was riding in a high volume area I don't think that I would.


There are guys that I'll see every now and then who wear kits for teams they don't belong to and always seem to be wearing their "Focused Icy resolve" expressions, to which I say:

Some days I enjoy daydreaming on the bike, if I ingnore your greeting, don't take it personal...I just don't pay attention to other bikes passing by sometimes.

See also Horner, Chris:

my commute is 90% rural roads and I generally will salute bikers going the other way and talk to bikers going the same direction I am. The non commuting bikers seem to be less inclined to talk although my orange vest, rack, fenders, and lights may intimidate them.

I try to acknowledge other cyclists.

If they are wearing blaze orange jumpsuits, felony fliers, and have a car stereo hanging from under their arm...not so much.

This is the gear that I ride in.

There are a few regulars that I've been crossing paths with for years, and we'll always give a nod or wave to each other. But people I've never seen before, generally not.

I try to say "good morning" to just about everyone I come into contact with in the mornings. I usually get good-natured good mornings right back. I don't talk as much on the way home - I guess I'm too tired.

Out in the country sure. Riding to work/from I pass so many cyclists greeting would be too much work.

Out in the country: sure. In town, probably not. Try not to take it personally.

There is a guy (fellow bike commuter) that rides the same train that I do. We get off at the same stop and are often in the same car. It was several months before we started the "good morning" finger wave and a year or so before the verbal "good morning. Nice day for a ride".

Moral is; People are just doing their own thing. Try not to take it personally.

Pretty much always give a nod, finger lifts, smile, or verbal hi. About 50% don't respond or look at me despite me stating them down from 30 yards and closing.

Ring the bell or a fingers out half-wave? Thing is what will i do when it happens on a roadie......putting bells on a road bike is against the "rules" no?

^ Hah. Sometimes when i get an "on your left" i blurt out "aahhh" as if i was frightened to see if i could scare or make the other person laugh

It's possible to miss a subtle return courtesy such as a nod or finger wave if you don't know what to look for.

I only see other cyclists once or twice a month commuting so I get really excited.

I will say hello to the riders whether we are the first time cycling.I like to talk with each other.Of course,I will be pleasure if someone greet me firstly.