macintheus

In an ideal world, it would be nice. Personally, sometimes I wave, sometimes I don't. It's not a reflection on whether or not I like/respect the person on the other side of the road. It's not an ego thing. If I'm concentrating hard, or so shagged that I'm about to fall off into a ditch, I usually don't wave.

Sidenote: I always make a point of saying a quick hi when I pass another lone cyclist.

UmneyDurak

I don't think you always need to wave. Ofcourse I also ride a road bike, and wear collegiate team kit so according to some of the posts here that makes me an arrogant roadie.

hillyman

On some bike rides I would feel like I'm in a parade to wave to everybody.

webist

I don't if doing so would place me at risk or slow me down or if I already know the other rider is one who doesn't acknowledge other riders.

Kabloink

I actually wave at most bike riders I see, but seldom get one in return. Maybe I look too scary or something.

TomM

No. I already get waves from everybody who drives the same kind of car as I. I actually find it quite annoying.

noisebeam

Most cyclist wave or raise a few fingers to each other round here. It even happens quite often across 7 lane roads, you catch a wave thru a tiny gap in cars.

I wave to peds, even drivers sometimes - only if it makes sense, that is they will notice. I'm no waving fool though.

Al

patc

Maybe I'm just not a friendly person, but I've never waved to strangers (and consider it somewhat rude if a stranger waves to me). Besides, who has the time? I just got home from picking up a prescription for our puppy from the vet, 5km round trip, and I saw at least 10 other cyclists.

clausen

I usually give a low wave, but if traffic is a issue I won't. If I know it's someone who doesn't wave back I give them a big hand in the air wave.

Nachoman

I like to waive if there is any eye contact. But if the other person doesn't waive first.... welll..... what an a--hole.

macintheus

Classic!

macintheus

Oh the pressure! I know what you mean. I was pushing up a steep hill a while back--middle of the summer, about 95 dgs, when I became aware of a cyclist coming barrelling down on the other side. I see she is just as happy as could be (sh*t eating grin was the give away). And she is just willing me to look up and wave to her--I can feel it--the pressure. But I'm not in the "right place" to wave back. I've been doing about minus three miles an hour up this hill in the heat for the last twenty minutes and ready to kill someone. Well she's not going to have any that. When she reaches me and I still haven't looked over and waved, or blown kisses, or got off and curtsied or whatever, she just screams over "HELLLLOOOOO!" Turned into the devil I'm telling you.

So that's always fun.

p8rider

I ride between 5:30 and 6:15 most mornings. At that hour you can bet I give a hello to any other rider I see. On a typical morning it might be two at the most. I also say hello to the joggers I come across. Just something about the hour when people are still few and far between.

Guest

No. Why would I do that? But if someone makes eye contact and gives me a signal, I'll always return the action.

Koffee

HWS

I always give a small wave or at least say "good morning" or whatever. I don't see a reason not to. It's just being polite.

Eggplant Jeff

Why wouldn't you IF it's convenient? Sure when you're laboring up a hill or changing lanes on a highway or whatever you're otherwise occupied... Maybe it's just because there aren't many cyclists around me so it's kinda like Hey there's someone else! I also say hi/good morning/whatever to pedestrians (who are also rare around me).

Guest

Do you wave/say hello/acknowledge all other drivers on the road too? I don't. I just don't see the need to bother other folks while they're riding. I know if I had every person waving and grinnin' at me when I'm just trying to get my ride on, I might not be very receptive. My thought always has been to give people the space they need when they're exercising. Personally, when I'm exercising, I don't like people to disturb me. I would hope they'd respect that and not spend their time thinking I'm being unfriendly. I just like to focus on the task at hand and concentrate on what I'm doing.

Koffee

librarian

I always do. I guess it's the tribal urge coming out in me. I always wave to other cyclist unless I feel uneasy taking my hands off the bars. Then I just nod.

I always wave to motorists when making a turn in front of them etc. I hope that it makes them think better, kinda like it was their idea not to run me off the road. Sometimes if you watch their faces you can see them change from a frown that a cyclist is holding them up, to a smile and a wave back. Just common courtesy and the way I was raised.

Additionally when driving my beach buggy I always wave to other buggies.

I also say hi to other people when I am walking my dog.

folder fanatic

Unfortumally, in the rather dangerous urban enviroment which I am forced to live and ride-absolutely not. In a more civilized enviroment, of course. I do miss these neighborhoods and the types of people that live in them.

CommuterRun

I can't say I always wave. There was that time on Okinawa when a female cyclist was climbing a hill and I was on the other side of the road going the opposite direction trying to break 40 MPH without rearending the cager in front of me. I did kind of have to focus on what I was doing.

Normally I'll give a smile and hearty, "HEY, HOW'SITGOIN'?"

I usually get at least a smile in return. If I don't get any response I just shrug it off and figure somebody has a bug in their britches.

ChroMo2

Maybe he thinks your a bummer because you didn't wave first. You can't wave at everybody but it's a cool thing to wave sometimes. I like to wave at people who ride different kinds of bikes than I do. It's more of a friendly thing that shows you accept someone else for their choice of style, yet still acknowledging that bicycling is a cool thing!

Machka 

I usually try to wave or make some sort of friendly signal (smile, nod, lifting the fingers) when it is convenient to do so.

Up in my neck of the woods there are so few cyclists, it is a nice surprise to see one out there. Most of them wave at me too.

But then we're a friendly bunch up here in Canada!

I will add though that sometimes I'm caught off guard ... I'll be lost in thought, or maybe at the 32nd hour of one of my brevets and my brain is a little fuzzy ... and I'll notice the cyclist wave at me too late for me to wave back.

Machka 

Out in the country both here in Alberta and also in Manitoba many of the drivers will wave at me when I'm on my bicycle ... and in a friendly way too. So will the farmers, train engineers, and crop dusters. Everybody waves and smiles! Like I said, we're a friendly bunch up here!!

macintheus

My main motivation to start this poll was that I had read several posts from people who seem to be offended when they wave to another cyclist but the other cyclist doesn't wave back. I think the results here (thus far) go to prove that there are many variables and reasons why we acknowledge each other sometimes, and other times we don't.

I think the main thing to get from this poll is to not be offended if someone doesn't reciprocate a wave.

phillybill

Just depends on the day and the traffic. Most people in Philly wave......but some the roadies will only wave if your bike has a good name on it.