Daytrip

I don't know why, but I always wave at cops when we pass each other on country roads. And they always wave back. Today, the officer waved at me first. I think its some sort of implicit understanding that I'm using the road in a somewhat non-traditional, vulnerable manner, with both of us acknowledging that fact.

Anybody else with a similar experience or observation?

I know this is a pretty silly thread, but no sillier than asking if bald guys use shampoo, or what movie to watch while training. I mean, man up and choose a film and then live with the consequences, dude.

Lamp-Shade

A cop actually made my day last summer when he, while "assisting" a lady with a broken down vehicle, seemingly stopped listening to her entirely to zap me with his speed gun and tell me how fast I was going.
I've waved to almost every cop in this town ever since.

clausen

With all the help they've given me with bad drivers or after being hit. It's best that I don't .

Nachoman

We've got "harbor patrol" cops around my neighborhood. They like to roust us for not riding single file and not riding with lights at dawn and dusk. I don't waive.

enjoi07

uggh. they seem to have authority issues, it is a shame the best climb in PL is on "their" territory. OH and then we had that cop almost hit jim in del mar. good times.

ill give a head nod. firefighters get the wave

Daytrip

Waive your rights? Man, I wouldn't either.

But, good point. I'm sure that places like So Cal that are lousy with cyclists, you're probably seen as less of a novelty than me trucking around the backroads of Central NYS. Especially in the winter.

Actually we had an offduty trooper on a bike killed last summer on a road that I travel regularly. So I'm thinking they're a bit more simpatico.

rrohret

He wouldn't think of loaning me his state issued patrol bike for me to ride but he did consider loaning me his gun.

Gluteus

I do (wave at cops).
I don't know why. They're mostly nice guys around here.

spry

Was he laughing when he announced your speed?

jvm051

I almost got hit by a cop last week. I was leaving my neighborhood on the way to my weekday ride, and the cop looked like he was going to blow the stop sign. Then he saw me and slammed on his brakes. Once I went past he took off. God forbid he apologized for making me almost need to clean my shorts.

grwoolf

Did you wave?

Mr. Beanz

Cops? Everybody waves at me when I'm on the road. Maintenance trucks/ workers, lannscapers, cops, criminals, purty women, ugly women, the homeless and so on!

Jim from Boston

I don't think this is a silly thread. I'm often surprised at how often a seemingly trivial thread prompts me to respond, because I've also pondered the question.

Here in Massachusetts it’s a statewide law that all road work have a paid police detail (separate from their regular details, and paid at overtime rates). It’s a controversial policy, but the state legislature in no way wants to take on the police unions over it, and I can’t tell you how long it’s been in force.

I pass one construction site that seems to have been ongoing for at least two years, the Route 1A bridge over Route 128 in Dedham. Usually there are three officers there, at both ends and in the middle. The road narrows down for about 200 yards in my ascending direction and even though there is little traffic in my direction, I usually delay a few cars as I try to sprint the distance. I’ve never been hassled though, likely thanks to those police details. So you bet I show them my gratitude and respect with a friendly wave. Besides now in the winter I feel a kinship with them since they are standing still in the cold, while at least I’m riding. Thanks, Dedham.

exRunner

I wave once in a while, occasionally with all my fingers extended. It is Long Island, standards have to be met.

sci_femme

I do, always. And if they can hear me I wish them a quiet shift.

SF

Edonis13

did you ever think that maybe some of us are cyclists too?

hipcheck5

I always waive. Besides the fact that I appreciate what they do for the community I also figure if I ever have an incident with someone while I am riding having cops know me as the nice guy who waives certainly won't hurt.

JaceK

Interesting... been nearly hit countless times by the locals and state cops. They blow thru stop signs, traffic lights, go the wrong way through traffic circles, chat on cell phones. I always smile and wave, hope they see me.

garethzbarker

remember back in the late 80s and early 90s when everyone in America hated police? Ice-T wrote Cop Killer and the album sold really well, the rodney king thing, the news seemed to be all over cop coverups and corruption, reservoir dogs was a huge hit. Post 911 you don't really see that kind of stuff much. cops became heros again And Ice-T even plays a cop on TV.

daredevil

Where I live, everybody waves. I ride a rural highway and I make sure to wave to everybody, especially the truckers I share the road with. One gentlemen who drives a 26 wheeler flashes his clearance lights back to me saying hello daily. You don't want to make enemies with those guys on a road with no shoulders.

saratoga

I'll wave. Most wave back (or wave first for that matter).

The same deputy passes me when I ride some weekday evenings on the normal back-road route near my house. I'll also wave to drivers that stop and wait at intersecting streets so I can pass. Good Karma always comes back around eventually IMO.

simplify

^ Me too. I wave at every motorist who observes even the most basic (legally required) courtesy--such as stopping at a stop sign when I'm crossing an intersection, or waiting for me in the oncoming lane rather than turning left in front of me. Anything I can do to help them see cyclists in a better light, I do. I always wave at cops and firefighters, and recently, rangers on the early morning ride where we're having a lot of trouble with the authorities cracking down on cyclists. Wherever the roads are narrow, I wave at truckers and maintenance workers too. It all pays off, I think. The more people who have a positive outlook on cyclists, the better.

sinclac

No Way

Cateye

I always wave......they are pretty nice and help with stupid drivers.

guadzilla

Yeesh... all that waving. No wonder there hasnt been a "Nazi Roadie Didn't Wave At Me While I Was On My Commuter/MTB/Bent" thread in ages.