BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I point at people a lot. People do not like being pointed at. Tough. Hit the brake pedal and think about why you're being pointed at.

I find myself breaking out the arched eyebrow, a la Mr. Spock, during those don't-you-dare nonverbal communication sessions. Seems to give most motorists pause for thought.

"My Gawd! That guy on the funny bike has a caterpillar on his forehead!"

I've used Brad's point technique a few times too, with good results.

i point constantly. if i'm at a red going straight i'll notify the oncoming driver that i intend to go straight with a point. those pittsburgh lefts can get you in trouble...

i point at pedestrians who look at me and then walk in front of me. they usually stop and wait. once in a while i'll wag my finger, sometimes i get a smile.

pointing works for sure. the more you let people know what you're doing, the less you crash.

i think people don't realize how fast we are moving.

i worry that yelling "NO!" could be confused with yelling "GO!"

I start with eye contact then move to head gestures then hand gestures.

I point and hand gesture a lot when someone ahead of me at a stop sign isn't sure if I'm actually going to stop behind them. I like to let them know that I am not, in fact, an idiot, and, yes, I do see their turn signal.

Seems like more often than not I feel the need to signal at cars at a time when I'd rather not take my hands off my handlebars (e.g., I'm performing some combination of turning, braking, and actively dodging potholes). I found that my ability to signal with my just head improved drastically when I started wearing a baseball hat. I think it's because the hat brim exaggerates my head motion.

Immediately after I'm wronged by an automobile I like to flail my arms in exasperation. Generally whoever just cut me off/pittsburgh-lefted me/etc is already long gone, but its often earned me sympathetic looks from drivers and pedestrians who witnessed it. For me, these serve as moral support and an affirmation that not EVERY driver is actively trying to kill me.

I must look non-threatening because even though I motion with my arms which way I would like to proceed from an intersection, and stop at signals and signage, I'm waved through by vehicles which arrive at the intersections before me and clearly have the right of way.

Must be a good week.

Although when a vehicle edges out from a stop, I like to make eye contact, proceed ahead of them slowly and deliberately and maintain eye contact as I pass. Most people would consider it a stare down, but I like to consider it non-verbal, non-physical emotional violence.

Hand gestures -kind of in a defacto "traffic cop" type of way. Sometimes, i find it better to actually give them the right of way if their speed is exceeding mine and i feel they'll make the turn before me. Might send the wrong message, but probably better than getting hit.

i also give a friendly "wave" and nod of approval to drivers who yield in "sticky situations" at intersections or when they would obviously have the ability to cut you off but don't.

Yep, I shake a "no" at turning drivers all the time. But I'm always considering what to do if they ignore me, or don't see me at all. Same principle as defensive driving in any vehicle.

I often have to nod a "yes" to drivers when I've already stopped at an intersection or stop sign and they want me to blow through. This is a pain. Sometimes even after nodding yes to them they still try to wave me through, but in deference to inertia I just break eye contact until they go through first!

And I point an index finger and yell a "hey!" at drivers blowing red lights, rolling through stops in front of me, etc.

Since most of this talk is about gestures in negative situations, I should say the majority of my hand gestures are actually "thanks" waves for when motorists do the right thing and yield to me or my group. I want to let them know that I notice and appreciate it.

i have a hard time signaling my appreciation, i find. this is because most of my signals that are designed to show a severe lack of appreciation are of a sarcastic nature. my favorite is the tip-o'-the-cap salute. i usually do this with a big grin on my face, so it's difficult to differentiate (for me, anyway) the difference between that and a sincere thank-you.

part of the problem is that i don't think people know for sure when they're doing something nice (like not passing me when we're going around a curve on a forested road in the north hills). the other part of it is that there's usually so much contention between drivers and cyclists, that i just assume they'll take it as another shot fired in the grand war over the roads, even if it's not meant to be.

Yeah I give waves and thumbs up too alot.

That Pittsburgh left is trouble--I definitely signal to make it clear that I am going straight or turning. I have very rarely pittsburgh lefted on my bike if I am with someone or if it seems like the driver is going to expect it. I know its not the safest though.

I use the"bjanaszek" protocol of starting with eye contact,then head gestures, then hand gestures, but if I can tell a driver isn't looking at/paying attention to me I loudly yell "heads up!". This combination usually works just fine for me. I also use gestures and nods of encouragement for drivers who do the right thing or cut me a break in traffic. I think it encourages respect for cyclists and helps maintain a good relationship with drivers.

i got pretty good at mimicing the sound of a siren. it works real well for peds, and stops people in cars because they know what it means. it only works if their windows are open tho.

i also like it because they probably think i'm totally bonkers and will just be like, ok dude, go ahead me

Ha.

I try and make eye contact and if they don't see me I will yield, and if they see me they usually yield. I give tons of nods and thanks waves too.

Today though some jerk behind me was revving up behind me after he turned into the bike lane behind me, I turned around to see what the commotion was and he was screaming. I couldn't hear him of course cause his windows were up! I was having more fun then him, who can blame him!

where were you?

yeah, thats crazy rsprake.

i try to get out of the way of those nut jobs. thats like having a gun pointed at you, a gun with a 2 ton bullet.

A thumbs-up is a good thank-you signal. Another good signal is putting your foot down. It says "yes, I'm stopped, and I'm staying put until you take the right-of-way you deserve". So many cyclists run stop signs and lights, that motorists really don't know what you're going to do. I'll usually just do a track stand at a contested four-way stop, but if the driver who is supposed to have the right-of-way is being tentative and won't take his turn, then I do stop and put my foot down. The last thing I want to happen is for him to change his mind at the last minute. Confusion kills.

"I'll usually just do a track stand at a contested four-way stop, but if the driver who is supposed to have the right-of-way is being tentative and won't take his turn, then I do stop and put my foot down."

There should be a public service announcement telling drivers about toe clips/clipless pedals, and how it's kinda annoying to get in to and out of them.

Drivers: While my foot may not be touching the pavement, I assure you that now that I've slowed to the absolute verge of falling over I have no intention of accelerating madly into the path of your oncoming car. Just take your turn at the intersection.

I think it's great when drivers to exercise caution around cyclists, I just wish they were more discriminating regarding the appropriate level of caution. A 12 year old kid on a huffy is far more likely to do something unpredictable and careless than, say, a lycra-bedecked middle-aged man on a 12-skrillion-dollar carbon fiber thing.

I find that ringing your bell twice (yes I have a bell) makes pedestrians and drivers who have shown you courtesy smile.

i've been totally into rocking the bell recently. it definitely resonates well with people (pun intended)

i love ringing my bell at people. i also ring it at kids on bikes when i pass them with their parents on the trail.

erok, I was on Liberty before the hospital traveling towards downtown. There was a lot of traffic that morning cause of the rain I guess, people were impatient.

I had a bell for awhile but it would either not ring or whoever I rang it at had their headphones on anyway.

i had a bell. i would ring it a girls. one time i rear ended a dudes truck cause i was looking at the girl waiting for her to acknowledge my bell ringing. no more bell for me. i have too much fun with bells.

like this tim z?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-7pgeD__qU

FYI - if you are cycling in europe - do NOT use the "thumbs up" - however, if cycling in Europe, you probably won't have any traffic problems to start with..

"like this tim z?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-7pgeD__qU

!!!!!!!!!!

behold the power of the bike bell:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_MphtzCOEc

Those Asians.....

As for the topic on hand, I usually try to talk to the driver if I get dangerously cut off or turned in front of. They almost always apologize, but I try to make them realize that if I would have been hit it wouldn't be a fender bender like if I was in a car.

I have had a few occasions where the driver has responded quite negatively by calling me names and/or threatening me. Although, I still try my best to stay composed.

If it is a close encounter, I usually yell something like, "Watch yourself!" Although, in the heat of the moment, it often comes out as "Watch your sh*t!"

Ah today I decided to walk my bike a bit so I could think a little more (and uh, not really avoid the rain but pretend to). At an intersection along Penn a driver was looking left and I was walking up the sidewalk on her right. She was only looking left in hopes of a right turn and not looking right while slllloooooowly gliding into the intersection and cross walk. I tapped her hood and she put on the brakes and freaked out with an IM SORRY!!!! look. I told her to make sure she looks both ways.

I often wave cars through 4-way stops.

Lately, there seems to be less of the awful thing that happens when you could go BEHIND, if they would just go, you could go in front of them if they stopped, but they INCH, so you can do neither.

I find myself saying or gesturing "Thanks" frequently. I can often see the surprise on a person's face that you are so close you can talk.

I try to refrain from being louder than necessary. If someone's window is open, saying "you cut me off. danger." is more effective than shouting it. I need some work there.

Cars are often juerks to bicyclists, for sure, but then remember - cars will kill about 40,000 fellow car users in a year, too. It's a way of life that is usually not examined

Mick