Driver Courtesy

"Gags" wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

Got me thinking though......I regularly give "courtesy waves" as a matter
of
course for considerate drivers and quite often it is simply because they
obeyed the road rules and gave way to me when they should have.

I gave two of these waves tonight all within 200m... my waves are usually
'thanks for not pulling out and killing me' waves.. I also think along the
same lines, hoping that a simple wave from one cyclist stops another from
being abused down the road..

cheers,
GPL

Gags said:

The bit that got me thinking was that although I will wave to people when I
am driving and they go out of their way to be nice (ie. letting me pull out
from a side street when traffic is stopped, etc), I don't wave to other
drivers simply for giving way when they should!!

I am sure that there is some paradox or moral to the story but I am stuffed
if I know what it is???

The more vulnerable find it wise to be nicer :-)

--

cheers, mic (yes, the email address works)

"Gags" <gags_44nospamatnospamtpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Was coming home tonight on the road bike and heading up a hill in a 70
zone
with two traffic lanes going my way and a parking lane. There was a
parked
car up ahead and traffic was pretty heavy but as I moved out to avoid the
car, I realised that the car coming up behind me had slowed down and was
actually waiting for me to go around the car. I went around said car and
then gave the guy a "courtesy wave" as he went past. It was a big yellow
van that gave a "toot toot" as it went past and then I saw that it was
actually a van from "Swim, Bike, Run".......pretty fortunate coincidence
for
me!!

Got me thinking though......I regularly give "courtesy waves" as a matter
of
course for considerate drivers and quite often it is simply because they
obeyed the road rules and gave way to me when they should have. I don't
have any dramas with this as by giving them a wave I am hopefully
promoting
the "cyclists are friends.......not traffic cones" mentality to the
drivers.
The bit that got me thinking was that although I will wave to people when
I
am driving and they go out of their way to be nice (ie. letting me pull
out
from a side street when traffic is stopped, etc), I don't wave to other
drivers simply for giving way when they should!!

I am sure that there is some paradox or moral to the story but I am
stuffed
if I know what it is???

Ride On,

Gags

Driving doesn't need to be normalised. 🙂

I'd agree .. I sometimes give 1/2 waves just as thanks for motorists/pedestrians not so much for doing the right thing, but more making it obvious (but not obnoxious) that they have seen me and acknowledged my existence and stayed clear, or have started to do something silly, then pulled back out of the way before I've had to slow done ..

Normally i don't bother waving to people who are just out on the road and havent hit me yet. Sometimes I wonder if its just luck or timing that they haven't .. as I cruise past a parked car ready to pull out.. thinking .oO( if I was here 10 seconds later would the car still be sitting there or would it have pulled out in front of me .. )

GPLama said:

"Gags" wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

Got me thinking though......I regularly give "courtesy waves" as a matter
of
course for considerate drivers and quite often it is simply because they
obeyed the road rules and gave way to me when they should have.

I gave two of these waves tonight all within 200m... my waves are usually
'thanks for not pulling out and killing me' waves.. I also think along the
same lines, hoping that a simple wave from one cyclist stops another from
being abused down the road..

I do the same thing.

[QUOTE=GPLama I gave two of these waves tonight all within 200m... my waves are usually 'thanks for not pulling out and killing me' waves.. I also think along the same lines, hoping that a simple wave from one cyclist stops another from being abused down the road.. cheers, GPL[/QUOTE]


Also think and do the same. Says that you recognise that the driver has been courteous and thank him/her (rarely her) for their action.
Have had some stunned looks but usually a finger raised from the steering wheel in acknowledgement.
Have no idea if it does any good but can be very theraputic for me after having to blast drivers with murderous intent with the AirZounds horn.

With so many bogan no helmet no lights no care riders in this town its a wonder that cyclists are shown any courtesy.
Fortunately most ppl can tell the diff between "handlebar attendants" and cyclists.

Cheers
Hugh

for the stoopid or obnoxious, I tap on their windows and scare [censored] out of them .. letting them know "Boo .. im here mofo! .. keep yer eyes open next time"

"Gags" <gags_44nospamatnospamtpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Was coming home tonight on the road bike and heading up a hill in a 70
zone
with two traffic lanes going my way and a parking lane. There was a
parked
car up ahead and traffic was pretty heavy but as I moved out to avoid the
car, I realised that the car coming up behind me had slowed down and was
actually waiting for me to go around the car. I went around said car and
then gave the guy a "courtesy wave" as he went past. It was a big yellow
van that gave a "toot toot" as it went past and then I saw that it was
actually a van from "Swim, Bike, Run".......pretty fortunate coincidence
for
me!!

Got me thinking though......I regularly give "courtesy waves" as a matter
of
course for considerate drivers and quite often it is simply because they
obeyed the road rules and gave way to me when they should have. I don't
have any dramas with this as by giving them a wave I am hopefully
promoting
the "cyclists are friends.......not traffic cones" mentality to the
drivers.
The bit that got me thinking was that although I will wave to people when
I
am driving and they go out of their way to be nice (ie. letting me pull
out
from a side street when traffic is stopped, etc), I don't wave to other
drivers simply for giving way when they should!!

I am sure that there is some paradox or moral to the story but I am
stuffed
if I know what it is???

Ride On,

Gags

I also show appreciation to any driver slowing down for me or giving me
right of way, even if it's what they were supposed to do. In my opinion the
issue isn't to give thanks when it's deserved, but rather to build up a
friendlier driver attitude towards cyclists.

Henry.

Gags said:

Got me thinking though......I regularly give "courtesy waves" as a matter of
course for considerate drivers and quite often it is simply because they
obeyed the road rules and gave way to me when they should have. I don't
have any dramas with this as by giving them a wave I am hopefully promoting
the "cyclists are friends.......not traffic cones" mentality to the drivers.

Positive re-inforcement is a good thing. The other day I was approaching a squeeze point so with plenty of signal and time claimed the lane. Once past the hazard I waved my thanks to the car behind me. I always do, it costs thm nothing and lets them know that I'm sharing the road with them.

By the letter of the law I should expect motorists give way to me when merging, however this is rarely the case in a car let alone a bicycle.

Quoted post said:

The bit that got me thinking was that although I will wave to people when I
am driving and they go out of their way to be nice (ie. letting me pull out
from a side street when traffic is stopped, etc), I don't wave to other
drivers simply for giving way when they should!!

My wife and I differ on this one. When I'm behind the wheel if I merge successfully then all and good. I don't find it necessary to thank the driver behind me for obeying the law, he probably only did so because my car would make a mess of his.

Suzie's attitude is that it doesn't hurt to show appreciation, much like my attitude on the bike.

I think I'm less concerned about showing appreciation because driving is normal; merging lanes with other motorists is an every day occurrance and shouldn't be worthy of note. It's a sad indictement on the standard of Australian driving that something as simple as merging correctly is worthy of note.

Cycling on the other hand, well we are relatively unusual to some motorists. I find that most people I talk to aren't aware of the rules governing cyclists and the rights that they have on the road. I guess that's why I'm more inclined to take thanks for the good that comes my way when on the bike.

Hughmann wrote:

Also think and do the same. Says that you recognise that the driver has been courteous and thank him/her (rarely her) for their action.

I assume what you're saying is that you don't need to thank women for their actions because we are often more curteous drivers. That's what I've found anyway.

Anyway, back on topic. I do the same - always give people a wave when they 'go out of their way' to do the right thing by me, even if they are actually required to give way to me by law, it is still unusual so when people actually do it, they either get a wave or I blow them a kiss. Unlike the [censored] tradesman in his [censored] truck who tried to kill me this morning. I have never screamed so much, or so hard in my entire life. I hope he contracts a debilitating disease which kills him slowly and painfully.

Oh, that's my two personalities in the above paragraph. There's the nice side 😄 , then there's the sadistic side 😠.

LotteBum

P.S. My numbered list of bad drivers:

1. Commodores (it doesn't matter who's driving it - fear death!)
2. Any large 4WD
3. Falcons
4. Imports (usually driven by young, reckless males - say no more)

LotteBum said:

1. Commodores (it doesn't matter who's driving it - fear death!)
2. Any large 4WD
3. Falcons
4. Imports (usually driven by young, reckless males - say no more)

5. Anyone using a mobile phone or worse, texting.

LotteBum said:

I assume what you're saying is that you don't need to thank women for their actions because we are often more curteous drivers. That's what I've found anyway.

Hmm not *all of the time*. I've encountered some right silly cows

LotteBum said:

Anyway, back on topic. I do the same - always give people a wave when they 'go out of their way' to do the right thing by me, even if they are actually required to give way to me by law, it is still unusual so when people actually do it, they either get a wave or I blow them a kiss. Unlike the [censored] tradesman in his [censored] truck who tried to kill me this morning. I have never screamed so much, or so hard in my entire life. I hope he contracts a debilitating disease which kills him slowly and painfully.

Worst than any illness - I hope noone ever puts out for him ever again

LotteBum said:

Oh, that's my two personalities in the above paragraph. There's the nice side 😄 , then there's the sadistic side 😠.

Sounds perfectly sane to moi.

LotteBum said:

P.S. My numbered list of bad drivers:

1. Commodores (it doesn't matter who's driving it - fear death!)
2. Any large 4WD
3. Falcons
4. Imports (usually driven by young, reckless males - say no more)

I'd like to add (from a female perspective) - silly highly strung bints in silver bubble cars. There's a frigging plague of 'em out there. I reckon they're just jealous 'cos I've got a great butt & don't need to waste $$$ at the gym whatever.

LotteBum said:

P.S. My numbered list of bad drivers:

1. Commodores (it doesn't matter who's driving it - fear death!)
2. Any large 4WD
3. Falcons
4. Imports (usually driven by young, reckless males - say no more)

good thing we dont want to get stereotyped 🙄

I'm a waver for al lthe above reasons. thumbs up if i can manage it too and a big smile. usually puts a smile on their face too 😄

LotteBum wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

Anyway, back on topic. I do the same - always give people a wave when
they 'go out of their way' to do the right thing by me, even if they
are actually required to give way to me by law, it is still unusual so
when people actually do it, they either get a wave or I blow them a
kiss. Unlike the [censored] tradesman in his [censored] truck who tried to

<snip>

I like to think of it as positive reinforcement, like patting your dog
when he/she sits on command. Sure, maybe the driver was legally required
to give way or not overtake within the lane... but if you give them a
wave to show them you appreciate it, it might just give them some warm
fuzzies so they do it again next time.

Tam

In article <[email hidden]>,

EuanB said:

1. Commodores (it doesn't matter who's driving it - fear death!)
2. Any large 4WD
3. Falcons
4. Imports (usually driven by young, reckless males - say no more)
5. Anyone using a mobile phone or worse, texting.

--
EuanB

That's a pretty comprehensive list. I think it leaves Mitsubishis &
locally made Toyotas.
:-)

--
K.A. Moylan
Ski Club http://www.cccsc.asn.au
[email hidden]

"K.A. Moylan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

EuanB said:

1. Commodores (it doesn't matter who's driving it - fear death!)
2. Any large 4WD
3. Falcons
4. Imports (usually driven by young, reckless males - say no more)
5. Anyone using a mobile phone or worse, texting.

--
EuanB

That's a pretty comprehensive list. I think it leaves Mitsubishis &
locally made Toyotas.

Yup...
Magnas and Camrys to be exact....
I personally place Camry drivers at the top of that list, particularly white
ones. Rarely agressive, just never quite with it.

Hahah it's funny you should say that. On my way to work the other day (on my scooter), a lady in an older white Camry came up behind me, went around me, then cut me off. When I asked her what the [censored] she was doing, she said "you were in my blind spot!". Der honey. Lucky I kind of expected her to do it...

LotteBum

Bob said:

I personally place Camry drivers at the top of that list, particularly white
ones. Rarely agressive, just never quite with it.

Or maybe just unable to see. I've driven a couple and the wing mirrors have
a really small field of view. Not that that's an excuse (we do have eyes
that swivel and necks that can turn).

Graeme

"LotteBum" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hahah it's funny you should say that. On my way to work the other day
(on my scooter), a lady in an older white Camry came up behind me, went
around me, then cut me off. When I asked her what the [censored] she was
doing, she said "you were in my blind spot!". Der honey. Lucky I kind
of expected her to do it...

LotteBum

It's amazing how people can pass you and then claim they never saw you.