When we're heading up the hill, which has many blind corners, I routinely give hand signals to hold cars back (keep them from passing) when I can see ahead and there's a car heading down. Likewise I'll give hand signals to cars coming down the hill, telling them to slow down, when there's a car coming up from behind us.
I stopped that after a ride organizer (years ago - don't remember which) asked us not to do it. His concern was that an automobile would follow the handsigns without due caution and have an accident and come back and sue. After thinking it over, I concur with that. I don't wave a cyclist through an intersection and don't follow someone on that basis either - I prefer to check things out for myself. I think it is a good policy for automobiles as well.
Shouting a caution is one thing - telling someone in effect that things are clear is another IMO.
Curtis L. Russell Odenton, MD (USA) Just someone on two wheels...
I stopped that after a ride organizer (years ago - don't remember which) asked us not to do it. His concern was that an automobile would follow the handsigns without due caution and have an accident and come
I actually did this once as a driver. I wanted to make a left turn across a busy four-lane road with traffic backed up at a stoplight. The person in the nearest lane stopped, leaving a gap, and waved me through. I was young and dumb and just went, and got t-boned at about 40 MPH[1]. No major injuries to any party, but totally my fault.
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back and sue.
This I did not do.
-- Dan
[1] To make matters worse, I had just had $300 in repairs made and was leaving the lot of the auto shop.
When we're heading up the hill, which has many blind corners, I routinely give hand signals to hold cars back (keep them from passing) when I can
see
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
ahead and there's a car heading down. Likewise I'll give hand signals to cars coming down the hill, telling them to slow down, when there's a car coming up from behind us.
I stopped that after a ride organizer (years ago - don't remember which) asked us not to do it. His concern was that an automobile would follow the handsigns without due caution and have an accident and come back and sue. After thinking it over, I concur with that. I don't wave a cyclist through an intersection and don't follow someone on that basis either - I prefer to check things out for myself. I think it is a good policy for automobiles as well.
But again, the initial example I gave was not about waving somebody through, but rather holding them back. I really can't see a downside to giving a handsignal to a car telling them that it's presently unsafe to pass. I do see your point in terms of waving them through however.
When we're heading up the hill, which has many blind corners, I routinely give hand signals to hold cars back (keep them from passing) when I can
see
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
ahead and there's a car heading down. Likewise I'll give hand signals to cars coming down the hill, telling them to slow down, when there's a car coming up from behind us.
I stopped that after a ride organizer (years ago - don't remember which) asked us not to do it. His concern was that an automobile would follow the handsigns without due caution and have an accident and come back and sue. After thinking it over, I concur with that. I don't wave a cyclist through an intersection and don't follow someone on that basis either - I prefer to check things out for myself. I think it is a good policy for automobiles as well.
But again, the initial example I gave was not about waving somebody through, but rather holding them back. I really can't see a downside to giving a handsignal to a car telling them that it's presently unsafe to pass. I do see your point in terms of waving them through however.
That I agre with 100%, let them decide if it's safe but inform them when it's not.
But again, the initial example I gave was not about waving somebody through, but rather holding them back. I really can't see a downside to giving a handsignal to a car telling them that it's presently unsafe to pass. I do see your point in terms of waving them through however.
I agree. I think I have only held a person back once. It was on a rural road and I was going a good clip on a Sunday morning. A car came up behind me, not too fast, and started to pass. It was double yellow. I moved to my left a little with my left arm extended and hand back. He dropped back. He had not seen a car that had dropped into a little fold in the terrain and had just popped up. Had he gone around he would have almost certainly had a head on collision. When it was clear, they passed. The lady in the passanger seat smiles and waved at me as they went by and the guy behind the wheel looked mighty sheepish. I think he had just gotten an earful. From the looks of how they were dressed and the time of the morning, I think they were on their way to church.
