Should I?

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

Quoted message said:

I have a habit of sometimes waving 'thanks' to motorists who
give way to me when I'm on a roundabout....

On a roundabout I'd rather keep my hands on the bars rather than start
"thanking" people for obeying the highway code!

One day you will need your hands on the bars when you suddenly need to brake
after someone "gives way" to you then promptly drives straight into your
path becasue they "did not see you".......

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

Quoted message said:

I have a habit of sometimes waving 'thanks' to motorists who
give way to me when I'm on a roundabout, or desist
from squeezing past me on a narrow section of road.

Is this right, because it will encourage them to do
the same the next time they encounter another cyclist
in the same situation?

Or is this wrong because it will make them think that
they are somehow doing me a 'favour' instead of obeying
the HC, and that they would be justified in not doing
the same if they were in a hurry next time? (Remember that
not every motorist believes - albeit wrongly - that cyclists
have quite the same status on the roads as other vehicles.)

--

Sure when its safe to do, when driving if someone gives way I'll acknowledge
them with a small raused hand, they will do the same, a little courtesy
helps the world go round, or something.

BTW, and this isn't necessarily directed at you, people arent 'drivers' or
'cyclists' etc, they drive ride or walk. That driver who gave way to you
might also be a cyclist sometimes. Maybe it was me :-)

--
Tumbleweed

Remove my socks for email address

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

Quoted message said:

I have a habit of sometimes waving 'thanks' to motorists who
give way to me when I'm on a roundabout, or desist
from squeezing past me on a narrow section of road.

Is this right, because it will encourage them to do
the same the next time they encounter another cyclist
in the same situation?

Or is this wrong because it will make them think that
they are somehow doing me a 'favour' instead of obeying
the HC, and that they would be justified in not doing
the same if they were in a hurry next time? (Remember that
not every motorist believes - albeit wrongly - that cyclists
have quite the same status on the roads as other vehicles.)

--
Akin

aknak at aksoto dot idps dot co dot uk

I don't believe there can ever be too much politeness out on the roads.
As a driver, I don't sit there thinking I've done that cyclist a favour when
one waves. I tend to believe that they're just grateful that they haven't
had another git trying to get to the next jam faster than them.
As a cyclist I always wave. Anything to help get them out of the trance they
normally drive around in.
Dave.

"(t'other) Dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

I have a habit of sometimes waving 'thanks' to motorists who
give way to me when I'm on a roundabout, or desist
from squeezing past me on a narrow section of road.

Is this right, because it will encourage them to do
the same the next time they encounter another cyclist
in the same situation?

Or is this wrong because it will make them think that
they are somehow doing me a 'favour' instead of obeying
the HC, and that they would be justified in not doing
the same if they were in a hurry next time? (Remember that
not every motorist believes - albeit wrongly - that cyclists
have quite the same status on the roads as other vehicles.)

--
Akin

aknak at aksoto dot idps dot co dot uk

I don't believe there can ever be too much politeness out on the roads.

So long as it doesn't lead to "After you, Claude"
"No, after *you*"
"No, after *you*"

Then both decide to go at the same time.

Which is why (generally) :

If it's your right-of-way - take it (provided doing so isn't going to cause
a problem)
If it's NOT your right-of-way - give it.

Sometimes, there are occasions when it would have been nice to stop and,
say, let someone cross. Great - until motorbike man thunders up the outside
("Wot's 'ee bloody well 'angin' around for"😉 .... and ploughs into the
people who are crossing in front of your vehicle. Who *caused* the
accident?

Better - safer - for *everyone* to *know* the rules, and *abide by them.*.
Then we all might have some chance of knowing what other people are doing
.....

Quoted message said:

As a driver, I don't sit there thinking I've done that cyclist a favour

when

Quoted message said:

one waves. I tend to believe that they're just grateful that they haven't
had another git trying to get to the next jam faster than them.
As a cyclist I always wave. Anything to help get them out of the trance

they

Quoted message said:

normally drive around in.
Dave.

Wild Wind said:

I have a habit of sometimes waving 'thanks' to motorists who
give way to me when I'm on a roundabout, or desist
from squeezing past me on a narrow section of road.

Is this right, because it will encourage them to do
the same the next time they encounter another cyclist
in the same situation?

Or is this wrong because it will make them think that
they are somehow doing me a 'favour' instead of obeying
the HC, and that they would be justified in not doing
the same if they were in a hurry next time? (Remember that
not every motorist believes - albeit wrongly - that cyclists
have quite the same status on the roads as other vehicles.)

(Posted from urc) Yes, I think you should. Not because it makes
them feel good because they are doing you a favour, but because
it reinforces their awareness of cyclists, and that they appreciate
being treated as proper road users when so often they are not.
It's more likely that they'll do it again, and also the the person
behind will notice and do it next time.

--
Trevor Barton

In general I hate these people who reverse the rules of the road in the hope
of collecting a wave. It leads to confusion. It is particularly annoying
when the car 'giving way' would be better getting out of the way and leaving
you to make your own decisions instead of 'waving you out' to get a little
wave.

Why do some drivers show more consideration to rat runners on side roads
than the 20 cars behind them. Will they let me in to the check-out queue at
the supermarket???

--

Regards

John

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

Quoted message said:

Wild Wind said:

I have a habit of sometimes waving 'thanks' to motorists who
give way to me when I'm on a roundabout, or desist
from squeezing past me on a narrow section of road.

Is this right, because it will encourage them to do
the same the next time they encounter another cyclist
in the same situation?

Or is this wrong because it will make them think that
they are somehow doing me a 'favour' instead of obeying
the HC, and that they would be justified in not doing
the same if they were in a hurry next time? (Remember that
not every motorist believes - albeit wrongly - that cyclists
have quite the same status on the roads as other vehicles.)

(Posted from urc) Yes, I think you should. Not because it makes
them feel good because they are doing you a favour, but because
it reinforces their awareness of cyclists, and that they appreciate
being treated as proper road users when so often they are not.
It's more likely that they'll do it again, and also the the person
behind will notice and do it next time.

--
Trevor Barton

---
All of my outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.692 / Virus Database: 453 - Release Date: 28/05/2004

In news:1EOvc.1262$iN6.232@newsfe2-win,
John <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

In general I hate these people who reverse the rules of the road in
the hope of collecting a wave. It leads to confusion. It is
particularly annoying when the car 'giving way' would be better
getting out of the way and leaving you to make your own decisions
instead of 'waving you out' to get a little wave.

Yes, it's very annoying when the car inquestion has a huge gap behind them
and you're just ready to go once they're out of the way, and then suddenly
they throw your timing out by stopping. Happens when cycling, walking or
driving in my experience.

A

Wild Wind said:

I have a habit of sometimes waving 'thanks' to motorists who
give way to me when I'm on a roundabout, or desist
from squeezing past me on a narrow section of road.

Quoted message said:

Is this right, because it will encourage them to do
the same the next time they encounter another cyclist
in the same situation?

I would say that it is right.

Exactly that (the holding back at a deliberately-narrowed part of the road)
happened today, and the cyclist acknowledged it.

Courtesy costs nowt.

Quoted message said:

Or is this wrong because it will make them think that
they are somehow doing me a 'favour' instead of obeying
the HC, and that they would be justified in not doing
the same if they were in a hurry next time? (Remember that
not every motorist believes - albeit wrongly - that cyclists
have quite the same status on the roads as other vehicles.)

Well, that depends on the situation.

In the absence of lane-lines, for instance, there is nothing (except space)
to stop a driver squeezing past at a restriction. That he does not do so is
a courtesy (as well as common sense). It is a good idea to acknowledge
courtesy.

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.693 / Virus Database: 454 - Release Date: 01/06/04

John said:

In general I hate these people who reverse the rules of the road in
the hope of collecting a wave. It leads to confusion. It is
particularly annoying when the car 'giving way' would be better
getting out of the way and leaving you to make your own decisions
instead of 'waving you out' to get a little wave.

Quoted message said:

Why do some drivers show more consideration to rat runners on side
roads than the 20 cars behind them. Will they let me in to the
check-out queue at the supermarket???

How do you know they are rat-runners?

How do you expect the driver of the car in front to know they are
rat-runners?

Couldn't they live in that road or another one running off it?

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.693 / Virus Database: 454 - Release Date: 01/06/04

Reply to Trevor Barton

Quoted message said:

(Posted from urc) Yes, I think you should. Not because it makes
them feel good because they are doing you a favour, but because
it reinforces their awareness of cyclists, and that they appreciate
being treated as proper road users when so often they are not.
It's more likely that they'll do it again, and also the the person
behind will notice and do it next time.

Absolutely. The thread is going in two slightly different directions:
the "giving up right of way" thing, which should only be offered or
accepted with caution, and the "thanks for a small favour" thing,
which helps the world go round, and (to me, at least) gives the
impression that we'll all get where we're going a bit more easily.

What I like about waves of thanks is that sudden little shock of
perception that the other person in the transaction is *not* an
anonymous "driver", or a "cyclist" or whatever, but another human
being. Or maybe I'm just having an old hippie moment. :-)

--
Mark, UK.
We hope to hear him swear, we love to hear him squeak,
We like to see him biting fingers in his horny beak.

Wild Wind said:

I have a habit of sometimes waving 'thanks' to motorists who
give way to me when I'm on a roundabout, or desist
from squeezing past me on a narrow section of road.

Is this right, because it will encourage them to do
the same the next time they encounter another cyclist
in the same situation?

Or is this wrong because it will make them think that
they are somehow doing me a 'favour' instead of obeying
the HC, and that they would be justified in not doing
the same if they were in a hurry next time? (Remember that
not every motorist believes - albeit wrongly - that cyclists
have quite the same status on the roads as other vehicles.)

Think about your children. Do you reward them for good behaviour or ignore
them because otherwise they might think good behaviour is something special?

Tony

Wild Wind said:

I have a habit of sometimes waving 'thanks' to motorists who
give way to me when I'm on a roundabout, or desist
from squeezing past me on a narrow section of road.

Is this right, because it will encourage them to do
the same the next time they encounter another cyclist
in the same situation?

It's what I do. Behaving in a polite manner just helps oil the gears on
which society runs. And IME motorists do it back to me as well. It
just makes me feel that everyone is making an effort to look after one
other, which is a Good Thing.

Quoted message said:

Or is this wrong because it will make them think that
they are somehow doing me a 'favour' instead of obeying
the HC, and that they would be justified in not doing
the same if they were in a hurry next time?

I don't think so. I see it as acknowledging good, considerate driving.
Otherwise doing the right thing isn't seen as anything special, which
I think it should be.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

John said:

In general I hate these people who reverse the rules of the road in the hope
of collecting a wave.

Bit of a sweeping assumption. Last time I gave up a right of way was
going up a steep hill with the cars parked on the other side, so the car
coming down technically had to cede RoW to me. It was a steep hill and
I had a heavy load, I'd have taken ages on the bike, so I pulled in and
waved him down. Delayed me a few seconds, saved delaying him a couple
of minutes. It was just the most obviously fair thing to do.

Quoted message said:

Why do some drivers show more consideration to rat runners on side roads
than the 20 cars behind them. Will they let me in to the check-out queue at
the supermarket???

There are people living in side roads too. If nobody gives way to them
then they could be stuck there for ages, letting them out doesn't cost
anyone on the main road more than a few seconds. People can spare
seconds easily as that sort of delay is factored in to most journeys.

No, they won't let them in at a supermarket, as there isn't a RoW
conflict that could cause them to be held up 10 times longer than anyone
else joining the system.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Trevor Barton <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

(Posted from urc) Yes, I think you should. Not because it makes
them feel good because they are doing you a favour, but because
it reinforces their awareness of cyclists, and that they appreciate
being treated as proper road users when so often they are not.
It's more likely that they'll do it again, and also the the person
behind will notice and do it next time.

Behavioural psychology 101. Behaviour that is positively reinforced,
i.e. rewarded, is more likely to be repeated. A smile and a nod does
this quite effectively.

--
Dave...

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

Quoted message said:

I have a habit of sometimes waving 'thanks' to motorists who
give way to me when I'm on a roundabout,

I'm not sure what the detailed circumstances are when you wave...

It seems obvious that you are not taking your first exit,
and that there is no traffic behind you on the roundabout;
so you are probably well out from the left of the road.
If you are taking the next exit, you should be about to
signal left; if you are going past the next (second) exit,
you would be signalling right, and the car might be able
to pull out anyway. Either way, how would you wave?

Wild Wind:

Quoted message said:

Is this right, because it will encourage them to do
the same the next time they encounter another cyclist
in the same situation?

It's right because it shows your gratitude for their courtesy. If they did
it for you this time, chances are they are the sort of considerate person
that would do the same for someone else on another occasion anyway.

Quoted message said:

Or is this wrong because it will make them think that
they are somehow doing me a 'favour' instead of obeying
the HC

The world would be a much better place if all road users were more courteous
to each other - cyclists, motorists, pedestrians, everyone. Whether they are
doing it because they feel they have to or because they are just being
courteous, it is always right to acknowledge the 'favour'.

Quoted message said:

and that they would be justified in not doing
the same if they were in a hurry next time?

Well, you would be justified in giving them a different hand signal on that
occasion.

d.

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

Quoted message said:

Wild Wind:

Quoted message said:

Is this right, because it will encourage them to do
the same the next time they encounter another cyclist
in the same situation?

It's right because it shows your gratitude for their courtesy. If they did
it for you this time, chances are they are the sort of considerate person
that would do the same for someone else on another occasion anyway.

True.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Or is this wrong because it will make them think that
they are somehow doing me a 'favour' instead of obeying
the HC

The world would be a much better place if all road users were more courteous
to each other - cyclists, motorists, pedestrians, everyone. Whether they are
doing it because they feel they have to or because they are just being
courteous, it is always right to acknowledge the 'favour'.

True.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and that they would be justified in not doing
the same if they were in a hurry next time?

Well, you would be justified in giving them a different hand signal on that
occasion.

False.

You SHOULD put something 'descriptive' in the SUBJECT line, that's what is
there for !!!
Martin

"Martin²" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You SHOULD put something 'descriptive' in the SUBJECT line, that's what is
there for !!!

Don't sweat the small stuff.