Disturbing trend by cyclists

guppy

I apologise, I'm not a cyclist or a regular here, but I would like some views on what I've noticed over the past while.

I've noticed what I find to be a very disturbing trend by cyclists. Recently, no longer than 2 months, I've been given the "Thanks" wave by cyclists for

1. Giving a cyclist 2+ meters space when overtaking him, after slowing down and waiting till I had room.

2. Not turning left when a cyclist was on my inside.

3. Obeying the rules of the road and waiting to enter a roundabout until the cyclist to my right had completed his manoeuvre and passed me.

These are the ones that stick out to me, but there are more.

I find it disturbing cos I feel like I'm being thanked just for not trying to endanger a life. Are things that bad for cyclists? If they are, I admire your tenacity to keep cycling whilst facing that horror daily. I'm much too nervous to try!

billie1b

guppy wrote: »

I apologise, I'm not a cyclist or a regular here, but I would like some views on what I've noticed over the past while.

I've noticed what I find to be a very disturbing trend by cyclists. Recently, no longer than 2 months, I've been given the "Thanks" wave by cyclists for

1. Giving a cyclist 2+ meters space when overtaking him, after slowing down and waiting till I had room.

2. Not turning left when a cyclist was on my inside.

3. Obeying the rules of the road and waiting to enter a roundabout until the cyclist to my right had completed his manoeuvre and passed me.

These are the ones that stick out to me, but there are more.

I find it disturbing cos I feel like I'm being thanked just for not trying to endanger a life. Are things that bad for cyclists? If they are, I admire your tenacity to keep cycling whilst facing that horror daily. I'm much too nervous to try!

This is just normal practise, i'm not a cyclist but again its a bad few in a bunch that make the whole group look bad, I do the same when meeting cyclists on the road as do most drivers but again on the drivers side its a few of the bunch that make the whole group look bad

Darkglasses

Moved to main forum

I don't see it as disturbing, I do it often just to be friendly. People wave a lot where I'm from anyway.

Zyzz

You find it disturbing because for every decent person that respects cyclists there's two more who don't give a flying sh*te!

detones

Oh Thank you so much for obeying the rules of the road, not driving dangerously close to me and not crashing into me as you make a left turn, were so grateful. This is obviously a wind up.

yop

Does this happen in Tipperary by any chance, do you have a video

Its called mutual respect I alway give a wave to those who have patience behind me, some roads i am on on my own are tight in spots and a car can be stuck behind me for 10 or 15 seconds, also I wear my club gear (and boards.ie!) so I want to represent us as having respect for their patience and understanding :d

guppy

I don't thank other drivers for not endangering my life and following the rules of the road though, why would cyclists need to?

Wishbone Ash

I always give a wave or a thumbs up to motorists who show some courtesy (even when I have right of way) as we get often so much bad press.

I like to think I'm perhaps making up for those cyclists who break red lights, don't use lights at night, are generally annoying ar$eholes etc.

brayblue24

detones wrote: »

Oh Thank you so much for obeying the rules of the road, not driving dangerously close to me and not crashing into me as you make a left turn

I have no idea why but I just read this in a Jay from The Inbetweeners voice



I'll get me coat

yop

brayblue24 wrote: »

I have no idea why but I just read this in a Jay from The Inbetweeners voice



I'll get me coat

If you are Will, I'll be over to your mother in 5 minutes!!!!!

guppy

detones wrote: »

Oh Thank you so much for obeying the rules of the road, not driving dangerously close to me and not crashing into me as you make a left turn, were so grateful. This is obviously a wind up.

I wish it was.

WillyFXP

yop wrote: »

If you are Neil, I'll be over to your mother in 5 minutes!!!!!

Wasn't Neil's "mother" a gay Philippino plumber? You may prefer Wills......

Micilin Muc

I give the 'thanks' wave because I will travel the same very busy road for probably the rest of my life. I figure other road users will recognise me and will appreciate our mutual respect for each other!!

brayblue24

WillyFXP wrote: »

Wasn't Neil's "mother" a gay Philippino plumber? You may prefer Wills......

+1


btw Yop-too late, I saw it and I suspect WillyFXP did too

yop

WillyFXP wrote: »

Wasn't Neil's "mother" a gay Philippino plumber? You may prefer Wills......

What you on about *cough cough*

Yes.

Pinch Flat

Will always give a wave if someone lets me turn right - particularly if I'm trying to come across from a combined bus / cycling lane. Cars will also give me right if way coming up a particularly narrow lane near where I live, which I'll acknowledge with a wave. Common manners.

detones

brayblue24 wrote: »

I have no idea why but I just read this in a Jay from The Inbetweeners voice



I'll get me coat

Well I've had enough of this thread b*nders. I'm off to hook up with some Swedish twins in my caravan and i better get to bed early as I have trials for man city in the morning and the Ferrari has been a bit slow starting lately.

brayblue24

detones wrote: »

Well I've had enough of this thread b*nders. I'm off to hook up with some Swedish twins in my caravan and i better get to bed early as I have trials for man city in the morning and the Ferrari has been a bit slow starting lately.

Oooh friend, football friend

guppy

I don't thank other drivers for not endangering my life and following the rules of the road though, why would cyclists need to?

FISMA

guppy wrote: »

I find it disturbing cos I feel like I'm being thanked just for not trying to endanger a life.

Thanks for the post!

I actually laughed as I have made the same observation myself, from the other side.

Where I am, people do not stop for stop signs and cut you off, regularly.

If someone does actually stop, or not pull out in front of you, they look, as if they are waiting to be thanked.

In my neck of the woods, people want to be thanked for not breaking the law.

yop

brayblue24 wrote: »

+1


btw Yop-too late, I saw it and I suspect WillyFXP did too

lol, note my comment at the bottom of it

brayblue24

yop wrote: »

lol, note my comment at the bottom of it

Yep, I was replying to that!!

This is a first, a Boards thread going off topic.....

Lusk_Doyle

guppy wrote: »

I don't thank other drivers for not endangering my life and following the rules of the road though, why would cyclists need to?

Doesn't everyone down there wave at everyone else anyway? Some sort of greeting or acknowledgement of the existence of others?

Cookie_Monster

i do it from time to time, no different to the old 'lift you index finger off the wheel' to another motorist

niceonetom

I find myself giving the occasional bit of positive reinforcement when a driver cuts against the norm for their type - if a white-van-man, chav-in-a-glanza or trophy-wife-in-a-rangerover occasionally acts with unexpected awareness or decency I'll give a little nod.

bazermc

WillyFXP wrote: »

Wasn't Neil's "mother" a gay Philippino plumber? You may prefer Wills......

Wills mother and Neil's sister!

12 sprocket

guppy wrote: »

I don't thank other drivers for not endangering my life and following the rules of the road though, why would cyclists need to?

You might look on it as positive reinforcement and promoting the sport and people involved in it as having some manners..
A motorist will be more inclined to behave well with other cyclists if they have been treated courteously by cyclists when the motorist does the right thing. Over time this can make a big difference.
It might even reduce the amount of complaints about cyclists misbehaving on the roads.

flatface

Yep, I do it all the time. I like to acknowledge considerate actions on the road and try and avoid getting angry about inconsiderate actions. Makes the experience a lot more enjoyable

mamax

Come on guys it's just being polite and showing you appreciate their consideration for the rules of the road and other road users.
I've been witness to this for over 20 years either on my bike, motorcycle or car so I don't get why some of you think it's unusual.
Have you ever tried to drive out of a busy junction and some nice person stops to let you out ? it's the same thing imo.

cdaly_

12 sprocket wrote: »

You might look on it as positive reinforcement and promoting the sport and people involved in it as having some manners..
A motorist will be more inclined to behave well with other cyclists if they have been treated courteously by cyclists when the motorist does the right thing. Over time this can make a big difference.
It might even reduce the amount of complaints about cyclists misbehaving on the roads.

It also seems to be the case that other motorists will follow the good example of one. When driving, I often see cars in front leaving little room when overtaking cyclists. I'll then overtake properly and will see following cars leaving adequate room also.

galwaytown

Cycling around the city is the ultimate nightmare,some motorists just won't move it giving no space and being forced to cycle On the foot path,it's nothing short if ignorance!

Loq

guppy wrote: »

I apologise, I'm not a cyclist or a regular here, but I would like some views on what I've noticed over the past while.

I've noticed what I find to be a very disturbing trend by cyclists. Recently, no longer than 2 months, I've been given the "Thanks" wave by cyclists for

1. Giving a cyclist 2+ meters space when overtaking him, after slowing down and waiting till I had room.

2. Not turning left when a cyclist was on my inside.

3. Obeying the rules of the road and waiting to enter a roundabout until the cyclist to my right had completed his manoeuvre and passed me.

These are the ones that stick out to me, but there are more.

I find it disturbing cos I feel like I'm being thanked just for not trying to endanger a life. Are things that bad for cyclists? If they are, I admire your tenacity to keep cycling whilst facing that horror daily. I'm much too nervous to try!

I cycle the N2 to go to work, I do thank any driver (car/bus/lorry/taxi) that take it's time to let me maneuver, gives me the right of way, because I believe and hope it will reinforce good behavior should be thanked.

In the city, I have had at least 3-4 times to pull the breaks, because while been in the roundabout a driver just refuse to see me or acknowledge I was in the roundabout first and still decide to go in!

Allabaah

Politeness doesn't cost anyone anything and that both applies to cyclists and motorists alike. However I find taxi drivers the worst offenders so I try and give them a wide berth and exercise max caution as the unpredictable nature of their actions leaves something to be desired.

rollingscone

Allabaah wrote: »

Politeness doesn't cost anyone anything and that both applies to cyclists and motorists alike. However I find taxi drivers the worst offenders so I try and give them a wide berth and exercise max caution as the unpredictable nature of their actions leaves something to be desired.

I used to think that taxi drivers had no respect for the rights of cyclists.

Now I realise that they have no respect for anyone else's right to use the road.

Allabaah

rollingscone wrote: »

I used to think that taxi drivers had no respect for the rights of cyclists.

Now I realise that they have no respect for anyone else's right to use the road.

I hear what you are saying!

Beasty

Do not turn this into a tax-driver bashing thread.

Thanks

Beasty

Iwannahurl

I have mixed feelings about this OP.

I nearly always acknowledge drivers who make an effort to accommodate me as a cyclists or pedestrian. For example, when I am doing the school run with my child (who cycles to Senior Infants) we have to traverse several roads where no pedestrian crossings whatsoever are provided. Very often a motorist will stop and let him cross, and I will acknowledge this with a wave (and I encourage my child to do the same).

On the other hand, I am strongly of the opinion that this is not the way road crossings should be. Pedestrians and cyclists should be able to proceed as a matter of priority and right.

When I drive I see things another way. I will stop and let, say, an elderly couple cross at a roundabout or other junction where no help is provided for them. They will break into a trot, scuttling across and waving a hand or even a walking stick in gratitude to the benevolent motorist. Sometimes a motorist behind will beep in frustration at being delayed for 15 seconds.

Then I find myself thinking: "what a sick country this is".

Allabaah

Beasty wrote: »

Do not turn this into a tax-driver bashing thread.

Thanks

Beasty

Not the intention at all Beasty, just a mere observation on my behalf.

NeedMoreGears

I'll generally acknowledge the behaviours mentioned in the OP ; probably more often than their opposite. Positive reinforcement works and generally makes the day more pleasant. Up with this sort of thing!

I do the wave also. If someone does something out of the ordinary like waiting behind you for a chance to pass safely or to let you ahead before turning left then you should acknowledge it.

No different to when somebody stops to let you cross the road if you are on foot, or turn right if you are driving. Would be pretty miserable to just rock on and not even acknowledge it!

Unfortunately anyone who cycles regularly knows that there is a small but sizable % of motorists who just don't give a damn about cyclists or are actively antagonistic. So being nice to people who make an effort is only right.