Is there a safe way to show support while driving?
#26
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One way to show your support is to attend your municipal advisory meetings on cycle safety and traffic planning. There's one here in Los Angeles tonight and I'll be there.
#27
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You don't need to show support, just be respectful and safe as you should around any other driver.
#28
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Yes, drive safe around cyclists - and be a good example for other drivers to follow.
#29
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When I see cars with bikes on the back, I don't think 'hey, they support cycling', I think 'why aren't they riding it?'.
#30
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Thumbs up, waves and big smiles are nice. I like it when I get 'em.
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For the most part when i'm driving i advocate by treating the cyclist the way i'd want to be treated on the road, and wave hello or give them a wave.
#32
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#33
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#34
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when i worked at a mechanics shop we had a customer that worked at a car accessory shop and did vinyl work. i had him make me a bumber sticker that said "my other car is a bicycle"
when a cyclist came up to me at a light they'd be laughing and just say "nice bumper sticker, man" or something to that effect. that was my support. i've since sold that car and have no intentions of getting another for a long time. but i just figured i'd do that since i hate people honking even when it's friendly, and generally i can't tell what someone is yelling or doing with their hands so i don't do that. at a light a thumbs up is probably recognizable, but it could easily seem sarcastic i guess, and if the car is moving it would probably look like a different finger is extended.
kyle
when a cyclist came up to me at a light they'd be laughing and just say "nice bumper sticker, man" or something to that effect. that was my support. i've since sold that car and have no intentions of getting another for a long time. but i just figured i'd do that since i hate people honking even when it's friendly, and generally i can't tell what someone is yelling or doing with their hands so i don't do that. at a light a thumbs up is probably recognizable, but it could easily seem sarcastic i guess, and if the car is moving it would probably look like a different finger is extended.
kyle
#35
Cycle Year Round
In my case, it means I am taking my wife's car in for expensive repairs and I would rather ride my bicycle while the repairs are being done, rather than sit on my ass (four new tires Tuesday $390).
#36
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We could copy the bumpersticker from motorcycles, and say Look Twice! Save a Life. Bicycles are everywhere.
roughstuff
roughstuff
#37
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I never said it was an entirely rational thought process. No need to defend yourself to me, dude.
#39
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I was out riding with my kids recently. There is a road with a nice, wide and fairly clean shoulder that we were riding on. I was a little ahead, and a car honked at my kids, and then honked at me. I dutifully flipped them off, and when they passed, I was surprised to see that the car had 2 expensive bikes on a roof rack. I dunno about some people, I can't imagine a cyclist that thinks honking is anything other than an aggressive act.
When I'm driving, I just try to pass cyclists as responsibly and quickly as possible. I prefer to be passed with as little fuss as possible. I wouldn't like it if someone was disrupting traffic behind me in some effort to "help" me. I recall one ride where someone refused to pass me for many miles for absolutely no reason. They built up a huge line of cars behind me. That was incredibly annoying. The other drivers don't get pissed at the car driver, they get pissed at the cyclist.
When I'm driving, I just try to pass cyclists as responsibly and quickly as possible. I prefer to be passed with as little fuss as possible. I wouldn't like it if someone was disrupting traffic behind me in some effort to "help" me. I recall one ride where someone refused to pass me for many miles for absolutely no reason. They built up a huge line of cars behind me. That was incredibly annoying. The other drivers don't get pissed at the car driver, they get pissed at the cyclist.
#40
Kyleness
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When I'm driving, I just try to pass cyclists as responsibly and quickly as possible. I prefer to be passed with as little fuss as possible. I wouldn't like it if someone was disrupting traffic behind me in some effort to "help" me. I recall one ride where someone refused to pass me for many miles for absolutely no reason. They built up a huge line of cars behind me. That was incredibly annoying. The other drivers don't get pissed at the car driver, they get pissed at the cyclist.
kyle
#41
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https://www.cafepress.com/sharetheroad
#42
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I love cycling, and I love cyclist. However, recently, I've been at a conundrum: Is there a way to show your approval / support for fellow cyclist on the road? Rather, is there a SAFE way to do so?
I always thought maybe a thumbs-up or something would suffice, but that seems kind of odd. I know riding the bike on the roads around here can be quite degrading - people honk at you, scream at you, mock you, do just about anything to make you miserable, so I want to show them that not all drivers are ignorant and stereotypical rednecks.
I've done the thumbs up before, too. <_< They wave and seem to smile when they see it, if they see it. Others kind of cock their head and look at you funny.
I always thought maybe a thumbs-up or something would suffice, but that seems kind of odd. I know riding the bike on the roads around here can be quite degrading - people honk at you, scream at you, mock you, do just about anything to make you miserable, so I want to show them that not all drivers are ignorant and stereotypical rednecks.
I've done the thumbs up before, too. <_< They wave and seem to smile when they see it, if they see it. Others kind of cock their head and look at you funny.
Last edited by Mr Danw; 08-18-08 at 08:26 PM.
#43
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The other night I was stopped at a light on a busy intersection. There was a car next to me sharing the lane. The light went green, and I jumped on it. I usually get to the other side of the intersection before the cars, so at first I didn't pay much attention to the fact that the car which had been waiting alongside me in the intersection had not yet passed me. But by the time I was two intersection-widths past the intersection, I began wondering what became of the car.
I became aware that the car was hanging back, sort of behind me. It had plenty of room to get around me, but was just kind of slowing traffic down behind it and hanging a car length or two behind me. Wierd... by now I'm going about 24mph thanks to a little tailwind.
A half mile later, the car passed me, and someone in the back rolled down the window to shout, "Good going, keep it up!!!"
Probably the nicest thing anyone has shouted to me from a passing car, and I actually appreciated it.
I became aware that the car was hanging back, sort of behind me. It had plenty of room to get around me, but was just kind of slowing traffic down behind it and hanging a car length or two behind me. Wierd... by now I'm going about 24mph thanks to a little tailwind.
A half mile later, the car passed me, and someone in the back rolled down the window to shout, "Good going, keep it up!!!"
Probably the nicest thing anyone has shouted to me from a passing car, and I actually appreciated it.
#44
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Last week I had my first incident of random yelling from a passing car while I was riding both legally and safely, so it made yesterday's incident that much more rewarding:
On my ride home I was stopped at a light, and as I was looking around the woman in the car next to me gave me a "thumbs up" with a big smile.
On my ride home I was stopped at a light, and as I was looking around the woman in the car next to me gave me a "thumbs up" with a big smile.
#45
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