Waving at cops
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,995
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2700 Post(s)
Liked 486 Times
in
351 Posts
Waving at cops
I wave at most every cyclist, jogger, and motorcyclist, but the only cars I wave to are cops. I wave at all cops in hope of getting goodwill with their department so they look the other way if they catch me doing something bad at stopsigns or whatnot. Do any of you wave at cops for similar reasons? Its gotten me out of some scraps, most of the force knows me and waves
#2
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: Northeastern Oregon
Posts: 249
Bikes: 2021 Trek Verve 2 Disk
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 130 Post(s)
Liked 119 Times
in
80 Posts
I typically give cops a nod… but then again I always acknowledge them when I’m out and about.
Last fall I was out on an evening ride when it got darker awe fully fast in me… I signaled for my last left hand turn and checked my blind spot. I saw a car with its high beams on coming a little faster than anticipated so I slowed down to let the car pass before making my turn. The car shot past me and I started to pull into the lane to make my turn when I saw flashing lights…
I thought to my self… “ohh no I just pulled out in front of a coo and he’s pulling me over for being careless riding without a light.”
I started to pull back to the right when he (the police officer) blipped his siren to get my attention. He was leaning out of his window waving me on to make my turn. Then he fallowed me the two blocks back to my home with his rear lights flashing giving me light.
When I pulled into my drive way I turned around and gave him a huge wave. He stopped and rolled down his window and told me to have a good night, and to remember my light next time.
(I recognized the officer after he stopped to chat, he was the same officer who helped recover my bike stolen a few weeks earlier, and I have since learned he too is an avid cyclist and we have gone on several rides together since then.)
Last fall I was out on an evening ride when it got darker awe fully fast in me… I signaled for my last left hand turn and checked my blind spot. I saw a car with its high beams on coming a little faster than anticipated so I slowed down to let the car pass before making my turn. The car shot past me and I started to pull into the lane to make my turn when I saw flashing lights…
I thought to my self… “ohh no I just pulled out in front of a coo and he’s pulling me over for being careless riding without a light.”
I started to pull back to the right when he (the police officer) blipped his siren to get my attention. He was leaning out of his window waving me on to make my turn. Then he fallowed me the two blocks back to my home with his rear lights flashing giving me light.
When I pulled into my drive way I turned around and gave him a huge wave. He stopped and rolled down his window and told me to have a good night, and to remember my light next time.
(I recognized the officer after he stopped to chat, he was the same officer who helped recover my bike stolen a few weeks earlier, and I have since learned he too is an avid cyclist and we have gone on several rides together since then.)
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,389
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,971 Times
in
1,918 Posts
If the conditions allow, pending I notice them, I'll gesture to them with acknowledgement. It's not for the reasons that you have in place, just a polite acknowledgement.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#4
Happy With My Bikes
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,186
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 884 Post(s)
Liked 2,307 Times
in
1,117 Posts
When I see cops, I toss my half empty bottle of vodka into a dumpster.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
Likes For Chuck M:
70sSanO, bargo68, Barry2, big john, Fahrenheit531, Fredo76, Ghazmh, Gyro, indyfabz, kahn, Koyote, nomadmax, Polaris OBark, Rage, SurferRosa, t2p, tankist, tempocyclist, veganbikes, vespasianus, WhyFi
#5
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
Likes For wolfchild:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18415 Post(s)
Liked 15,545 Times
in
7,329 Posts
Already.
Likes For indyfabz:
#7
only here for the "LIKES"
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: squirrel cage of anxiety and delusion
Posts: 478
Mentioned: 143 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1642 Post(s)
Liked 2,236 Times
in
1,050 Posts
Originally Posted by Crashy McCrasherson
I wave at most every cyclist, jogger, and motorcyclist, but the only cars I wave to are cops. I wave at all cops in hope of getting goodwill with their department so they look the other way if they catch me doing something bad at stopsigns or whatnot. Do any of you wave at cops for similar reasons? Its gotten me out of some scraps, most of the force knows me and waves
Likes For hazetguy:
#8
For The Fun of It
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Louisissippi Coast
Posts: 5,852
Bikes: Lynskey GR300, Lynskey Backroad, Litespeed T6, Lynskey MT29, Burley Duet
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2135 Post(s)
Liked 1,647 Times
in
829 Posts
I say something nice to all of the dogs that I encounter, other than pit bulls. I hate pit bulls. I guess that makes me a breedist.
Likes For DonkeyShow:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 4,083
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2333 Post(s)
Liked 2,097 Times
in
1,314 Posts
You think a wave will get you a break? Haha
I donated a large sum of money to my local PD when they were raising money to build a new station. It don't mean jack. Trust me on that!
What does help is a gold plated family card from the State Police. Local cops will call the Statie to confirm and then dispose of the murder weapon or half empty bottle of vodka as the case may be.
I donated a large sum of money to my local PD when they were raising money to build a new station. It don't mean jack. Trust me on that!
What does help is a gold plated family card from the State Police. Local cops will call the Statie to confirm and then dispose of the murder weapon or half empty bottle of vodka as the case may be.
#11
-------
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Tejas
Posts: 12,795
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9653 Post(s)
Liked 6,365 Times
in
3,505 Posts
The local chief is a good friend. When I see him in uniform and on duty I flip him off and call him a pig. He has choice words for me as well.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,109
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 822 Post(s)
Liked 1,960 Times
in
943 Posts
The two best work supervisors I ever had in 40 years of employment were retired homicide detectives.
Damn Right I wave and acknowledge law enforcement officers.
Damn Right I wave and acknowledge law enforcement officers.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,949
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3952 Post(s)
Liked 7,297 Times
in
2,947 Posts
Even more importantly, always wave at the district attorney and local judges. That saved my bacon just last week; I was looking at some hard time for armed robbery, but the judge recognized me from cycling and let me off with a warning. He also let me keep the money from the robbery, and told me to put it towards a new Aethos!
#14
Roadie
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Southern NJ
Posts: 75
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Liked 57 Times
in
29 Posts
I acknowledge a lot of people when I ride. A wave to other riders, police, or a motorist who showed some awareness of me. I try to look predictable and aware of those around me. Will any of this get me out of a ticket? Doubtful.
Likes For Pinelander:
#15
Pennylane Splitter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 1,879
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1802 Post(s)
Liked 1,439 Times
in
989 Posts
Nope, I keep my hands on the handlebars and eyes on the road so the cop doesn't have to worry about me. If I approach an intersection and there's a vehicle (any vehicle, even a PD cruiser) waiting to cross it in front of me, I'll wave them through and wave as they go by; getting hit by a 4,000lb vehicle going even a minimal 15 mph will not end well for a bicycle rider, even if that rider legally has the right-of-way.
#16
Senior Member
I generally acknowledge LEOs when out for a ride. Since I (also generally) follow the rules of the road, use hand signals and wear a helmet, I think it’s important to let them know that there ARE cyclists that do so.
Likes For sovende:
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,995
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2700 Post(s)
Liked 486 Times
in
351 Posts
still trying to figure a way out of that ticket? or was that a bit of fiction: https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...l#post22567033
#18
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times
in
1,439 Posts
I do my best to ignore cops completely. No eye contact, no wave, no acknowledgment whatsoever.
Likes For Rolla:
#19
Happy With My Bikes
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,186
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 884 Post(s)
Liked 2,307 Times
in
1,117 Posts
You're just giving him half a peace sign.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
#20
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,036
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2239 Post(s)
Liked 3,434 Times
in
1,797 Posts
still trying to figure a way out of that ticket? or was that a bit of fiction: https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...l#post22567033
#21
Squeaky Wheel
I give cops a wave. My oldest son is a cop and given what he experiences every day, I cannot help but respect our LEO's who serve and protect. So a little acknowledging wave is a small thing.
FWIW, Cyclists here can treat stop signs as yields, so I dont have to worry about being pulled over for rolling a stop.
FWIW, Cyclists here can treat stop signs as yields, so I dont have to worry about being pulled over for rolling a stop.
Likes For woodway:
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18415 Post(s)
Liked 15,545 Times
in
7,329 Posts
Last time I toured there was in 2019. I tend to obey local traffic laws strictly when I visit distant communities. I had to laugh at myself after riding around Wallace for a bit when I realized I had been stopping at every stop sign a red light even though there was basically no traffic. (In Idaho you can treat a red light as a yield sign after coming to a complete stop first.)
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18415 Post(s)
Liked 15,545 Times
in
7,329 Posts