Do you thank courteous drivers?

Adamskii

I always like to put my hand up and signal to those drivers who show patience and wait for a clear opportunity to pass safely.

Those impatient idiots that squeeze past and then proceed to close the gap to the kerb forcing you to brake receive the alternative two fingered signal!

BentMikey

Yes, always thank courtesy!!

dirk_van_gently

I always acknowledge patience, and like Adamskii always use "alternative" signals to those that don't.

secretsam

Yup, it's good manners, same as when driving

BentMikey

I don't think it's good to use "alternative" signs to the bad drivers. Not that I'm always good on this one, but it's better not to, because it usually only reflects badly on yourself, and sometimes may be wrong and unjustified.

dirk_van_gently

Mikey, yes I know, but sometimes you just have to vent your spleen.

Adamskii

It takes a saint not to react to bad driving sometimes especially when you life is at risk. I'm not a saint!

ChrisLS

...yes always ...and try not to react to bad driving :? ...

Clever Pun

I'll give em a thumbs up to say thanks if they've not pushed through me to get 5 yards ahead.

whyamihere

Thumbs up generally. Sadly, I only do it a couple of times each day, as nobody else is nice enough to deserve one.

Matteeboy

Always but I get narked with stroppy drivers.

Cycle along a long section of narrow country lane each day and some drivers get stuck behind me. If they drive up my backside, I make them wait, if they hang back a bit, I pull over and let them past - Power to the Cyclist!

cee

I like to, particularly when I notice buses or lorries NOT overtaking just to stop or turn left ahead!

psychle

Matteeboy wrote:

Always but I get narked with stroppy drivers.

Cycle along a long section of narrow country lane each day and some drivers get stuck behind me. If they drive up my backside, I make them wait, if they hang back a bit, I pull over and let them past - Power to the Cyclist!

So it's not just me, then. If I'm shown respect and courtesy, I reciprocate.

But how often do drivers thank courteous cyclists?

There's an uphill, twisting country road near home. Recently there were roadworks and TTLs on it. One day I came up to the lights, there was a car waiting and none of the lights were illuminated. Were they out of use or was it just the red light bulb that was broken? The bend in the road meant we couldn't see the other end of the coned-off section. I waited behind the car for a while and we were joined by several more. Eventually I decided to head off. Sure enough, just as I did so, a car came in the opposite direction. No problem on the bike, I just moved between the cones till he'd passed. On getting round the bend I could see the road was clear ahead and that the lights were not functioning, so I looked back and waved the cars through.

Did I get any thanks? Well, what do you think :?:

nwallace

Ticked, "Yes, occasionally" because it isn't always safe to make a thank you gesture.

Generally I don't seem to see the level of crapness when I am out cycling that gets a twin tone salute when i'm driving (yes short tempered). (Things liek cars exiting a junction on the wrong side, driving down the wrong side and continuing on the wrong side to the front of a set of parking spaces where there are double yellows that they insist on parking on to save 2m of the walk to the chipper. Also the Landy parked diagonally across a bus stop.

Do see enough for a short burst of verbal abuse in both cases.

Managed to keep my gob shut on the bus when a cyclist sitting in the 1st lane of a 5 exit circle, looking like they were taking exit 2, acting like they were taking exit 2 (The bus driver had held back until round the same point I thought the cyclist was def taking exit 2). Decided they were actually taking exit 4 (right) and looked annoyed to discover the bus (taking exit 4) alongside in the 2nd lane after he had almost rode straight into the side.

snooks

Been on the receiving end of quite a few "thank you"s, and I try to say thanks when I can, because to quote a line from Blur "it gives me enormous sense of well being" it's not hard and a little courtesy goes a long way
.

mrchrispy

if someone hangs back and then gives me plenty of room when they pass I always give them either a thumbs up or a wave.

Chewy Cheeks

I always try to remember to show gratitiute at patient / considerste driving.

Some driver's do too, some drivers don't

As a driver as well its always appreciated when someone says thanks.

When folk make blunders they acknowledge and no-ones hurt then you have to say "thank goodness". If people act like they are trying to hurt me I try to ask if they understand the consequences, sometimes it leads to understanding other times it doesn't

I just want to make sure I see as much of my family as I can, ranting, raising the blood pressure and making situations worse put's it at risk and makes me enjoy it a bit less, so I'm trying to handle it all a bit better.

Bassjunkieuk

I ticked yes always but as someone mentioned earlier it's not always safe to thank them, in which case i will usually try to make eye contact and nod!

I believe what goes around comes around, so if I thank drivers for their courteous behavior they just might think better of other cyclist and that makes all our lives easier, the same goes for when I'm driving. If someone stops to let me through a narrow gap I'll always either flash them (with my headlights, stop sniggering!!) or wave to say thank you. I get rather annoyed if I stop for someone and they just cruise on through as if I wasn't there!

I have to admit tho I am also just as likely to react to poor drving, not necessarily with a 2 finger salute but a good stare and a hand up in the eye in a "wtf" motion is my usual reaction.

clanton

Had one yesterday - coming up on some roadworks blocking my side of the road on a steepish uphill so moving quite slowly, car coming the other way. I slowed down to allow for the car to go through but the driver stopped and flashed to allow me through first! Got a big wave of thanks from me.

Bassjunkieuk

clanton wrote:

Had one yesterday - coming up on some roadworks blocking my side of the road on a steepish uphill so moving quite slowly, car coming the other way. I slowed down to allow for the car to go through but the driver stopped and flashed to allow me through first! Got a big wave of thanks from me.

I had a women wave me through as I slowed down to let he across a zebra crossing the other day :-D I said thank you as I went past and managed to keep my momentum up!

prj45

I always "thumbs up" bus drivers who stay behind me when nearing a bus stop.

Anonymous

I always shoot them...............


Ooppss, sorry, wrong forum......doh. :?:

johnnyc71

I always thank drivers - even if they don't go out of their way e.g. someone doesn't pull out of a side road and cut me up - I wave to them.

I've recently started to give way to cars. Used to do this all the time while driving myself. But on a bike I usually defended my space rigorously. I now slow down and wave cars on - even if I lose a bit of momentum - it's not that important.

Anonymous

Hey, sorry, I was having a bad day. I would just hide. My cats are hungry.....BRB.....

DavidTQ

had a rare opportunity to thank a courteous BMW driver this morning:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx274zTlUCs

Video doesnt catch the driver so well, but came across friendly and polite as he waved me across the road.

jefferee

DavidTQ wrote:

a courteous BMW driver

You're two days late posting that one!

DavidTQ

jefferee wrote:

DavidTQ wrote:

a courteous BMW driver

You're two days late posting that one!

Yeah thought that myself

richk

Yes, definitely. Particularly where I know they've waited behind me.

GrantyBoy

if a driver goes out of their way then yes I'll give them the thumbs up.

Stig-OT-Dump

I wave a thanks when appropriate, sometimes a thumbs up (never 2 thumbs, haven't got back into the habit of cycling hands free).

This week I also had to wave a "sorry" after clipping a wing mirror on a white van with my backpack. Mr WVM was very pleasant about the whole thing though - must've been a works van, not private.

pete236

Always say thank you to someone who waits, to the driver who has been hanging back for a safe overtake etc. Bad drivers get ignored, seriously bad drivers get a big shake of the head. Those who go out of their way to knock me off get a 2fingererd salute and an 'OI!'
Only once have I needed to bang on a window but then I couldtn't 'coz I was braking so hard! That was too close!