How do you thank a driver who waits at a pinch point?

mybreakfastconsisted

Waits behind you I mean and doesn't just barge through.

I worry a raised right hand might be interpreted as a right-turn signal. A thumbs up after they've passed may not be seen. Shouting isn't wise, I try just lifting my hand off the bars just before they pass in an open-palm "Thanks" gesture.

Clever Pun

Thumbs up just as they leave you room... yeah normally I'd wave but as you say it's far too close to a 'right turn clyde'

gtvlusso

Usually - a little wave of the hand or a thumbs up....may even nod my head if I am on the fixie!

CXXC

a thumbs-up from me

Kieran_Burns

hand raise from the bars, but keeping contact with them as they start to come past - this way you are in their line of sight and the movement of the hand will register (human eyes are designed to spot movement)

notsoblue

Thumbs up, wave of the hand. It actually happens quite often. Lots of nice people out there!

schlepcycling

CXXC wrote:

a thumbs-up from me

+1

lost_in_thought

Wave or a thumbs-up. Waving can be pretty obviously done as 'not a RH turn'.

Mr Plum

Yeah I usually give a thumbs up for any considerate driving - try to do that to as many cars as possible; there's a chance they'll do it again...

Origamist

Usually a wave (more straight up than side-ways), but I often wait and give the driver a thumbs-up or mouth "thank you" when I pass their window at the next set of lights...

graeme_s-2

I'll often raise my hand straight up in the air to say thanks to a driver behind me. Similar to the way a car driver would raise their left hand up towards the rear view mirror to thank the driver behind.

Tend to assume it would be a fairly universal sign representing thanks, as it's used by car drivers. Maybe people think I'm raising my hand to ask a question instead? :?:

jonginge

Yep. Right-hand raised vertically from bars. Positive reinforcement and all that

Edit: what Graeme_S said

tailwindhome

They've already had an extra long look at my perfectly toned butt.

That's all the thanks they need

UndercoverElephant

TailWindHome wrote:

They've already had an extra long look at my perfectly toned butt.

That's all the thanks they need

+1 If they've been really good, I might even stand up for a bit so it wiggles.

spen666

What is a driver who waits? I've not come across that concept before :twisted:




Seriously I put hand up in acknowledgement - nothing like right turn signal

_Brun_

Find out where they live/work and send flowers.

deptfordmarmoset

High thumbs up - it's surprising how many drivers will then acknowledge your hand gesture as they pass. And when that happens, we all win.

_Brun_

Set up a youtube account and upload hundreds of head-cam videos featuring any driving which is even mildly courteous.

graeme_s-2

_Brun_ wrote:

Find out where they live/work and send flowers.

Do you respond to drivers who wrong you in a similar way? Obviously substituting the flowers for something else... :twisted:

Jay dubbleU

_Brun_ wrote:

Find out where they live/work and send flowers.

Hmm - that's probably the beginning of a saga that ends in tears, injunctions etc

mybreakfastconsisted

I likie doing it and it's "Passing on a good vibe" but sometimes it strikes me as a bit weird.

After all, you don't wave a hand in acknowledgement to a violent looking man with ugly boots outside a pub as if to say

"Thanks for not punching me!"

bails87

mybreakfastconsisted wrote:

I likie doing it and it's "Passing on a good vibe" but sometimes it strikes me as a bit weird.

After all, you don't wave a hand in acknowledgement to a violent looking man with ugly boots outside a pub as if to say

"Thanks for not punching me!"

But you'd thank someone who waited to let you through a doorway wouldn't you? (On foot obviously, not car vs bike :wink)

notsoblue

mybreakfastconsisted wrote:

I likie doing it and it's "Passing on a good vibe" but sometimes it strikes me as a bit weird.

After all, you don't wave a hand in acknowledgement to a violent looking man with ugly boots outside a pub as if to say

"Thanks for not punching me!"

Ooooo, hark at you Mr Fashion Police.

Nah, I don't see it that way. Its just positive reinforcement. Also, it gives my self-righteousness a bit more credence when I'm wronged.

greg66_tri_v2.0

mybreakfastconsisted wrote:

I likie doing it and it's "Passing on a good vibe" but sometimes it strikes me as a bit weird.

After all, you don't wave a hand in acknowledgement to a violent looking man with ugly boots outside a pub as if to say

"Thanks for not punching me!"

Perhaps you have just had a revelation that you don't, after all, regard all drivers as inherently violent people toying with the idea of injuring you.

That's good, btw.

mybreakfastconsisted

notsoblue wrote:

mybreakfastconsisted wrote:

I likie doing it and it's "Passing on a good vibe" but sometimes it strikes me as a bit weird.

After all, you don't wave a hand in acknowledgement to a violent looking man with ugly boots outside a pub as if to say

"Thanks for not punching me!"

Ooooo, hark at you Mr Fashion Police.

Nah, I don't see it that way. Its just positive reinforcement. Also, it gives my self-righteousness a bit more credence when I'm wronged.

If I see someone with ugly boots outside a pub I won't go in.

millimole

Graeme_S wrote:

I'll often raise my hand straight up in the air to say thanks to a driver behind me. Similar to the way a car driver would raise their left hand up towards the rear view mirror to thank the driver behind.

Tend to assume it would be a fairly universal sign representing thanks, as it's used by car drivers. Maybe people think I'm raising my hand to ask a question instead? :?:

That's what I thought, and would often do that for people who waited for a safe point to pass me on a busy or narrow road, but a neighbour pointed out that my 'thank you wave' could be interpreted as an aggressive gesture (maybe it was the way I did it?) . I now give a thumbs up, which would seem to be difficult to misinterpret - and my thumb's not big enough to look like I'm giving them 'the finger'!

greg66_tri_v2.0

mybreakfastconsisted wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

mybreakfastconsisted wrote:

I likie doing it and it's "Passing on a good vibe" but sometimes it strikes me as a bit weird.

After all, you don't wave a hand in acknowledgement to a violent looking man with ugly boots outside a pub as if to say

"Thanks for not punching me!"

Perhaps you have just had a revelation that you don't, after all, regard all drivers as inherently violent people toying with the idea of injuring you.

That's good, btw.

Well, no, because that's not my belief

Best not to equate the two then.

TLDNMCL

Hand straight up in the air from me too, a turn of the head and a nod if it's safe enough to do so.

For an added treat, once past the obstruction I sometimes make it obvious that I'm inviting them to pass - that usually brings a safe, wide overtake and a return acknowledgement.

Origamist

millimole wrote:

That's what I thought, and would often do that for people who waited for a safe point to pass me on a busy or narrow road, but a neighbour pointed out that my 'thank you wave' could be interpreted as an aggressive gesture (maybe it was the way I did it?) . I now give a thumbs up, which would seem to be difficult to misinterpret - and my thumb's not big enough to look like I'm giving them 'the finger'!

If you're worried that a vertical, open hand gesture can be misintrepreted as a shaking fist, wanker sign or whatever, you might as well worry that your thumbs up can be misconstrued as giving someone the llittle finger. Usually the context means that a thank you gesture is not too confusing for a fellow road user.

mybreakfastconsisted

I've pulled alongside drivers at the lights and waved a thanks but sometimes I think it baffles them.

millimole

TLDNMCL wrote:

Hand straight up in the air from me too, a turn of the head and a nod if it's safe enough to do so.

For an added treat, once past the obstruction I sometimes make it obvious that I'm inviting them to pass - that usually brings a safe, wide overtake and a return acknowledgement.

I'm old enough to remember having to do an 'overtake me' hand signal in my driving test yet most drivers nowadays seem to understand it coming from a cyclist. Generally well appreciated.