Topic: Non verbal communication questions

[Markcb750]

Have been riding several times a week after a 33 year parenting gig.  I don’t think my wife and children will ever truly appreciate what I gave up to insure I contributed to their successful rearing.


A lot more people on motorcycles now and I would like to pose some questions that I am sure only my fellow SOHC owners can answer honestly.

1.   When people do not respond to a wave, are they still #$%*s?

2.   I wave low, are people the respond high of a different sexual orientation?

3.   I don’t wave to scooters traveling on the extreme right, should I be polite and just flash them a “L”?

4.   When one is cut-off by another vehicle is it still cycling etiquette to flip ‘em off?


Thank y’all for what I am sure will be sound advice.


Mark

[ieism]

1. Yes.

2. I don't think so. They might just wave different.....

3. Why not. They might grow up and get a proper motorcycle one day..

4. Yes. But don't expect other motorcyclist to pull over and help you when you get yourself into a fight with 4 cagers at the next traffic light.

[Uncle Ernie]

IF I wave, I wave high.  I enjoy not being the least bit macho anymore.  I leave 'em on the mantle and find I'm much more relaxed these days.

If you flip anyone off, they're likely to shoot you.  Chains and knives don't work anymore, either.  (see above)

[DammitDan]

 

[Markcb750]

Ieism:
1.   Great, I would not want to think poorly of someone inappropriately.
2.   I’m getting mixed signals here.
3.   Let’s hope some of them don’t grow up anymore, one today was much bigger then the scooter, much bigger.
4.   Fight my own battles, but thanks for letting me know who’s got my back…

Ernie

You have some scary fellow travelers there in Asheville, everyone in Charlotte is respectful and unarmed.

[Uncle Ernie]

Come to think about it- you're right.  I lived in Plaza-Midwood for 2 years; nice litle beighborhood, but was glad to get the heck out of Charlotte.

[mattcb350f]

1.   When people do not respond to a wave, are they still #$%*s?

Not always IMO, some may be uninformed about the wave or think it's unnecessary....I do suspect some that don't "do the wave" may have some sort of chip on their shoulders about their ride and feel the need to specifically not wave, But I have no evidence of this........ just a suspicion of mine 

2.   I wave low, are people the respond high of a different sexual orientation?

I respond high when I see it's another old bike or someone I know. Kind of like a surprised, friendlier form of the wave.

3.   I don't wave to scooters traveling on the extreme right, should I be polite and just flash them a “L”?

N/A

4.   When one is cut-off by another vehicle is it still cycling etiquette to flip ‘em off?

Probably a bad idea to flip of the driver of a vehicle that is larger and/or faster than yours. I never have.

[333]

1. Yes
2. No
3. No.  If they think they're in, they'll never get a real bike.
4. Yes

[UnCrash]

1. Sometimes, other times they're shifting, looking out for potholes, or worrying about the cager in the lane next to them.  I don't worry about it and move on.

2. No, just be happy they waved back 

3. I've never been waved to by a scooter rider, but I do have respect for anyone who commutes on two wheels, powered, un-powered, or under-powered.

4. I thought it was ettiquite to pound your fist on their hood at the next light.

[Markcb750]

Dan:  damned astute…

Ernie: Plaza Midwood is for hippys and yuppies, are you a hippy?

Matt:  N/A??? ya gotta pidgin hole ‘em!  In the end, everything is tribal.

Stan: the scooters that look like easy chairs, weird.

UnCrash:  I thought for a second or two, that irony was lost on you.


Mark

[tramp]

i always wave, don't care if they don't
thats thier problem
not many scooters here in rural michigan
if someone cuts me off i get out of thier way
a bike is no match for a angry car

[Uncle Ernie]

I yam what I yam...

[Markcb750]

A philosophical answer, or could ya be just be Olive Oyl's special friend?

[jtb]

A kid on a scooter waved at me the other day.  I hit a tree I was so shocked.

[joeyboy]

The other day I was cut off by a car, and I was tempted to follow close and make my point.  The only real point was, one press of their brake, and I would be eating the point of my mirrors, and their antenna, and so forth.  So I relaxed and beamed a left and a right body blow to them out of my eyes, though it was dark and they could not see it.  So after saying, oh what the heck, I let it go.  And shortly after, justice came to bikers everywhere, that jerk was pulled over as soon as he got into the lane in front of a police officer, woohoo, stupid jerk face!!

I wave, if they don't, then they miss out on my coolness, yeah right, ha ha.  The way I see it, we are all using less gas, and doing our part, and in a really cool way.

[Markcb750]

I find I am much less assuming about other drivers actions, I try to  look for eye contact before I commit.  This is the best non-verbal communication see and be seen.

I guess it pays of as I have not had to flip anyone off since I started riding regularly again.

Many scooters are a hazards on the road. I have visions of our roads becoming like S.E. Asian roads as more people start to drive them.  Traffic was backed up 20 cars around two Vespas (Vespi?) unable/unwilling to keep pace on a 45mph road as I went to the movies tonight.

Cute little scooters, one the classic light green, the other red.

[gregimotis]

I like to wave, but brother there are so many bikes out in the summer that its just hard to keep up.  Eventually I go to the 'extend fingers' wave and then I stop altogether.





Maybe I should get a mannequin arm and just hang it off the left side of the bike...

[joeyboy]

I like to wave, but brother there are so many bikes out in the summer that its just hard to keep up.  Eventually I go to the 'extend fingers' wave and then I stop altogether.
Maybe I should get a mannequin arm and just hang it off the left side of the bike...

Gregimotis, you solved the mystery for me, thank you.  A few months ago they had bike weekend at Myrtle Beach, and for some unknown to me reason, nobody going North was waving anymore.  I just thought they were being rude, but it was probable because they were all waved out.  I never thought of that. 

[Venturous]

Who cares. Wave at them if you want. If they wave back... great.. if not.. so what. Life is too short to give a crap about something this trivial.

As for the flipping people off... I would just like to echo others comments about the possibility of getting shot or run off the road etc. When you are on a bike... being right means nothing! Ride defensively which includes trying to avoid road rage situations.

YOU CAN NOT WIN THESE ARGUMENTS ON A BIKE! Keep your head... keep your skin. Enjoy the ride.

If you are getting cut off too much, consider a headlight modulator and louder horns. They work for me. Keep the finger elsewhere as it will not solve the problem.

[Markcb750]

Golly gee Mr. Venturous, I sure didn't want you to yell at me.

Ya need to chill dude. 

Riding is fun, I have fun seeing people written reactions...Besides some halfwits need primary digital non-verbal communication to remind them a world exists beyond their corneas.

[Venturous]

I am chilled dude.. I assure ya. I am not the one worried about who waves and what it means and asking if OK to flip folks off..    Anywho... I will be the chilled dude waving at ya and not really caring if you wave back or not.. 

As for the yelling caps.. sorry. I ride near Washington DC a lot and see a lot of road rage. It is a very serious problem around here and I was only trying to make a point. Sorry if that part came off too strong.

[74cb750]

Yes I wave to y'all, reguardless of what you ride. Little kids on bicycles also, esp the ones whom indicate they want to see me do a wheelie. 

Last night was cut off by a SUV. I flashed my headlight at him/her. Cop saw the whole thing and pulled them over. 

Sometimes there is justice in the world.

I don't flip people off for all the reasons mentioned here.
as always,
peace,
michel

[333]

I have lived inside the Washington D.C. beltway all my life, and I rarely witness road rage.  In my 36 years of driving here, maybe 2.  Maybe those who have had road rage centered on themselves should look at their driving habits and why people are mad at them.

Markcb750:  Most Vespi I've seen are large enough to keep up, so my guess is that they were unwilling to do so.  I saw a, probably 50cc scooter(unknown brand,maybe even a moped with a lot of plastic) slowing down traffic on the G.W.Parkway(a 40mph road where most do 50).  He was tucked in, so I think he was trying, just not able to.

[Markcb750]

sarcasm dude.



My helmet...

[Uncle Ernie]

If I had any motivation or ambition, I'd make a bobble arm that attaches to the handlebars. 
Whoever grabs that and runs- I hope you'll send me a couple bucks some day.