Quote Originally Posted by runnergirl
Anyhoo...the point of this post, Tom (the guy) when he was in the lead would point at cars. It was like taking the eye contact thing to the next level, but I can see how some drivers might see this as confrontational.

Is this a common practice? Do you think it could be interpreated wrongly by already hostile drivers? It sure seemed effective, but as a lone female most of the time I don't want to risk ticking someone off.
The point (as it were) for pointing at cars about to enter intersections is two-fold: First it's to get the attention of the oncoming driver, second it's to alert any cyclists behind you of a potential hazzard ahead.

But I do it a bit differently, since I agree with you, pointing seems a little bit confrontational to me.

Instead, I smile and wave cheerily at the oncoming driver. Not only is it less confrontational (IMHO), waving is more likely to catch the driver's attention than pointing. I also make sure that the driver is looking AT me (rather than through me) when I'm about to cross his/her path. More often than not the drivers wave back, so I know I got their attention. And it's good cycling PR, which never hurts

One of my road cycling academy students told me that I was the friendliest rider he's ever seen, the way I wave and smile at drivers. I told him heck, I'm not being friendly, I'm covering my @$$

- Jo