Pointing at Drivers?

[latelatebloomer]

So far the drivers I'm dealing with have been really courteous, but I did get very nervous when, as I was puffing up a hill, an oncoming car full of teenage boys slowed, a window rolled down, and a kid shouted at me -

"You can do it!"

As a newbie, I'm taking to heart the advice to be bold and firm about drivers noticing me. I'm a "nice girl" but I can emit a very South Philly "YO!" when needed.

[Grog]

So far the drivers I'm dealing with have been really courteous, but I did get very nervous when, as I was puffing up a hill, an oncoming car full of teenage boys slowed, a window rolled down, and a kid shouted at me -

"You can do it!"

I am quite sure many drivers actually do that sort of things to be nice... but when it (or similar) happens to me, I always feel like replying:

"Can you?"

And I HATE it when some honk as a way of expressing their support/cheering.

[betagirl]

And I HATE it when some honk as a way of expressing their support/cheering.

I had a guy tap his horn then wave out his window at me as he drove by. At first I was expecting the ol' bird, but it was a wave for about 5 seconds. I was drinking some water at the time and was like WTF is he waving at me for? I guess I'm too cynical also

I hear stories of people getting stuff thrown at them on the road all the time, but I've (knock on wood) never had that happen. I've been yelled at a few times. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU OWN THE ROAD?! Um, yeah I do actually. Or my personal favorite. GET ON THE F**KING SIDEWALK! Ok but there is no sidewalk. Not that I'd ever ride on a sidewalk. But nothing thrown. Everyone I've heard this from is a guy. Any of you girls had this happen?

[Technotart]

My son has had a full coke can, a handful of large bolts and various other sundry items thrown at him by what I refer to as "the bubba factor" (Not my fault they all happened to be driving beat up old pick up trucks!) Now mind you - this was early in the morning on VERY low traffic roads where there was NOONE else on the road. These were just incidents of pure aggression for no good reason.

I know some people honk to be friendly but I sure wish they wouldnt it! I just about pee my shorts everytime!

In Texas, if there are two lanes or more in each direction, you are better off riding two abreast and having the cars move into the 2nd lane to pass you if traffic is light. If you try to ride real close to the curb, they will try to skate by you, giving you as little room as possible. If Im riding alone in the street, I take up the right lane for the most part. If the road is heavy with traffic, I hang at the curb at the light and let most of the traffic go by before I cross the intersection. Basically, if you want to be treated like traffic, you have to act like traffic and that includes following the laws, being courteous to vehicles, and using your turn signals and brake lights as it were. Sharing the road goes both ways.

[tatormc]

And I HATE it when some honk as a way of expressing their support/cheering.

My hubby does this just as a way to say hi to other cyclists.

[Grog]

My hubby does this just as a way to say hi to other cyclists.

I am sure it is well intended but just warn him that it can frighten or surprise some of us enough to fall off the bike. Especially if I am climbing and very concentrated on my front wheel, I don't pay much attention to the noises around me and a loud honk can really be brutal at that moment...

I guess this is true when coming from behind. When coming in the opposite direction, I probably would not mind as much and wave hello in return...

[skibum]

Rant time...

I had an incident happen just this morning that fits right into the discussion here. I was riding down the road and noticed ahead of me a car wanted to turn left out of an apartment complex. I slowed down because the driver was looking away from me. I like to make eye contact so that I'm sure the driver sees me. The driver looked my way, we made eye contact, I held my hand out in a way to indicate hold on I'm coming by and he pulled out in front of me anyways. Luckily, since I had been slowing down in case he didn't see me, I was able to brake hard and not run into him. He had his window down so I yelled at him that I had the right of way.

Why, oh why, are drivers in such a rush and time is so important to them that they can't wait for 10 seconds for you to pass by them? I know this guy saw me. I really think that he just didn't want to wait for me so he figured he could pull out before I got there. Well, it worked out okay this time because I was paying attention. What if I hadn't been?

[CorsairMac]

I'm not defending the driver ski - by no means. He was in the wrong but........I think most drivers have not a clue just how fast a bike can go. Most people who don't ride have not a clue that a bike can travel between 15-20 mph with a single rider.....now factor in a Woman rider for crying out loud. I mean no Way can a Woman rider go much faster than 2-5 mph! As for the hand gesture, since you are a slow woman rider how nice was that to wave him on through! What a nice lady!!
I treat every vehicle on the road for exactly what it is - a ton of screaming hot metal that could rip holes in my little tiny body and spit me out like a pit. I tend to ride either just to the left of the white line or just slightly to the right of the line if I have a bike lane just to be sure the cars behind me know I'm there. I also signal even when I'm just letting them know I'm NOT taking the right turn only lane. I do tend to go up front at stoplights - ONLY if there's room - coz for reasons known only to them, ABQ fades out the bike lanes at most intersections so I WANT those cars to know I'm there and that I'm gonna cross that street AND that I need a little room until I can get my bike lane back. I feel very fortunate that in my city - so far - I've encountered only nice drivers, few honkers and only 1 squeezer (a Black SUV). To answer Tar-Cats question, the one and only time I "yelled" at a car was when someone rushed an exit driveway to make a right hand turn just as I was approaching. I yelled (what did someone call it? south philly?) "YO" really loud and sat up as high as I could while guarding the brake levers. Poor guy looked scared to death - had not a clue I was there. I thanked him as I passed in front of him and he waved back.
My vent is the really sweet driver the stops all the traffic behind him - After I've stopped and After I'm unclipped and have my foot down - to let me cross the street. Of course that driver has not a clue whats coming in the other lanes either next to him or oncoming and has not a clue that he's/she's just tee'd off some other driver behind him that one of these days will come Roaring around to pass this very nice driver coz maniac didn't see the biker there. The very nice driver also just assumes - I'm guessing - that I'm kinda like a Whizzer and all I have to do is push down on the pedal and the bike will go Reallly Fasssst. I try not to get annoyed with them but com'n drivers - use some common sense with your courtesy! vent done tyvm