Respect on the Road

[chicagogal]

Marni's "Ghost Riders" thread made me think of this . . .

When riding on the road, I always acknowledge other cyclists. Those coming toward me on the opposite side of the road, I nod to, or wave. Likewise, other cyclists acknowledge me, whether I am riding alone or with the various groups I ride with.

Today, however, I was on my old around-the-town bike that I almost never ride anymore, riding with a friend on an old beater bike, going slowly on the MUP. It was a recovery day for me, and I had promised my friend that I would show her the whole path. Anyway, to make a long story short, I noticed on today's ride that none of the on-coming cyclists were giving me the time of day! I would nod to them, as usual, and they would just keep riding along like they didn't see me!

It was a strange feeling to be treated so differently than usual just because I a) wasn't going as fast as usual and b) didn't have any fancy equipment with me.

It got me wondering - am I like that? Do I only acknowledge properly clad cyclists on fancy bikes? I wish that the answer to that was a resounding "no" but I don't know if I can say that . . . I will certainly try to be better about this in the future, as the lack of politeness I experienced today was definitely a wake-up call.

Has anyone else experienced that? Being treated less courteously by fellow cyclists when not sporting fancy equipment? Or catching yourself doing just that on occasion?

[lph]

Most of the time I don't acknowledge anyone. I don't get acknowledged either, that's the Norwegian way of being polite

Seriously, it's a numbers thing. When I commute no-one nods to anyone, it would be like waving to every car you pass or greeting every ped on the street. Ditto for riding in the woods on a busy Saturday. But if I'm out in the woods on a cold day when hardly anyone's about and I haven't seen anyone for, say, an hour, I'm more likely to exchange a friendly nod or smile with some-one.

And it's a group thing. On my road bike, especially in club gear, I'll nod to other roadies, especially in club gear. Roadies are such a small group here that it comes naturally to acknowledge each other. But it's not because of the quality of their gear, the woods are chock full of mtb riders with bikes worth much more.

[Eden]

Indeed we've been through this one before here... LPH and I have similar views.

Around here at least there are tons of cyclists. Waving to/acknowledging each of them would be like waving to all the other drivers when you commute in your car. Do I give other racers a nod - sure. We have something extra in common and its a small enough community that in all likelyhood we know one another in some manner - if we haven't raced together, we've hung out, we know each other's SOs, we've been to the same parties, shared pumps, carpooled, helped pin on numbers, etc. In fact if they are women, its more unlikely that I don't know them.... It has nothing to do with their gear or how fast they are riding and it has nothing to do with snubbing anyone.

And as LPH pointed out one person's polite is another's intrusive. I come from a relatively private background. I don't want to be talked to by strangers on the street.... I don't consider people who don't pay attention to me impolite - personally I consider people that I don't know who want to say hi to me overly forward.

[Brandy]

Sometimes I nod and give a lift of the fingers off the bars, other times I don't. It depends on where I'm at in my workout. If I'm doing intervals, I can't break out of that just to acknowledge another cyclist...particularly where I live. On a Saturday ride on the coast, I might encounter hundreds of them.

I realized long ago that cyclists are out there for a myriad of reasons and I don't take anything personally. When I do wave, I'm an equal opportunity waver, no matter the bike they're riding.

[Norse]

I have noticed that. I get often get waves and nods on my road bike but if I am on my hybrid or beater, rarely any hellos. So, I make it point to wave or nod to all, regardless of bike or clothing. However, if you're not wearing a helmet, I won't give you the time of day!

[SadieKate]

There are only 3 times I can think of when I'm puzzled by other riders and drivers not acknowledging me.

1) A road rider that stares right at me and doesn't respond back. If you want to ride by without looking at me, fine. You may be in the throws of intervals or whatever, but staring me down means that when I see you broken down on the side of the road, I'll likely respond following your model.

2) A mtn biker who doesn't say thanks or hello or anything when I've pulled off to the side of the trail to let him/her pass.

3) I'm completely puzzled by neighbors who look neither right nor left when driving through the neighborhood, especially when the neighborhood has narrow streets necessitating pulling over to let someone pass. Dude! When your house is burning down or you have an emergency, you going to look at me then?

Otherwise, to each her own. Yes, I wiggle my fingers, nod my head or smile at many cyclists, and many times I don't.

OK, wait, I need to add #4 - the rider who comes up from behind and passes completely without warning, nearly knocking me off the road because he's incapable of passing more than a frog's hair away. If I can feel your knuckles, you're too close.

[Tri Girl]

I'm with you on #2 SK. That applies to when I'm both mtn biking or running on the trails. A simple acknowledgment would be nice since I could still be turtle-ing along at my pace and holding you up.

I really think people are much more self-absorbed than they used to be- even 20 years ago. Maybe because we have so much going on and so much to think about, maybe because we're afraid to make eye-contact with others because of road rage type incidents, maybe just because we're more self involved. Who knows?
I try to be friendly when applicable. Sometimes it's just not practical but I try when I can.

Oh, but I definitely notice more waves/acknowledgment when I'm riding my fancy tri bike and much less when I'm riding my commuter bike. I guess because faster bikes/people are worth the little hand/finger lift but people on slow bikes aren't??? Who knows? I feel much cooler when I'm riding my commuter bike, BTW.

[GLC1968]

When I lived in a small town in NC, I noticed this exact same thing. I rode my fast road bike on my commute and I'd get nods/waves by the roadies I'd pass (they were out for evening rides - not commuting...hardly anyone commuted in that town but me). When I was riding my oddly set up touring bike with the rack and lights on my commute...the exact same people in the exact same location would snub me. Initially it annoyed me. Then I started to find it funny.

Now I ride in an area where there are just so many riders of so many types that waving/acknowledging every one would just be annoying. I do try to make a point of waving at all women on bikes (no matter the bike), so I guess that's my own 'little group' in my head.

[lph]

Isn't it just that we tend to notice and acknowledge first the people we consider to be in "our sub-group" - whether it's the "roadie group", the "walking the dog group", or the "out on a cold day when no-one else is-group"? Cyclists in general are too big a group for me to acknowledge all of them at all times.

[sfa]

I think LPH has it right--we acknowledge people in our sub-group, and for better or for worse, there are sub-groups of the overall cycling sub-group! I've had the same experience where people nod, smile, or wave when I'm on my road bike (funniest reaction is when someone STARTS to acknowledge me, sees the fenders and rack, and realizes that maybe I'm NOT in their sub-group and turns the acknowledgement into an awkward I-meant-to-do-that gesture) but don't even seem to see me when I'm on my Townie with a purse in the front basket. The moms with strollers, however, DO acknowledge me on that bike where they don't on the road bike.

Sarah

[Owlie]

I think LPH has it right--we acknowledge people in our sub-group, and for better or for worse, there are sub-groups of the overall cycling sub-group! I've had the same experience where people nod, smile, or wave when I'm on my road bike (funniest reaction is when someone STARTS to acknowledge me, sees the fenders and rack, and realizes that maybe I'm NOT in their sub-group and turns the acknowledgement into an awkward I-meant-to-do-that gesture) but don't even seem to see me when I'm on my Townie with a purse in the front basket. The moms with strollers, however, DO acknowledge me on that bike where they don't on the road bike.

Sarah

First time I went out on the bike trail in Cincinnati (in July, a mere two days after I had gotten my road bike), I was wearing one of BF's jerseys. I got lots of nods and waves from the spandex-clad crowd, and one wave from a guy out riding with his kids--he'd stopped to let us go by earlier in the day and his kids recognized our bikes. The second time I went out on the trail (in October, with the same bike), I was much more experienced with the bike, and going a lot faster, but wearing a clearly not-cycling fleece jacket over my jersey. I got no acknowledgment from the few roadies on the path (it was pretty chilly), and the odd wave or nod from people on hybrids.

[Crankin]

Most roadies wave or nod when I am on my road bike. Although, lately I have had a few just blast by rudely. When I am on my Jamis, I get a mixed reaction. It's clear I'm doing errands or commuting somewhere, but I am dressed usually in what I'd call urban cycling clothes (Ibex, loose capris, skorts). Commuters will wave and if it's one of the few deep winter rides I do, on this bike, anyone out will wave. I see the roadies look at this bike, though, since not a lot of people around here have Jamis'.
Drivers definitely are more courteous when I'm on the Jamis. They will stop and let me turn, etc.

[tc1]

personally I consider people that I don't know who want to say hi to me overly forward.

When people talk about the Seattle freezeout, this is exactly what they are talking about. That's the sucky part about living in Seattle that nobody talks about. I'm not sure why we are this way, some blame the Scandinavian influence. I smile at other bikeriders, who in general are friendlier to strangers than the typical Seattle culture.

[PamNY]

Waving or not doesn't really come up in NYC, but in winter, as Crankin mentioned, people do wave, especially if it's dark or nearly so. They also ask if I'm okay if I stop to put on lip balm, which is cool.

[Eden]

When people talk about the Seattle freezeout, this is exactly what they are talking about. That's the sucky part about living in Seattle that nobody talks about. I'm not sure why we are this way, some blame the Scandinavian influence. I smile at other bikeriders, who in general are friendlier to strangers than the typical Seattle culture.

I didn't grow up here.... I'm from Pittsburgh. I'm not talking about being unkind. I'm the type of person that if you ask me directions, I'm more likely to take you there if I can. I always ask people folks with flats if they are OK. Still I have a fair amount of personal space and I'm not much of an idle chit chatter even with people I know. So I guess I don't find it to be sucky here at all.