Quote Originally Posted by emily_in_nc View Post
we are often dealing with drivers who are just "too nice" and don't understand that sometimes that niceness in waving us across or in front of them is actually unwelcome. Once we have stopped and put a foot down, for example, we'd just as soon they go on ahead than have to wait for us to get going again, especially on a hill or anywhere where someone might be coming on in another lane so that we can't safely cross anyway. We especially encountered this over-niceness when we lived (briefly) in Prairie Village, KS and rode in that area (Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe, etc.) Drivers were just *too* nice for anyone's own good at times!
If someone stops for me and its not safe for me to go or i dont want to go yet I just smile make a no motion with my hand then a you go motion with my hand/arm and end it with an India palms together lowering my head gesture of thanks….simple and respectful. That’s the only part of the interaction I can control and I just want to feel good about my part of it. In the city on a two lane road if there is a long line of cars behind me and no traffic coming the other direction if I can do it safely I’ll slow down and stop to let a bicyclist cross the street….simple and respectful even if they decline. With all the bicyclists in the beach area here that’s happened a number of times for and by me usually with a thank you wave and nod from the bicyclist and always an eye contact thank you wave and nod by me.