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.

[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.

[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.

[chicagogal]

Thinking about this more, I think that those of you who said that people (probably myself included) are just more likely to acknowledge those who we consider to be one of us.

I guess it was just a different experience for me to nod to cyclists and be ignored, when I am used to getting a response. Basically, out of habit, I was acknowledging those who I considered to be like me (roadies, and especially roadies wearing team kits that I recognize and personally know their teammates), but given my equipment that day, they didn't equate me with their group.

Hmm, wonder how I would be treated if I were wearing my team kit while on a beater bike. That might confuse some fellow roadies out there :-)

[marni]

when I am out on my road bike during the week training, and riding solo I try to at least a finger to every other bike rider I see, regardless of what they are riding, The funny thing is that male riders rarely if ever acknowledge me, even when there are only two us out in the boonies, 60 miles from Houston, obviously doing distance training whereas if a woman or women they willunfailinng acknowledge me.

On weekends is I ride with my husband even the pace linen riders will acknowledge if he is riding in front, but that same group will ignore us if I am riding in front.

When I ride with a group of women we average about 50% acknowledgements whether riding out in the boonies on a distance ride, or in the burbs on a local ride.

Being as it is around Houston, I was beginning to suspect it was a Texas good old boy thing, but maybe not.

marni
sa

[Selkie]

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.

You are from Pittsburgh (as am I) so that sort of courtesy is bred in you. When I moved to Philly, I realized how much I took those simple acts of kindness for granted.

Sorry to drift this thread....

[IvonaDestroi]

ummm ALL the time. yup. I ride an awesome 70's lightweight lugged steel motobecane super mirage, a rare type of mixte where the top tupe doesn't split until the seat stays, converted to a single speed. She's super scratched up, all black , and her logos have faded. A friend of mine found her in a dumpster with bent front forks and a missing wheel and I hammered her back into shape and cleaned her up. She's my main squeeze at the moment.

A couple weeks ago I was heading out of work onto my usual uphill upwind 30 minute battle home, and I was just about to roll off the sidewalk in front of my store when 2 *ahem* adult women rolled by on their fancy carbon frames that I could never, ever, EVER afford and one of them yelled 'hey, where are your training wheels?!' or something to that effect.

I think they may have assumed I was riding on the sidewalk or something. Irritating. I would have yelled back something brutal but I still had my work ID on and I was right in front of my workplace. They sure will feel like idiots when they figure out I work there, right there in the new store that just opened up in their nieghborhood that everybody loves.

But seriously, who does that? There could have been a million valid reasons for me to be on that sidewalk... and these ladies looked twice my age...

They probably don't even know how to tune those fancy carbon frames... Shoot, I'd be surprised if they knew how to change a tire with thier level of street smarts...

But yes. some people are bike-ists. It's true. I'm looking forward to seeing the difference in reaction with my 'fancy' new 80's aluminum cannondale that I have spent ALL of my money replacing parts on (pics up soon when she's done) If I could ever afford a carbon bike like that I would have one in a heartbeat. And I would probably kick a whole lot of butt on it too. Most people's butt. not to mention the level of appreciation I'd have that many take for granted. But I am happy with what I do have and I love my motobecane just the same.

According to my roomate, who's univega was found in similar shape in the same dumpster, there is a big difference in how people respond to the 'look' of your bike. He made his look like one of those hipster trendy bikes and now all the fixie kids in our building are jealous. I guess their parents can buy them all the parts in the world but their ride will never have the stamp of true passion.

Quite the opposite reaction before he put all those fancy matching colors on it. Same bike, different colors. hmmm....

and by the way we work twice as hard to go half as far most of the time, and don't you forget it

[Ritamarie]

I greet everyone with a wave, nod and/or a hello.... kids, roadies, trail riders, people unloading groceries on the side of the road, men waxing their cars in the driveway.... I'm like the little kid in the child's seat of the grocery cart greeting every shopper that walks by. The majority of the time I get greeted back. I think I just feel lucky and happy to be away from my responsibilities and on my bike.