Do You Acknowledge Other People On Bikes?
This probably isn’t something you do if you live somewhere where everyone rides a bike.
But for the rest of us - for me anyway - it’s a bit of a novelty seeing someone else riding. Not as rare as seeing two-headed horses, but rare enough that I feel the need to acknowledge them with a nod of the head, a wave, a kiss blown across the road, or a ring of the bell.
Sometimes it’s a little incongruous though.
Like tonight. Riding home from a couple of beers in Tynemouth, I saw another cyclist coming out of the roundabout half way along Long Sands. They were dressed as trendy biker (complete with a ‘cycling cap’), while I was the dapper gent on a bike. I’d been to a meeting (for WORK) at a bar in Tynemouth, and was riding Siegfried, while wearing a long raincoat, scarf, gloves, jeans and sensible shoes.
So when I rang my bell to say hello, the other rider’s immediate reaction was to start to wave, and then I’m sure I caught a glimpse of, “W . . . T . . . . F” on his lips. It was hard to tell, as it was dark, and I had been drinking.
Thank goodness I didn’t blow them a kiss too. Not that I ever have done that.
Maybe it’s time to start?
A simple acknowledgment of fellow cyclists is quite a nice thing to do and I always do. Like yourself, I don’t live in a city where cyclists roam citywide. It always bothers me just a little bit when the recipient of my wave or ‘hello’. or tip of the helmet decides to pretend like I don’t exist.
But for every dirtbag is a bunch of friendlies with warm smiles
Yep, I always greet other riders especially when passing in the same direction. I find it a little hard not to acknowledge another human being when you’re basically shoulder-to-shoulder with them. A simple “‘mornin’” or “hello” does the trick.
Same here. I almost always wave at fellow cyclists, but the roadies tend to be too cool to wave. It’s unfrotunate, but they have a bit of a bad reputation amongst the mountain biking crowd.
Me Also. Altho Some Roadies I’ve Found Don’t. Bit Like Life Some Good Some Bad.
I’m Not A Mtb Either. Just Class Myself As A Cyclist. I Do A Bit Of Off Road & Road & My Bike Is Technically A Mtb Leaning Towards Comfort. Suspension Seatpost Etc. That Comes With Age. LoL.
Also Being Involved With Sustrans You See More Cyclists. EG: A Litter Pick On A Cycle Path.
It’s A Nod Or A Mornin For Me
I always acknowledge other cyclists…even the kids on BMX bikes…LOL
If someone chooses not to acknowledge my greeting that is their problem and I chalk it up to poor manners.
Aaron
The rule in and around London town appears to be like only acknowledge like. Roadies only wave (or nod) to roadies and ignore everybody else.
There is a sort of acknowledgment threshold in the morning, which varies from place to place. If you get up and out early enough someone will return the acknowledgment, whether you are on wheels or foot. My friend tried it this morning at Borders Silverlink at 9:01. Greetings to two members of staff went unanswered.
Of course! I think people are much friendlier when they are not driving in cars.
I acknowledge other cyclists, and people walking nice dogs too (I like dogs).
I am a roadie.
I usually don’t do anything more than a nod if they are cycling past me. Especially if its rare. Obviously around London theres just too many bikes to be able to do that! You do get a good sense of cycle community though when you are sat at the traffic light waiting with other cyclists. Occassionally I do speak to fellow cyclists when that happens.