To fellow bicyclists: pet peeves

**Ms3r4ISU** · 07-07-2010, 10:45 AM

Use correct hand/arm signals. This means using your LEFT arm -- the one closest to traffic so drivers can see it.

RIGHT turn: Point your left arm up 90 degrees at the elbow.
LEFT turn: Point your left arm straight out to the left.
STOP: Point your left arm down and slightly away from your body.

**4429 mcc** · 07-07-2010, 10:51 AM

That plus, use the sidewalk...dont ride in packs...try and keep up with the pace of traffic and when I honk dont crash in front of me.

**CykoAGR** · 07-07-2010, 10:52 AM

Ride on the fricken trail if there is one. Narrow sidewalks are not for cyclists but if there is a wide sidewalk along a busy street then for gods sake ride on it. There is no reason not to, ever. People who dont use the wide sidewalks give the rest of us a bad name.

**d4nim4l** · 07-07-2010, 10:54 AM

Not this:

Originally Posted by 4429 mcc

That plus, use the sidewalk...dont ride in packs...try and keep up with the pace of traffic and when I honk dont crash in front of me.

This:

Originally Posted by CykoAGR

Ride on the fricken trail if there is one. Narrow sidewalks are not for cyclists but if there is a wide sidewalk along a busy street then for gods sake ride on it. There is no reason not to, ever. People who dont use the wide sidewalks give the rest of us a bad name.

Perfect example is 60th St in West Des Moines. Very busy street but with a very wide sidewalk on the east side specifically designed for multi-use. Plus I would rather ride that anyway. I have a better chance of surviving when I plow in to a girl and her dog than when plowing in to a car.

**clones_jer** · 07-07-2010, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by 4429 mcc

That plus, use the sidewalk...dont ride in packs...try and keep up with the pace of traffic and when I honk dont crash in front of me.

you park in handicapped spaces while handicapped people make handicapped faces don't you?

**clones_jer** · 07-07-2010, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Ms3r4ISU

Use correct hand/arm signals. This means using your LEFT arm -- the one closest to traffic so drivers can see it.

RIGHT turn: Point your left arm up 90 degrees at the elbow.
LEFT turn: Point your left arm straight out to the left.
STOP: Point your left arm down and slightly away from your body.

and for motorists.

RIGHT turn: push the blinky thing up
LEFT turn: push the blinky thing down
RAGE: calm the **** down.

**VeloClone** · 07-07-2010, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Ms3r4ISU

Use correct hand/arm signals. This means using your LEFT arm -- the one closest to traffic so drivers can see it.

RIGHT turn: Point your left arm up 90 degrees at the elbow.
LEFT turn: Point your left arm straight out to the left.
STOP: Point your left arm down and slightly away from your body.

Actually the arm signals that you describe are a bastardization of the original cycling signals. When automobiles became common the arm signals already in use for bicycles had to be adjusted so the driver could make them all with the left arm. Apparently since they were taught to new drivers most people started using them on their bikes too.

Since the bicycle has never left the realm of transportation in Europe and the rest of the world (instead of becoming mostly entertainment as in the US for many years), arm signals with either arm are still in use in most non-US places.

I find that using the right arm when turning right is more obvious and clearer especially when someone tries to sneak between me and the curb.

**4429 mcc** · 07-07-2010, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by clones_jer

you park in handicapped spaces while handicapped people make handicapped faces don't you?

_jer please stop wearing your spandex biking outfit.

Signed,

Society

**khehr** · 07-07-2010, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by clones_jer

and for motorists.

RIGHT turn: push the blinky thing up
LEFT turn: push the blinky thing down
RAGE: calm the **** down.

This

Not to start yet ANOTHER bicycle/car thread.. but Bikes are traffic they belong on the roads not on sidewalks with pedestrians. That being said if there are trails use them, only a crazy person would ride on Grand or South Duff.

**IcSyU** · 07-07-2010, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by clones_jer

you park in handicapped spaces while handicapped people make handicapped faces don't you?

Actually, he uses public toilets, and he ****es on the seat.

Originally Posted by clones_jer

and for motorists.

RIGHT turn: push the blinky thing up
LEFT turn: push the blinky thing down
RAGE: calm the **** down.

Truth.

And as a cyclist, cyclists, that octagonal read thing that says stop....you're actually supposed to stop there instead of flying through at 25 mph. Every cyclist I see run through one I have no sympathy if they get hit.

**clones_jer** · 07-07-2010, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by VeloClone

Actually the arm signals that you describe are a bastardization of the original cycling signals. When automobiles became common the arm signals already in use for bicycles had to be adjusted so the driver could make them all with the left arm. Apparently since they were taught to new drivers most people started using them on their bikes too.

Since the bicycle has never left the realm of transportation in Europe and the rest of the world (instead of becoming mostly entertainment as in the US for many years), arm signals with either arm are still in use in most non-US places.

I find that using the right arm when turning right is more obvious and clearer especially when someone tries to sneak between me and the curb.

good point.

50% of motorists don't know what a 90 degree arm means either. Just point the way you're going and dumb it down for eveybody involved.

**clones_jer** · 07-07-2010, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by 4429 mcc

_jer please stop wearing your spandex biking outfit.

Signed,

Society

spandex is the new denim.

**VeloClone** · 07-07-2010, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by clones_jer

good point.

50% of motorists don't know what a 90 degree arm means either. Just point the way you're going and dumb it down for eveybody involved.

I forgot to mention that motorcycles also prompted the spread of the adjusted hand signals as you really couldn't signal with the throttle hand.

The left arm up right turn signal can also be blocked from the view of someone on your right by your helmeted noggin.

**Ms3r4ISU** · 07-07-2010, 11:10 AM

Two things: first, please don't turn this into a road rage thread against bicyclists. Second: I am not making up the arm signal thing. Hand Signals: What?s the big deal? | Iowa Bicycle Coalition

**clones_jer** · 07-07-2010, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Ms3r4ISU

Two things: first, please don't turn this into a road rage thread against bicyclists. Second: I am not making up the arm signal thing. Hand Signals: What?s the big deal? | Iowa Bicycle Coalition

that's fine, you and the IBC can be right - I'll stay alive.

seriously, take a poll of any average group of drivers. Odds are pointing the direction your going is a lot more obvious than the 90 degree hand.

I'm not getting mowed down by some 16 yr old that didn't pass that part of a test.

and what about 5 way intersections? riddle me that batman