Do you use hand signals while riding?

Here's a recommendation of when and how to signal when you ride:

http://www.bicycling.com/blogs/roadrights/sign-language

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 6, 2015 at 11:37am

Same here.

I use the slow down/stop when I have riders behind me. I also try to signal potholes because those are just no fun. 

Permalink Reply by Marc A. Irwin on January 6, 2015 at 12:16pm

That is very good.  I have never thought of pointing to myself first.  Not long ago, I signaled a turn and 3 people in a car at the intersection stared slack jawed in the direction of my finger as if I was pointing to something on a blackboard.  They seemed to have no idea what I was telling them.

Marc

Anne Alt said:

I've used that successfully with CTA bus drivers on more than one occasion.
 
Irvin Steinert said:

I do use hand signals.

I came up with this one:

I will first point to myself (or put my hand on helmet) in a exaggerated fashion and then point to where I intend to go.

I often do this at stoplights (I actually stop and wait for the signals) when I intend to go straight forward. That seems to get the point across that my intention is to go when the light changes and not yield the right of way to cars simply because they are cars. (this is probably more necessary in the suburbs because bike traffic is still not very common - especially of the modern rule following variety)

Permalink Reply by Beans on January 6, 2015 at 12:47pm

Good tip. I'm incorporating this maneuver into my signaling.

Thank you.


Marc A. Irwin said:

That is very good.  I have never thought of pointing to myself first.  Not long ago, I signaled a turn and 3 people in a car at the intersection stared slack jawed in the direction of my finger as if I was pointing to something on a blackboard.  They seemed to have no idea what I was telling them.

Marc

Anne Alt said:

I've used that successfully with CTA bus drivers on more than one occasion.
 
Irvin Steinert said:

I do use hand signals.

I came up with this one:

I will first point to myself (or put my hand on helmet) in a exaggerated fashion and then point to where I intend to go.

I often do this at stoplights (I actually stop and wait for the signals) when I intend to go straight forward. That seems to get the point across that my intention is to go when the light changes and not yield the right of way to cars simply because they are cars. (this is probably more necessary in the suburbs because bike traffic is still not very common - especially of the modern rule following variety)

Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on January 7, 2015 at 4:01am

I forgot to mention I do the motion repeatedly at stop lights and especially when new cars come to wait at the intersection so they know what I'm going to be doing when the light changes.

The hand on head motion is good for those behind and/or a bit further away.

I'm glad people like the tip!

Beans said:

Good tip. I'm incorporating this maneuver into my signaling.

Thank you.


Marc A. Irwin said:

That is very good.  I have never thought of pointing to myself first.  Not long ago, I signaled a turn and 3 people in a car at the intersection stared slack jawed in the direction of my finger as if I was pointing to something on a blackboard.  They seemed to have no idea what I was telling them.

Marc

Anne Alt said:

I've used that successfully with CTA bus drivers on more than one occasion.
 
Irvin Steinert said:

I do use hand signals.

I came up with this one:

I will first point to myself (or put my hand on helmet) in a exaggerated fashion and then point to where I intend to go.

I often do this at stoplights (I actually stop and wait for the signals) when I intend to go straight forward. That seems to get the point across that my intention is to go when the light changes and not yield the right of way to cars simply because they are cars. (this is probably more necessary in the suburbs because bike traffic is still not very common - especially of the modern rule following variety)

Permalink Reply by Fran Kondorf on January 7, 2015 at 5:10am

When I need to take the lane to pass I do a "point and shake" kinda' thing in the direction I'm heading.

It's the gesture equivalent of, "Hey, I'm going here now, so look out." Seems to work for me.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 7, 2015 at 5:15am

Another one for CTA bus drivers - if one is approaching from behind and I don't see a clear indication in my mirror of whether the driver will pull into the bus stop ahead or continue straight, I look over my shoulder and wave at the driver, then point forward, then at the bus stop, followed by an exaggerated shoulder shrug. That's usually followed by either a turn signal or the bus moving a hair further to the left, so I know where the bus will go next.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on January 7, 2015 at 5:30am

You need to be more aware of your surroundings when you are planning to maneuver, then. It's kind of disturbing how may people I see in the city think a bell or signal grants right of way regardless of surroundings and end up in a dangerous situation.


pat 5.5mi said:

The trouble with only signaling when traffic is around is that using signals is most beneficial for YOU the signaler when there are people around that you don't know about.  


Tricolor said:

"I really only do it when there's traffic around me."  

Permalink Reply by David of the North (David606xx) on January 7, 2015 at 6:41am

When I first started riding I came to an intersection and another, more experienced cyclist was turning left in front of me. He gave me a signal by pointing in exactly the direction he planned to go, allowing me to adjust around him and neither of us had to slow down. I've stuck with that method since. Also, when I have a headlight on, I'll aim it just in front of my front tire both to keep an eye out for potholes and as an indicator to other bikes of where I'm about to be. 

Permalink Reply by Bob Jarosz on January 8, 2015 at 1:50pm

I wish more motorists would also signal, I encounter a few every day.  Wish the police would ticket them for not signaling.  

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