New to me hand signal..

Was following a gentleman down Damen this morning. I had just got back from a road trip and had my bike pretty loaded, was not going fast at all. Every time we would come to a stop he would take his left hand around his back, gesturing to the right and patting his rear twice. Anyone know what this means? He was obviously the more speedy cyclist, so I doubt he wanted me to pass on his right.

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by David P. on June 13, 2014 at 11:01am

Lisa,

It seemed to me to have a slightly different meaning, with the emphasis more on the 'slowing' rather than on the 'stopping'

I have sometimes wished for, and attempted, a signal whereby I can let a cyclist behind me know that I am turning but not a car across from me. I turn right from EB Cortland onto SB Elston every morning and long ago stopped signaling my turn because car after car after car waiting to turn left onto SB Elston would cut me off turning left when they saw my signal.

Lisa Curcio 6.6mi said:

Hmmm, what is wrong with the old-fashioned hand signal for stop that everyone in the U.S. should recognize?

David P. said:

I saw this for the first time a few months ago, and I asked the woman who was using it what she meant. She told me that it indicated slowing down or preparing to stop.