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A bike community member I know described these efforts as "utter failures" the other night.
Just wondering what people's experiences have been-- have you participated? Any response out on the road?

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Of course only 1% of the city commutes by bike, so it is even worse. Why can't we all just be polite everyday? Is Tuesday special for some reason?



Dr. Doom said:
Assuming 5% of Chicagoans are cyclists, eight responses gives you a margin of error of 35% at a confidence level of 95%, according to this handy sample size calculator.
Okay Harpo. I think I'd prefer not to get the TSA touch. ;)

H3N3 said:
Sorry, that was me.

I've read a few stories today to the effect that two-honk Tuesday seems to be catching on with airport security workers though. They give it a slightly different touch . . .

yesterday evening...on hubbard somewhere between Western and Damen...i received my first ever unsolicited, unprompted, unprovoked wave. im always the wave instigator. naturally i waved back.

 

tho success rate is be below 1% im sure, thats 100% progress.

I remember getting some waves during inclement weather my first bike winter.
Camaraderie in winter?


Justin Lee Miller said:

Waving and honking is lame.  The last time I waved was when I saw a guy about my dad's age on a recumbent with a trailer in falling snow and traffic.  He smiled and waved and I had to do the same.  I don't wave.  What's the point?
Thanks for the Harpo link.  :)

H3N3 said:

It's explained here:

http://dingyourbell.org/manifesto

 

Justin Lee Miller said:

Waving and honking is lame.  The last time I waved was when I saw a guy about my dad's age on a recumbent with a trailer in falling snow and traffic.  He smiled and waved and I had to do the same.  I don't wave.  What's the point?

Exactly.  The worse out the weather, the more likely I am to wave.

 

When I was in school at a huge Big Ten University (GO STATE!!!), black students made up about 10% of the undergrad student body.  It didn't take long to notice that among this population, the custom was to acknowledge one another (usually with a nod) in passing on campus.  

 

Bikers have a minority status on the streets (especially in winter) so it's comforting to have some sense of solidarity!  You don't have to wave back if you don't want, but I'll still recognize your valor for being out there in sub freezing temps.   


Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:

Camaraderie in winter?


Justin Lee Miller said:

Waving and honking is lame.  The last time I waved was when I saw a guy about my dad's age on a recumbent with a trailer in falling snow and traffic.  He smiled and waved and I had to do the same.  I don't wave.  What's the point?

"Happy (day of week)!" however has been a huge success.  Bicyclist OWN "Happy (day of week)!"

As popularized by CCM, I find pedestrians now call Happy Friday to me even on non-mass rides.  We've trained them well.  Similarly I regularly call "Happy Tuesday" (or whatever) to fellow cyclists, and get a good 50% understood, also presumably due to CCM's effect.  In contrast I never adopted these two because they require a hand.

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