The Wave

[mofoco]

First off I'm not trying to offend anyone I'm just sharing my opinion and hoping to find others who agree, or disagree for that matter.

You know what I'm talking about the little wave motorcyclist do to each other, seems perfectly harmless doesn't it. well if done subtly maybe but i see a lot riders out there doing a wave that looks a hell of alot like a left turn signal!

Ive been riding in more then one car as a passenger with a driver who doesn't ride and been about to pass a bike in the slow lane when that rider waves to another rider, and in a couple of instances they waved by putting there arm straight out, in all these cases the driver and myself thought the bike was turning left, its just instinct to look for that signal and especially when they put there arm out.

doesn't seem like a big deal at first but if u think about it its a problem for several reasons, first it scares the crap outta drivers that don't know your just trying to be one of the cool kids by waving to another rider instead they think your gunna do something stupid like change lanes right next to u or cut u off. This causes the driver to take there foot off the gas or maybe even brake, if someone is tailgating then there could be a potential accident. Now if a driver sees riders waving like that all the time then they will become desensitized to it and then suppose you really are doing just a quick signal and the driver next to u figures its a wave and ignores it theres potential for another accident. My other thought is wtf are you doing looking at other riders anyways, theres enough to be looking at when your riding without looking for other bikes to wave at like a bunch of school girls. keeping your hands on the controls is a good idea to especially for new riders.

If u haven't figured it out yet i don't do the wave i never do, Ive been riding on the street for 11 years and Ive always hated the wave for all the above reasons.

OK I'm lying i have waved at people i know, and because of this i try to limit the number of people i know.

[JTC]

Had to be from Canada.

[Lgn001]

To each his own. The only time I do NOT wave is if traffic is too heavy or unpredictable to make it safe, or if I don't see the other two-wheeler for whatever reason. They typical wave down here is a "peace" sign, with the arm extended about 45 degrees above or below horizontal, so it is discernible from a standard signaling gesture. Personally, I would be thrilled if the other drivers around me paid enough attention to the events around them to wonder what I was signaling about.

For me, it is an acknowledgment of the decision to ride a motorcycle. They are far riskier than a car, and require that the rider be fairly proactive to survive. It is also a camaraderie sort of gesture.

But again, that's me. If you don't want to wave, by all means don't wave.

[azpnshr]

Originally Posted by mofoco

in a couple of instances they waved by putting there arm straight out, in all these cases the driver and myself thought the bike was turning left, its just instinct to look for that signal and especially when they put there arm out.

On the flip side, at least he's being seen!!

Originally Posted by mofoco

This causes the driver to take there foot off the gas or maybe even brake, if someone is tailgating then there could be a potential accident.

I don't think that one can control someone else's actions such as tailgating (you can influence to some degree but not control ). Besides, how do you change your driving behavior when someone in a cage drives for 2, 5 or 20 miles with their turn signal on? Like anything else that happens out there, if I see something that is a potential hazard, I prep for it and plan my evasive manuever (constant actions on the roadway).

+++1 to what LGN001 stated.

[KC-10 FE]

If a person has a traffic accident due to the motorcycle "wave"...

Well...

You see...

That person is a giant freaking idiot & serves them right.

KC-10 FE out...

[derstuka]

People can get distracted and confused for many reasons.

Kinda like KC so eloquently put it, if some has an accident because of you waving at another motorcyclist, they are a buffoon most likely, and should not be driving on the road anyways.

Oh, and lastly, I would not be doing this in busy traffic on a freeway. This is more of when you are on a smaller road, side street, or back road. Using common sense is a big thing, as if you are approaching a busy intersection, maybe it would be best to "nod" your helmet at a fellow motorcyclist, so you will not be confused for using a turn signal....or only do it when you are on the closest lane to somebody coming the opposite way. You must have attentive drivers up there, down here, you could wave and pump your arm all you want, and people will not pay attention to you.

[CARMINE]

Hi,
this is the reason why I use "to lamp" other bikers...
But sometimes I "feel" that a car driver doesn't understand that I am turnin left/right and so I use my arm left/right to show I am really turning. Well, I want to say that it is difficult to establish rules when driving a bike. The only thing is that we have to be always in an attentive driving mode. May be I am speaking like this because I am becoming older...
Well Lamps to all VFR owners !

[derstuka]

Originally Posted by CARMINE

Hi,
this is the reason why I use "to lamp" other bikers...
But sometimes I "feel" that a car driver doesn't understand that I am turnin left/right and so I use my arm left/right to show I am really turning. Well, I want to say that it is difficult to establish rules when driving a bike. The only thing is that we have to be always in an attentive driving mode. May be I am speaking like this because I am becoming older...
Well Lamps to all VFR owners !

Yeah Carmine, and sometimes a driver thinks that a brights flash means "turn in front of me" or, "F You" over here. I think it is a cool thing, but our culture would be too confused to start doing so now.


Lamps to Carmine!

[medyv]

Originally Posted by mofoco

doesn't seem like a big deal at first but if u think about it its a problem for several reasons, first it scares the crap outta drivers that don't know your just trying to be one of the cool kids by waving to another rider instead they think your gunna do something stupid like change lanes right next to u or cut u off. This causes the driver to take there foot off the gas or maybe even brake, if someone is tailgating then there could be a potential accident.

In other words, turn signals cause accidents. Don't use turn signals people, other drivers will flip out and crash when they see them!!!111 doesn't even begin to describe that one.

Waving to other motorcyclists is a way of showing camaraderie for another member of our same small group. A lot of us "school girls" are capable of letting go of the grips (and noticing other vehicles around us, wow!) without driving into a tree.