No one returning your waves?

[snorri]

From time to time on CycleChat someone expresses disappointment that some cyclists do not acknowledge greetings from their fellow travellers. There are many explanations for this apparent lapse in good manners, and here is another
The message comes at 2m 20s, but the whole tape is worth a look.

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tozCu1BBaWE

 

[Chrisc]

Very interesting. Completely different outlook to here in the UK eh? That's the culture I observed in the Netherlands last summer, it was fantastic.

 

[Mike A]

Interesting video - and I understand where the guy is coming from. Personally I do 'say hello / acknowledge' other people in the places I normally cycle, but then I do so when I'm walking too. A smile and a friendly 'good morning' spreads a little happiness.

 

[ASC1951]

A friend and I were pedalling up Wharfedale and came up to the back of a certain Lancashire cycling club. Not a club with many new members, I imagine.

Us - "Morning, lads. Where are you headed today?"

Man at back - "What the fcuk has that got to do with you?"

 

[BentMikey]

I'd be so tempted to go and post that on their club forum, or email the club chairman/president.

 

[soulful dog]

Can see his point and it's perfectly reasonable when you put it like that, makes us seem a bit silly for expecting acknowledgement! But when you are out walking (i.e. trekking/hiking and not just walking down the street!) you generally nod or say hello to others doing the same thing, lorry drivers acknowledge other lorry drivers etc, etc. Do they not do that in Denmark, or is that a different thing than cyclists?

 

[GrasB]

His perfectly logical reasoning works, just as most motorists are car users & a some motorists are driving enthusiast it should be the same for cycling. The greeting of a fellow cyclist in it's self is there more because we're a minority more than anything else. I'd imagine that 'roadies' will still acknowledge each other just as you acknowledge your friends when walking down the street or if you see them while driving.

 

[thomas]

The message comes at 2m 20s, but the whole tape is worth a look.

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tozCu1BBaWE

....lorry drivers acknowledge other lorry drivers etc, etc. Do they not do that in Denmark, or is that a different thing than cyclists?

I think his point in the video is how you get cycling to the masses. It can't be seen as different. Back at UNI I wouldn't wave to every cyclist around town...mainly because they are students and the bicycle is "just a tool to make it easier" ... where as I would wave to other people on nicer bikes. It isn't me being snobby.

 

[I am Spartacus]

A friend and I were pedalling up Wharfedale and came up to the back of a certain Lancashire cycling club. Not a club with many new members, I imagine.

Us - "Morning, lads. Where are you headed today?"

Man at back - "What the fcuk has that got to do with you?"

I'd be so tempted to go and post that on their club forum, or email the club chairman/president.

That was the club chairman

I agree with thinking about reporting obnoxious behaviour back to the club.. whether it actually makes a piss pot of a difference however....

 

[rh100]

A really interesting vid - thanks for the link

I think he is right - cycling does seem to get put into some kind of specialist form of transport with a certain requirement for clothing etc, it must put a lot of people off. I just cycle to work in my work trousers, shirt and shoes, and when just out and about quite happy wearing jeans and tshirt. The only 'uniform' I wear is a cycling jacket for the longer drop at the back to protect from splashes and a helmet and gloves. I can understand the lycra stuff for people training etc, but for A to B I don't really get it.

At the end of the day - anyone can learn to ride a bike, so I don't feel part of any kind of elite club for doing something a child could easily do. The waving thing is just general friendliness exhibited by other people doing similar things, such as ramblers or such. No harm in it.

 

[nigelb]

I exchange nods or waves with several cyclists on my commute, but that's a bit easier - see them regularly, at roughly the same places (depending on how early/late they/I am).

I think if people exchanged friendly words with each other more, they'd be less aggro generally, but then again I am a bit eccentric.

Nige

 

[Scoosh]

I exchange nods or waves with several cyclists on my commute, but that's a bit easier - see them regularly, at roughly the same places (depending on how early/late they/I am).

I think if people exchanged friendly words with each other more, they'd be less aggro generally, but then again I am a bit eccentric.

Nige

... but clearly a very friendly eccentric

 

[Sam Kennedy]

To be honest, seeing another cyclist is a lot less common than a driver seeing another driver. However, if it's somewhere like London or the Netherlands where everyone cycles, then waving to every cyclist you see is a bit pointless.

When I go out cycling through Northumberland with my club, nearly everyone acknowledges other cyclists.

So yeah its pretty pointless people saying "drivers don't wave at drivers", since millions of people driver, but a lot less cycle.

 

[Scoosh]

To be honest, seeing another cyclist is a lot less common than a driver seeing another driver. However, if it's somewhere like London or the Netherlands where everyone cycles, then waving to every cyclist you see is a bit pointless.

When I go out cycling through Northumberland with my club, nearly everyone acknowledges other cyclists.

So yeah its pretty pointless people saying "drivers don't wave at drivers", since millions of people driver, but a lot less cycle.

Driver of various marques of car tend to wave at each other eg Land Rover, Saab (from my own experience), probably more classics too.

 

[BentMikey]

Recumbent riders tend to wave at all other cyclists, none of this road/mtb snootiness.