Hand signals?

[Pat "5mph"]

I've always thought that the slowing down signal can easily be interpreted as an indication to turn by other road users.

When I did my ride leader course our instructor got beeped at because the driver behind understood he was turning right

On led rides , the ride leader will put an arm straight up , not to stop , but to ask their assistant to come up front beside them , usually at a junction.

Whatever group is using that instead of the "ten-pin bowling" signal needs farking shooting before the infection spreads.

The motion is actually an "agitation of the arm raised up" (@pjd57 and I sometimes ride with the same leaders) but the "agitation" is mostly dispensed with, we know what they mean.
Once I had a bit too many riders, so a promoted another to keep an eye on the back.
At a tricky junction I shouted her name, raised and waived my arm: she did not come ... oh, I thought you were just waving at me ...
The stopping thing is a hazard, I just shout slowing down, then stopping.

 

[nickyboy]

if you don't indicate left, you may be taken forcefully from the rear by another cyclist

Blimey, I'm unlikely to make that mistake twice

 

[Will Spin]

The group I ride with also uses an arm up the back signal to warn following riders of pedestrians in the road.

 

[mgs315]

Be careful with "car up". Different groups use that to mean ar up ahead, car moving up the group (= overtaking) or even car uphill! (Although I've just rechecked and the group that I was told did that has now changed to front/back.) https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/car-up-car-back-car-down.192591/

Aye I’ve heard a few interchanges of certain words. Up and back seem to be the common ones round here but I usually just assume that if I can’t see a car just tuck in and be prepared to slow/stop and it’ll work out ok.

 

[mjr]

The group I ride with also uses an arm up the back signal to warn following riders of pedestrians in the road.

Is it physically possible to do the Yellow pages walking fingers UP one's back?

 

[mjr]

What's that? Just curious, that's all.

Right arm extended downwards, hand open, palm forwards, swinging back and forth through the vertical. Signal for the following vehicle to come alongside. Used to be in the highway code way back when. Cannot be confused with the stop signal like that other one.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

How can a ride leader use that sign to get another leader to join them at a junction, when the back marker/middle marker can be quite a distance away?
They would not be able to see it, hence the leader's arm in the air waving thing.

 

[mjr]

How can a ride leader use that sign to get another leader to join them at a junction, when the back marker/middle marker can be quite a distance away?
They would not be able to see it, hence the leader's arm in the air waving thing.

How are they a backmarker or middle marker if they're not at the back/middle? And surely no-one should be overtaking on the approach to a junction. This all sounds like very poor roadcraft/ridecraft and not a good reason to misuse a stop signal.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I used to use the slowing down signal, but in baseball, as a signal to the pitcher for a sinker (ball). We used to use the same signaling as autos for bicycles, until someone figured out bicycles are somewhat different, now we just point direction of travel.

 

[Salad Dodger]

I use them for turning right and left, but not for slowing down, as I am generally going slow anyway!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

How are they a backmarker or middle marker if they're not at the back/middle? And surely no-one should be overtaking on the approach to a junction. This all sounds like very poor roadcraft/ridecraft and not a good reason to misuse a stop signal.

Uhh, did you think I was referring to a club ride?
Imagine a social beginners group, scattered, some slower than others, some a bit wobbly, some ok but chatting, trusting the leaders to tell them when to stop or when to go.
The leaders try to stay on segregated paths, but of course sometimes the group must cross the odd junction due to the randomness of our cycle routes.
Yes, the participants of some of the led rides I go on have very poor cyclecraft, but the aim is to get them out, have fun, discover new places, all in a safe environment.

 

[mjr]

Uhh, did you think I was referring to a club ride?
Imagine a social beginners group, scattered, some slower than others, some a bit wobbly, some ok but chatting, trusting the leaders to tell them when to stop or when to go.

I don't need to imagine because I've ridden with some and helped with others, as recently as "Pedal And Chat" a week ago yesterday. A social beginners group should not be encouraging participants to blindly trust leaders to tell them when to stop or go IMO. To do so is to store up several sorts of trouble, including for a leader who misjudges a participant's acceleration (or lack thereof). It is important to help beginners learn to look and decide for themselves, rather than try to do it for them.

Yes, the participants of some of the led rides I go on have very poor cyclecraft, [...]

I was referring to the middle/back markers overtaking on the approaches to junction, not the ordinary participants.

 

[Lovacott]

Hand Signals, who uses them?

I use three signals. Left, Right and a wave to let people past me on a single track country lane (I either pull into a farm gate or stop the bike and lean into the hedgerow to give the car/tractor room to pass). I don't indicate that I am slowing down because I doubt that any car driver would have a clue what it meant anyway.

I find myself indicating left and right even on empty roads out of pure habit/reflex.

Most other cyclists I see near me only bother with indicating right and I rarely see anyone indicate left.

I didn't know about the pothole signal but then I don't ride in a group.

 

[Chris S]

I never use hand signals, my local roads are so bad that I don't risk taking my hands of the bars.

 

[Profpointy]

I would be quite selective about indicating left. It can encourage those of a clownish persuasion to overtake then cut in front and turn left across your path - ditto those approaching turning right across your path. I do still do it if it helps someone trying to pull out and to show the chap behind that I'm going to slow down - but I'll usually take the centre of my lane to avoid the turning-the-corner-beside-you trick