Showing other cyclists that I'm stopping suddenly

[Trail Child]

They are in common use in America, that left arm held up at 90 degrees to turn right confused me when I first rode over there, apparently it is what car drivers used to do when cars didn't have indicators.

These signals are actually taught in drivers' classes here (Ontario) in case you are driving a vehicle without signal lights or dysfunctional signal lights.

 

[Tynan]

Had you actually READ my first post? Obviously not since you missed the point completely.

My question is not about cars, cars have BRAKE LIGHTS and and can STICK THE BRAKES ON (it's called emergency stop , say when a child runs on the road )



I checked before I stopped and there was NOBODY behind me (or he was too far behind for me to see him). Do you ride with your neck craned backwards (in busy traffic) just in case there is an idiot following you that doesn't pay enough attention?

yes I did and both my points stand, despite your indignation you deal with neither of them, so was the rider behind you too far behind to see or too close?

 

[AndyPeace]

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I make the same signal as is described as a right turn to thank other road users... I think alot of these lesser known signals came about from the days when cars didn't have indicators and don't really have a place on day to day roads. I tried a few in recent months, like the back handed 'do not pass'... with which I get the same result as if I simply signal right. imo, most are not known by modern drivers or cyclists. keep it simple I say, left and right hand signals and scream in an emergency! The simple act of looking behind also alerts people that your about to do something and they should be prepared!

Not sure the OP could have done anything, they'd checked behind them and there is not a common hand signal for ' ride responsibly'

 

[Little My]

yes I did and both my points stand, despite your indignation you deal with neither of them

I fail to see the relevance of your point about my preferences regarding cars slowing or stopping. My question was about communicating with cyclists behind me not about observing and reacting to vehicles in front. As I said cars have brake lights, so it's pretty obvious that they are stopping or slowing down. I always keep a reasonable distance from the car in front, so when it needs to stop it's not a problem, even if it's an emergency stop (there is enough gap for me to stop in time).

so was the rider behind you too far behind to see or too close?

He was too far.
Had he been close I would have seen the reflection of his flashing lights on the road. As I said, I wanted to stop asp, so I gave a good shoulder check and I couldn't see anybody.The traffic was busy, so I didn't want to keep looking backwards and end up under a car. I moved close to the curb and stopped.The point is - I looked before stopping and he obviously wasn't paying enough attention to react in time.

 

[400bhp]

how would you want a car ahead of you to slow and stop?

mirror signal manouvre in good time, you can't just stick the brakes on and stop, if a bike behind you was given a start I suggest your stop could have been better

Yes you can and you should be able to do it.

Same reasons not to tailgate.

 

[Cycling Dan]

Would it not be best just to shout out "stopping"!

 

[Rob3rt]

In Australia, one convention is to show the palm of your hand behind your back, typically the right hand, as an indication that you're about to stop. The palm is facing the rider(s) behind you. I don't know if the UK use this one, though .

Other cyclists use an older signal which (to me, at least) doesn't seem as common these days, and most likely is derived from motorists' signals (in left-driving countries) in which they can only use their right hand out of the driver's side window. This signal is to stick the right arm out with the elbow at 90 degrees (i.e. with the forearm pointing upwards, and palm facing forwards in your direction of travel) to form a reverse L shape.

In the UK if you did that you would be signalling that you are about to move left around an obstacle.

Telling the other cyclist to either back up or take over in good time is usually good enough as a preventative measure, but if you need to stop suddenly, just shout stopping!

 

[wiggydiggy]

In the UK if you did that you would be signalling that you are about to move left around an obstacle.

Telling the other cyclist to either back up or take over in good time is usually good enough as a preventative measure, but if you need to stop suddenly, just shout stopping!

For what its worth I've asked other cyclists, not known to me, to back off if I find them sat on my rear. Or I simply slow down until they get the hint and bugger off!

Obv that wont work in all places, esp the busier cycle cities, as you'd be forever telling people to back off!

I think sometimes the rear cyclist does not realise perhaps how disconcerting it can be having someone sat on your back wheel.

 

[AndyPeace]

In the UK if you did that you would be signalling that you are about to move left around an obstacle.

Telling the other cyclist to either back up or take over in good time is usually good enough as a preventative measure, but if you need to stop suddenly, just shout stopping!

Any hand signal is only ever going to be effective if all other road users know what they mean. If you put your hand behind your back, I'd probably think you had an itch, in fact I recall doing just that recently( I think someone told me it helped reduce numbness in hands). I can see these signals have a place in group rides, were everyone knows what's what, but you can't rely on a stranger knowing what you mean. Shouting can be a little self-conscious but is more likely to be understood...even if you can't make out the word the noise should alert other cyclists.

 

[Rob3rt]

Any hand signal is only ever going to be effective if all other road users know what they mean. If you put your hand behind your back, I'd probably think you had an itch, in fact I recall doing just that recently( I think someone told me it helped reduce numbness in hands). I can see these signals have a place in group rides, were everyone knows what's what, but you can't rely on a stranger knowing what you mean. Shouting can be a little self-conscious but is more likely to be understood...even if you can't make out the word the noise should alert other cyclists.

That is true, not everyone will understand it, but at the same time, you are unlikely to find any universally known and used signal. Also my point was simply that the signal they tend use in Australia for stopping, doesn't mean stopping to a UK rider (who has seen the signal before).

 

[snailracer]

Brake lights don't indicate that a car will stop suddenly. Coasting on a bike is similar in that respect. There is no broadly understood way of signalling a sudden stop, AFAIK.

The best way I can think of to indicate stopping is to stop pedalling and stick my left foot out, in apparent readiness to put it on the ground when I stop.

 

[Shaun]

Personally I was taught to use the left arm out and slowly wave it up and down to indicate I'm slowing to a stop, but even then I get odd looks from people who don't understand it, and it's no use for coming to a sudden stop.

I agree with others who have said there isn't really a universally understood "I'm stopping" signal. Maybe we should invent one and start using it?

You can't sit upright and thrust your arms in the air - you need to have your hands on the drops to pull the brakes - so what about throwing both legs out to the side quickly? Oh, no, hang on - then they'd think there was a massive puddle up ahead.

 

[Mallory]

^^^^ so best not use that in Northern Ireland then

I use the right arm behind with palm facing backwards.

However it's the rider following you responsibility to ride at a safe distance, which in London is about 6 inches from your rear wheel Grrrrrr

 

[snorri]

Sorry I have no idea, I was trying to be helpful and just did an Internet search.

I just thought it could be dangerously confusing to post hand signals for cyclists without saying in which part of the world they apply.

 

[addictfreak]

I just thought it could be dangerously confusing to post hand signals for cyclists without saying in which part of the world they apply.

It's not really rocket science though, is it.