Which (hand) signal for this?

[theclaud]

A bus is pulled into a bus stop. You are a reasonably nippy cyclist approaching from behind. You have clocked that people have finished getting on and off, and seen the left indicator stop blinking. You could put the hammers down and get past the bus without holding it up for more than a second, but that might lead the cars behind you to follow, in which case you will have been at the vanguard of an antisocial manoeuvre. In other words, you are the person who should be letting the bus out. If you were in a car, you would flash your lights, and that would be sufficiently intelligible to the driver that she would barely need to hesitate in the mirror-signal-manoeuvre routine. However, in the absence of such an unambiguous signal she will see you in the mirror and, not wishing to kill you, will hesitate to pull out. How do you make it clear for her that it's alright to do so, and avoid the silly courtesy stand-off where no-one wants to go first? Try not to mention Hitler or to divert the thread into an obsession with opening doors...

 

[Haitch]

Something else. You pass a law giving all buses indicating that they are about to leave a bus stop priority over all other traffic. Benefits: clarity for all, traffic is calmer, public transport has right of way.

 

[snorri]

I don't carry a hammer so I'd put my foot down.

 

[Andrew_P]

I manoeuvre out of side mirror to the middle of the rear of the bus, normally when I do this all the following cars carry on overtaking and now me and the bus are stuck.

Strangely although I do not encounter loads of buses I had a driver wave me past for the first time ever on Wednesday, even though he was indicating to pull back out.

 

[Milkfloat]

If I really wanted to let the bus out, I would go with the large body sweep (maybe combined with a little bow). However, in this situation, the bus is not indicating to pull out, so I would not be stopping. The bus could quite easily be sitting their waiting there because they are ahead of schedule, or because they are being considerate to you.

 

[Haitch]

Sorry, I think that's a terrible idea. I'm envisioning power-crazed bus drivers, and taxi drivers asking for similar law-based privileges.

That's the only disadvantage I can think of, common civility being reduced to statute. But how long before the power-crazed (why so?) expecting to be given right of way (if they don't already) because other road users habitually make sweeping gestures combined with a wide smile?

 

[Spinney]

It has to be ostentatious if the driver is to notice it in her mirror, and this also helps it to be unambiguous.

The flashing light thing done by car drivers - including me - is actually against the Highway Code, which says that flashing lights are to be used as warnings - and I don't think they mean "Warning, I'm about to cause a hold-up behind me by letting you out." So the flashing lights could be ambiguous, except that I've never seen anyone use flashing lights for a warning, other than something like 'slow down there's a speed camera ahead' (which again, I don't think the writers of the Highway Code had in mind).

 

[Andrew_P]

Of course mine only works if the bus is in a Bus lane or kerbside as opposed to pulled in, if pulled in I would normally pass with the flow of traffic.

 

[ianrauk]

I am also this...

Indescribably subtle body language, of which I am a master

Edit: To add to this and thinking about it more. I do come across the problem quite a lot on my commute through SE London's wastelands. I try to get myself in the bus drivers mirror view. Using my Indescribably subtle body language, of which I am also master, they are usually able to interpret my actions. If the driver seems a little hesitant (quite unusual) then a thumbs (hand out in front) up usually get's them moving. So I would need to vote on 2 counts.

 

[dan_bo]

A queen-esque hand roll/wavy thing.


Or a wink.

 

[MichaelW2]

I position myself about 1m out from the bus, with line of sight to his mirror and do a track stand. The bus driver looks at me, i nod at him, he waves and goes. I do this every day and it works fine with Norwich bus drivers. They generally repay the courtesy by careful driving. You meet the same bus drivers every day on a commute in a smaller city, so it pays to work up a decent way of sharing the road.

 

[winjim]

If I were in a car I wouldn't flash my lights though. I would do exactly the same as if I were on a bike. Remain stationary, eye contact in the offside mirror if possible, perhaps a subtle finger raised off the wheel / bars.

Or on a bike I might just power through, safe in the knowledge that I am in no way responsible for the driving behaviour of those behind me, since if I were in a car I wouldn't just follow the cyclist through but wait, as above.

So my vote is for masterfully subtle body language, although the question is predicated on false assumptions.

ETA: I flippin' hate that "chivvying" gesture. It just seems patronising to me. Sort of "off you go, love" in physical form.

 

[winjim]

I don't carry a hammer so I'd put my foot down.

Putting the hammer down might at least leave a free hand with which to signal.

 

[Brandane]

Stop, place bike on roadway, and whilst facing towards the drivers mirror perform a bow and once standing again, give a horizontal sweep with your right arm from the chest to the outstretched position in a "be my guest" type of gesture. That should do it.

 

[Brandane]

Actually I just noticed that this particular bus driver is a "she" according to the OP.. In that case I would keep well out of the way. Safest place is probably behind the bus as women can't reverse.

(Dons flack jacket and runs for cover!)