Ok,so its raining, its cold, and its fairly windy. There am I heading off to work, on me revo cuilin (still love it ) occasionally spot "fellow " cyclists and offer a nod of the head and a friendly, "ello", "awright" or even the occasional,"aye aye ". If the other party is, or appears under 50 or so it would seem that its so uncool to respond ! Old guys and galls always seem to be happy to return a greeting without a problem ! Good manners are so hard to find ! Ok, on a sunday afternoon on the union canal it can wear out your voice box its so busy but surely its not that difficult ! Even the guys digging up the road in Redding near falkirk moved some equipment and enquired, " awright son ? ".
Rant over, for now...... :/
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
hello,the lack of response !
(40 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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I always say hello and am an incredibly young looking 43, ho ho !
However, i agree, it seems to be the older chaps / ladies who know how to converse.
Facebook and the like has a lot to answer for...........
Posted 13 years ago # -
takes all sorts so it does
Posted 13 years ago # -
Although as someone once said to me when I complained about the same thing, if you were walking to work would you say hello to every other pedestrian?
Have to say the age thing is a bit of a stereotype... Plenty of miserable auld folk out there too... ;)
Posted 13 years ago # -
I would file myself at the younger end of the demographic here but when I'm "out cycling" will always try nod / wave / say hello / give a finger acknowledgement if I'm preoccupied.
I have to admit when I'm commuting on the road I often dispense with such pleasantries on the busier sections, too many other things to concentrate on and to be honest can hardly see cyclists going the other way through the traffic. If there's a long wait at the lights I will make a generic "it's nice out" or "it's bl**dy 'orrid out" sort of weather-based comment.
I find myself smiling at more cyclists when it's nice and summery / springy out. A sort of knowing smile that we're both enjoying the ride. I got smiled at today, but it was potentially because I was carrying a frame round my shoulder that was a yeuch shade of metallic custard. Rest assured it's been dropped off at Henderson's Metalwork for stripping and spraying into something more of a midnight blue.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I try to always nod or otherwise acknowledge other cyclists, but it's rather built in from years of powered two wheelers where the unwritten law is to acknowledge other bikes and stop if you see one apparently stuck at roadside unless you have a very pressing reason not to.
90% of the time it makes no odds but it just feels more pleasant.Posted 13 years ago # -
I'm probably a young one (22), and I always nod back/otherwise acknowledge if I notice in time to. I don't tend to take the initiative and do so myself very often. I don't like being too forward or something, I guess, but I always try and be friendly if someone else does so first.
I think my nicest encounter ever was with a small girl riding up MMW on a wee pink bike with stabilisers, exclaiming "daddy, look at that lady's BIKE :D!" in a tone of unbridled glee. It absolutely made my day, so I slowed down and told her her own bike was lovely.
Weirdest encounter was getting chatted up by a very serious-looking roadie at one of the advance stop lines on Melville Drive. Not sure what he thought he could achieve in 60 seconds or so with a big line of cars behind us!
Posted 13 years ago # -
roadies are fast
Posted 13 years ago # -
"daddy, look at that... ...BIKE :D!"
Yeah I've noticed that particular call when out with team recumbent
Not sure what he thought he could achieve in 60 seconds or so
if he was champion material, about 1km!
Posted 13 years ago # -
roadies are fast
Hey! some of us are painstakingly slow...
Posted 13 years ago # -
Hur hur hur hur hur, should have seen those ones coming (so to speak)!
Posted 13 years ago # -
When I'm out on the hills or a longer ride out the city I'll say hello or nod or even smile but on my commute I rarely bother. I'll talk to folk at the lights though.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Back home when I was small and lived in Lincolnshire cyclists would nod and grunt at each other when we passed; likewise the once or twice I trundled about the bit of Yorkshire where my dad worked for a bit, though that was all country roads where people were generally out riding for the fun of it. I tried it when I moved up here and swiftly stopped.
Posted 13 years ago # -
couple of old bods declined to say hello to me today. I don't let that put me off. Cyclists are less friendly than joggers. But they are going faster so reaction times sometimes stop replies.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"But they are going faster so reaction times sometimes stop replies. "
Yes. Sometimes other cyclists say hello on the cycle paths but
they are past before I can reply and so probably don't hear me.Posted 13 years ago # -
When I'm on the motorbike I always raise a hand to other motor cyclists. I used to drive around in a particularly striking blacked out miniclubman estate and I always flashed other minis. when I drove about in an old landrover I always waved at other landy drivers and when I'm cycling I always say hello to other cyclists......I don't always get a reply..............but I don't care I'm on my bike so I'm happy enough.
Posted 13 years ago # -
There's a good section of motorcyclists who'll always give you a wave out on the country roads. Not the sort who bomb around over 100mph on superbikes, I guess the more "touring bicycle" type of motorcyclist - out for a nice ride in the country with their mates. Look like they enjoy tea and cake too.
Posted 13 years ago # -
@Kaputnik - I have noticed these bikers. When we were leaving the quaint Islington on Sea village of Blakeney in Norfolk last summer, 250 of them were arriving for a Hells Angels Scone and Clotted Cream extravaganza
Posted 13 years ago # -
I say hello to walkers and cyclists when I'm on my road bike in the countryside. I usually get a response but I don't care if I don't. I grew up in the country and we knew and spoke to everyone we met when we were out.
Maybe for some, cycling is an escape not from town or city but from people and the last thing they want is more human interaction.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Hmm, I don't wave to other pedestrians, or other drivers, so I've never really felt the need to wave to other cyclists.
Suppose I was in the middle of nowhere and came across a chap on a particularly interesting bike, or something - I'd probably spend a bit of time chatting to them even if they weren't going my way. So I don't think it is inherent unfriendliness.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I like to give a nod at least to other cyclist I see, and I'd say 50% respond.
If I'm out in the country or in my street I'll say to morning to other pedestrians if I see them on foot.
Though if you thought it was bad here, you should try the south, London for instance, where a friendly hello will elicit a response like, them looking shocked at you and burying their heads in a paper or iPhone, or worse still running away!
Posted 13 years ago # -
...and that is just the cyclists...
Dave C people on tube trains or buses do not engage in conversation but never really had that problem whilst on the bike in London. Although I lived there for many years always took my A-Z as there was little point asking people for directions, they were either tourists, foreigners or did not know the London, let alone the borough very well. As for running away that I never experienced!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Dave: Hmm, I don't wave to other pedestrians, or other drivers, so I've never really felt the need to wave to other cyclists.
But I expect you wouldn't ignore someone who waved or said hello. It's that response that seems odd to me.
Posted 13 years ago # -
@recumbodna..... landys n minis ! Agree, always used to wave at mg,s bettles et all when I had a serious car disease !I have tried it recently while in my present MG ( rover 75 ) thingy.....I know...! No one realy waved back. Perhaps waving was the first sort of on line forum ? As ive said before when in my lorry I will wave at cyclists, but just to let them lknow i see them !
Have to admit if someone doesnt respond I dont care , well not enough to get upset, or post on a forum or something ! : (
hiya !Posted 13 years ago # -
There's a good section of motorcyclists who'll always give you a wave out on the country roads.
The first time we took the trailer out last year, we were cycling past the motorcycle dealership nr Kings buildings, on the way towards Liberton, and the forecourt was full of motorcyclists, and they all waved. I was too surprised to wave back, and have felt bad ever since!
Posted 13 years ago # -
You should go to Islay.
We went there on holiday 2 or 3 years ago (had a great time - well worth a visit if you haven't been). Driving away from the ferry at Port Askaig the roads were quiet. Then, we saw a car coming the other way; as we passed the driver waved. Must have mistaken us for someone else. Couple of minutes later, the next driver waves at us. Is there something wrong with our car? Third driver, waves. Cyclist, waves. Fourth driver, waves - I wave back.
Turns out that everyone on Islay seems to wave at everyone else as they pass. To the visitor it gives the island a nice sense of community and, once I got into the habit of waving, it had a real positive effect on me. Big smiles all round.
Posted 13 years ago # -
In Newfoundland we do that too - at least outside of the cities. Normally, a sort of half-wave/finger lift from the wheel, especially on dirt/dust roads. Or, a wave out the window/toot on the horn in more rambunctious circumstances.
When I was little, we drove a volkswagon campervan which were very rare, and then a landrover, also pretty uncommon, and always got lots of attention, especially from fellow volkswaggoners.
Posted 13 years ago # -
You should go to Islay.
From the age of 1 - 18 I was taken to Islay 2 or 3 times a year on holiday. Everyone waves all the time there on the roads. I think they're still marvelling at the internal combustion engine or something. Definitely going to go back for a cycle this summer on my George Orwell tour to Barnhill.
Posted 13 years ago # -
@Kaputnik, I'd have thought the idea of visiting a distillery was more than enough of an excuse!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Is this not a bit off 'infrastructure' topic 'mr enumerator'? Just asking if it could be shunted through the points into the right siding?
Posted 13 years ago #
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