View Full Version : a comment on hand signals
plasticweld
05-25-2006, 07:48 PM
From Brads Blog
I know I am going to sound a bit preachy here, but people... when someone is coming at you waving and asking you to slow down, it's not for their health..... it's for yours. I know you need full concentration to ride the road, but when someone is signaling you, please be weary about what could be through the next turn.
Everytime we have been there we have always escorted any big rigs through the corners by going in front of them to warn off other riders and on coming traffic. it amazes me that when I am riding on the double yellow waving my hands down in a rapid hand pumping motion that a lot of other riders think I am waving to them. I have no idea how they could somehow think that this was a wave... blows my mine but it is a reality.
The question is would it be worth while to post some sort of universal sign that shows a rider signaling danger a head to either warn of a crash around the next corner to a on coming truck or even debri in the road.
I would not think that it would be necessary but my past experience tells me it is. I have a vinyl sign making machine and would be more than willing to donate some signs for both ends of the road if someone can come up a way to convey the message...Bob
brad@dealsgap
05-26-2006, 06:57 AM
Bob
Would be glad to put them here at the store. Not sure how long they would last on the side of the road in TN, 129 is listed as a scenic highway so their is alot of rules pertaining to signs.
plasticweld
05-26-2006, 08:06 AM
I would hope they would last as long as the ones that say "Lane Crossing Kills"
Tell me what you want them to say and how big you want them and I will mail them to you...Bob
brad@dealsgap
05-26-2006, 10:05 AM
Bob, Let me discuss this with Ben and Francois and see what we come up with for you. A safty board here would be a great thing to do. Post rules of the road as well as signs ect. Thanks
Wednesday Around lunch I had the same experience leading a Big Rig thru the gap. A BMW RT with caution lights flashing, hand signals, the works and still a couple of bikes and one Mini-Cooper almost bought it. One cruiser actually panic stopped in front of the bumper then dropped the Big HD Glide in the middle of the road. Thanks to the rider who helped get that thing back on two wheels LOL. Maybe a users guide sign of some sort would help with Lane Crossing, Trying to keep up faster riders or being starteled by someone taking their picture (my favorite to read about) but I saw that no matter what signals (And Verbal Shouts) used to try and warn them a few riders seemed to not see me at all. It did make for an interesting pass though. Maybe some of the same guys who care enough to do the trash pickup could come up with 10 or so friendly suggestions and post them in prominent locations, not only at the CROT but Wheelers, Fontana, Tapco, Anywhere willing to coorporate. I will donate $100.00 to get it started but only volunteers like those described above would make it work.
MiataDi
05-28-2006, 10:36 AM
I am new to the website as of today!! I think it is a great idea to post the signals and it would also be helpful if everyone giving signals used the same signals.
We were at the gap last week. On Tuesday, May 23rd, we drove the dragon in our miata. We had a few people wave at us as we were starting on the NC side. There were also a group of guys sitting on the side that yelled something but it couldn't be heard. We took a few curves easy and saw nothing and we discussed the waves and they just seemed like friendly waves so my husband speeded up. We were getting ready to go into a tight (and blind) curve and a biker passed us pumping his hand down and we slowed way down. We thought there was going to be a LEO around the corner. It was a truck followed by a couple of bikes that were just beyond what we could see. We were so thankful that the biker slowed us down.
If everyone understood the same signals it would be very helpful. We were very thankful to the guy on the bike that slowed us down. We saw some bikes pass the truck and it looked really dangerous. We were hopeful that they passed him to warn the oncoming cars.
brad@dealsgap
05-28-2006, 11:35 AM
Gang I like this thread it is poining out alot of great ideas, we are on it and will try and get them up soon. Thanks Gang good stuff
I have a section on my web site of ride rules so new riders know what to expect when they ride with us.
I put it together based on things I found on other peoples web sites. I combined everything I liked together and added some things that I felt were important.
On of the items I pilfered from someone elses web site was a picture showing hand signals. I think it is pretty good.
Click this link:
http://www.ridewithtank.com/roadrules_files/image002.jpg
To see it
brad@dealsgap
06-01-2006, 09:36 AM
Thanks Tank, will print it out and get started, Dan has already made the display board for out side this will be a good thing.
From Brads Blog
I know I am going to sound a bit preachy here, but people... when someone is coming at you waving and asking you to slow down, it's not for their health..... it's for yours. I know you need full concentration to ride the road, but when someone is signaling you, please be weary about what could be through the next turn.
man, the least you could do is give credit to the proper person.... :)
plasticweld
06-08-2006, 03:49 PM
Ben I thought you were just Brads alter ego:p one in the same:p
My guess is that Brad gets credit for a lot of the things you do, this is just one more you can add to the list:D
I thought everything written in the Blog was his.... sorry
jamied
06-09-2006, 11:09 AM
Yes, we gotta give Ben a pat on the back...that was his post! Brad posts the Daily Updates on Ben's days off. Usually at the end of the update, you willl find the author.
Fine job to both of them for keeping the updates going! No easy task in a zoo ... trying to get the thoughts down every day.
Goober_JR
06-09-2006, 06:15 PM
i escorted a truck down on weds afternoon and was "pushing" at people with my hand and pointing to the side of the road everyone checked up and pulled over even 90 percent of cages pulled over with the other 10 percent being husnabd and wife fighting over were to pull off
khelton
06-09-2006, 09:33 PM
...... with the other 10 percent being husband and wife fighting over were to pull off
Junior, you are nuts..Where do you guys get all this material ???
Goober_JR
06-15-2006, 05:10 PM
Junior, you are nuts..Where do you guys get all this material ???
i just call it like i see it bub...
SKNL2
06-22-2006, 11:39 AM
Not at all preachy! Pertinent info that could save a life or a bike.
I think sometimes riders get so zoned out on the road, they tune out the passing bikes in the oncoming lane. Oncoming traffic can tell you a lot. Subtle behaviours can indicate big things (like trucks)!
Great ideas and great follow through! You are all stewards of the Gap and to be commended. THANK YOU!
Goober
06-22-2006, 12:04 PM
Having escorted several semi's through, I'd have to say that the hardest part is getting around the semi. Most will not allow you to get around, not realizing that you're trying to HELP them.
anyways, I've found that riding for the most part in or on the double yellow (exception of blind turns) and almost pushing on coming traffic over, while motioning with hand signals, 'most' seem to get the idea. Almost guranteed the ones that don't will understand 'next' time
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