Why do we (have to) wave to drivers

undergroundoli said:
Waving says 'thanks, I appreciate that,' which kind of tells drivers what they did is usefull.

We are vulnerable, and if thanking drivers teaches them we are polite and can really do with the extra space thats a good thing.

Why wouldn't you acknowledge that you've excersised your leagle right to cause minor inconvinance to some one, are mildly sorry it was inevatable and that it was nice that they wernt horn leaning cockmonkeys about it?
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lol yep just about sums it up for me :D
if no rider bothered saying thank you it would just enforce the stereotype that we're all up our own arse snobs who think we are superior, we don't need that anymore than we need a artic lorry up our butts sounding it's air horn :D
 
I thank drivers who pull out wide when I'm on my mountain bike or running along a section of road with no footpath as well, it's just common courtesy to thank them for thinking of me and not just themselves.

Even if a driver only slows down a little bit, I still give them a thank you (albeit a small one). I'd like to think that next time they'll do a bit more. Likewise, I think if you encounter a driver who isn't used to passing horses but does slow down but isn't thanked, they might not think they need to bother doing anything at all next time.
 
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I do it to show my appreciation/help with their education and work on a scale:

- Wave - brilliant, you've got it spot on/gone over and about, thanks a lot
- Nod - you've done the right thing
- Ignore - on the cusp on not being OK
- Thumb down - you've been inconsiderate/borderline dangerous
- Flailing arms and screeching - you're a moronic idiot with no right on the road

I also flap my hands in various ways to try and get drivers to slow down, back off or pass wider.

I never ride on the road without hi viz or ride two abreast; I consider myself a driver aware rider.
 
Elvis said:
I completely agree with this, I will wave to every driver regardless of whether they slowed down, in fact I almost exaggerate my thank you to those who don't slow down. As awful as this may sound, it's a way of almost trying to condition drivers, if you reward someone they are more likely to continue to be courteous drivers.
!
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I do too. :) I think it helps those that don't slow to be reminded that we are human and living and not just an obstacle in the road.
 
How do all these people who say they can't manage to take a hand off the reins manage when they need to turn right or stop. The highway code says that we should use hand signals. Sorry but if you can't take your hands off the reins for a second then you shouldn't really be on the road.
 
Because I am normally driving to get somewhere that I need to be, whereas as most people are out for a hack for leisure, so if I'm going to delay my journey for the convenience of someone's hobby (let's face it, the rider benefits more than the driver from the driver's courtesy, as although there are risks to the driver they are much lower than for the rider) the least the rider can do is say thanks. I also thank people when cycling or walking.

Rude people are a plague on the world!
 
I never said I can't I said I don't. It is a completely different kettle of fish indicating a turn occasionally than it is constantly taking your hand off the reins to wave. It's exactly the same as driving, I only take my hand of the wheel to change gears (necessary and like indicating on horseback) I don't drive around with one hand in my lap (unnecessary and potentially dangerous same as waving to every single car that passes) nodding is more than suffienct especially some we don't have to wave as indicated in the Highway Code.
 
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If people only ever did the things they LEGALLY had to, the world would be a horrendous place to live! I thank people for slowing down, or being considerate when they pass my horse either by a wave, or nodding in their direction and saying thank you, or a smile. If they don't bother to slow down or make any effort to pass me considerately, i don't bother to thank them. If they actively try and scare my horse, or act dangerously (this has happened on at least 2 occasions recently) i will shout at them, or point out (as politely as i can) how their actions were dangerous. You'd have thought that driving a foot behind a horse and trying to squeeze past me using a gap that isn't there would be an obvious Bad Idea....but not to some people, she actually looked surprised when i turned round and shouted at her to stop.
Generally i find most other road users around me are very considerate, and i always make sure to thank them profusely when they have gone out of their way to allow me to carry on safely (i've started hacking my 4yo recently, so have been very grateful for this!)
 
Spudlet said:
Because I am normally driving to get somewhere that I need to be, whereas as most people are out for a hack for leisure, so if I'm going to delay my journey for the convenience of someone's hobby (let's face it, the rider benefits more than the driver from the driver's courtesy, as although there are risks to the driver they are much lower than for the rider) the least the rider can do is say thanks. I also thank people when cycling or walking.

Rude people are a plague on the world!
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Just because you are working or driving somewhere (could be for leisure?) gives you no more rights to using the road over those doing so purely for pleasure or does it make the rider in debt to your kindness, the driver does not benefit more than the rider as potentially both could be seriously injured if a driver fails to slow down as legally required to do so. I always thank all drivers and feel it is polite but I don't do it because am indebt to driver's kindness as they should slow anyway (but I appreciate those that do).
 
Alphamare - it wasn't so much pointed at you although you did say that you "refuse to take your hands off the rein" but at many people on local fb pages who spout on about not taking hands off. Our worse culprit is someone who has been a DC rides a really quiet horse plodding on the road and refuses to nod, wave or even acknowledge and I think what an example she sends out to PC members.
 
Coz nothing ticks me off more than when you make an effort to slow down and overtake safely and you get a snooty look in return. When I'm riding everyone gets a wave. The less people deserve it the more sarcastic it becomes!
 
Clava said:
Just because you are working or driving somewhere (could be for leisure?) gives you no more rights to using the road over those doing so purely for pleasure or does it make the rider in debt to your kindness, the driver does not benefit more than the rider as potentially both could be seriously injured if a driver fails to slow down as legally required to do so. I always thank all drivers and feel it is polite but I don't do it because am indebt to driver's kindness as they should slow anyway (but I appreciate those that do).
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Nothing to do with rights - everyone has the right to use the road. However, it is only polite to acknowledge that you are in fact inconveniencing someone and thank them for their consideration.

As to injury, I could (but never would) easily screech off at high speed after passing and leave a horse tap-dancing in my wake... no risk to me but plenty for the person sitting on top. I would never dream of doing such a thing no matter how obnoxious the rider was because I care about the horse. But not everyone will!
 
Does anyone else find if they are riding a bicycle you want to wave/acknowledge drivers as it I so automatic to do it when riding...!
 
humblepie said:
Does anyone else find if they are riding a bicycle you want to wave/acknowledge drivers as it I so automatic to do it when riding...!
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Yep, also on bad days my bike spooks at things too :mad3:

There's one girl near me who gives a barely perceptilble nod of the head as I go past, she's not working her horse, hacking on a long rein, its a cob who always is well behaved and steady and yet she still never lifts a hand - it really annoys me! So much so I almost want to not slow down and be a bit aggressive, and thats coming from a horsey person. Mind you, there are numerous ignorant people near me :(
 
If I am walking with no pavement and someone gives me a really wide berth I do tend to smile and raise a hand.

Just like I do if I am driving and someone lets me out at a junction or whatever.

I have had plenty of cyclists give me a wave for waiting behind them to go round a corner or whatever

You would thank someone for waiting and holding a door open for you would you not? What's the difference. It's just manners isn't it?
 
We live and ride in the narrow lanes of Somerset. The (unwritten) rule round here is that you salute ANYBODY, whether car driver, lorry, bicyclist, tractor, rider, walker, who has had to alter their speed/position on the road to accommodate you. As most of the lanes will only allow vehicles to pass each other at certain places we are all therefore in the habit of acknowledging our fellow beings! I personally rather like it...............
 
Spudlet said:
Because I am normally driving to get somewhere that I need to be, whereas as most people are out for a hack for leisure, so if I'm going to delay my journey for the convenience of someone's hobby (let's face it, the rider benefits more than the driver from the driver's courtesy, as although there are risks to the driver they are much lower than for the rider) the least the rider can do is say thanks. I also thank people when cycling or walking.

Rude people are a plague on the world!
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When my grooms are riding they are working for a living, it matters not one jot why you are using the road every one would treat everyone with consideration and politeness .
Your attiude that your use of your car trumps other people right to use the road to for whatever purpose illustrates exactly why some drivers are such idiots and I don't think waving will cure thoughts like that.
 
Goldenstar said:
When my grooms are riding they are working for a living, it matters not one jot why you are using the road every one would treat everyone with consideration and politeness .
Your attiude that your use of your car trumps other people right to use the road to for whatever purpose illustrates exactly why some drivers are such idiots and I don't think waving will cure thoughts like that.
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Not in the slightest, please reread my post and subsequent post too. It is not about 'rights'. It is about manners!
 
You clearly say you are in your car because you need to go somewhere while riders are using the road for leisure it's an appalling attitude frankly that anyone thinks they have more right to be on public space than anyone esle.
 
Spudlet said:
Nothing to do with rights - everyone has the right to use the road. However, it is only polite to acknowledge that you are in fact inconveniencing someone and thank them for their consideration.

As to injury, I could (but never would) easily screech off at high speed after passing and leave a horse tap-dancing in my wake... no risk to me but plenty for the person sitting on top. I would never dream of doing such a thing no matter how obnoxious the rider was because I care about the horse. But not everyone will!
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...by saying that you needed to be somewhere and the riders were only exercising a hobby you implied that your need was more important and so shouldn't be inconvenienced without the rider thanking you (or at least that is what you would expect). It was an implication to what you were saying without mentioning rights as such.

Riders thank drivers for slowing down which is what we are talking about, not being obnoxious and screeching off. Not slowing down risks drivers and riders lives.
 
Goldenstar said:
You clearly say you are in your car because you need to go somewhere while riders are using the road for leisure it's an appalling attitude frankly that anyone thinks they have more right to be on public space than anyone esle.
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I'm impressed. When did you develop your telepathic powers allowing you to see exactly what I was thinking? And how did you develop them to such an extent that you even know what I'm not thinking? That's a marketable skill, you know.

I am saying that when someone has treated you with consideration it is polite to acknowledge that with thanks.
 
Goldenstar said:
You clearly say you are in your car because you need to go somewhere while riders are using the road for leisure it's an appalling attitude frankly that anyone thinks they have more right to be on public space than anyone esle.
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Exactly and that was my point.
 
Spudlet said:
I'm impressed. When did you develop your telepathic powers allowing you to see exactly what I was thinking? And how did you develop them to such an extent that you even know what I'm not thinking? That's a marketable skill, you know.

I am saying that when someone has treated you with consideration it is polite to acknowledge that with thanks.
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No ones disagreeing with thanking those that show you consideration I am saying that your attiude that when your driving you have somewhere to go trumps people on the road for leisure is exactly the mindset that causing problems on the road .
 
Goldenstar said:
No ones disagreeing with thanking those that show you consideration I am saying that your attiude that when your driving you have somewhere to go trumps people on the road for leisure is exactly the mindset that causing problems on the road .
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That is not my attitude - I've obviously expressed myself very clumsily here.

What I am trying to say is that here, we have two groups of road users, one slow, one fast. You could replace horses with cyclist, or walkers. One of these groups is likely - not always but likely - to have a specific destination in mind. The other is likely - again not always, but likely - to be out for their leisure. It is much the same as one person sprinting around the supermarket for a couple of things on a deadline, and another who is meandering round and having a chat with all their mates in the aisles.

No one has more right to be there than anyone else, and there is no excuse for the basket aisle only person to shove the chatterer out of the way or behave rudely. HOWEVER it is POLITE for the chatterer to step aside if they can - only if they can, and this is where the road analogy drops off, but stick with it - and perhaps say 'excuse me', or similar, to the other person in a hurry. That is the best analogy I can come up with.

In short, you have every right to be wherever you are, but the fact is that you ARE probably inconveniencing someone, so thank them. You are within your rights to inconvenience them of course, but you are and it costs NOTHING to acknowledge the fact. It is also the most pragmatic course of action since at the end of the day you are almost always going to come off worse if you meet someone with an attitude, so it does not hurt to try and build up some goodwill while you are at it, whether or not you think you should have to. Principles are fine, but tarmac hurts. And it might not be you that hits the deck - it might be the next rider they meet, after you annoy them. They would be wrong, but being in the right doesn't heal broken bones any quicker.
 
Alphamare I do not think complaining about riders who don't bother to say thanks is "bitchy". And as I said in my original thread, maybe next time that driver might meet a youngster, or kids on ponies... or whatever, and not slow down. Nice thought. It's just manners. And as for having to have two hands on the reins at all times, that's just a nonsense! Are western riders illegal then? What about carriage driving? Just because thanking someone isn't a legal requirement doesn't mean you shouldn't - it's good for public relations with the non riding public.
 
Amazing lot of polite riders on here ! Everybody says they smile and wave whereas in the real world hardly any riders do.
 
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