Waving

We were following a Harley Davidson motorcycle last week-end on our return 4th of July week trip. We were on secondary roads (not interstates) so no one could pass each other, so followed the motorcycle for a good half-hour through small towns and everything.

I noticed he gave a "motorcycle greeting" to on-coming motorcycles. It's the first finger pointed out with rest of the hand in a fist. Then the position of the arm is pointing toward the ground at about a 45 degree angle from the body .. left arm - hand! And I noticed on-coming cyclists doing the same back. That must be the new "thing" and maybe why it's not so noticeable as the old held left fist facing forward in the sky wave!

About RV-ers. Even though I am a former motorcyclist, I do not wave. Am I snobby? No... I'm watching the road! I see a gigantic moving house coming toward me, and I don't have the luxury to look the driver in the eye. I'm making sure I'm over far enough both of us can pass by each other without crashing or going off the road. On interstates, they are simply too far apart to see the driver in most cases. Either way, oncoming traffic to me are just big moving boxes I don't want to crash in to.

In my experience boaters and motorcyclists wave; most RV'ers don't.

The MH isn't fun to drive with one hand. I'm usually paying attention to what's around me in the sense of staying in control. If you're on the other side of the freeway I'm not looking to the left as you pass by to see if you waived.

If you're passing me and I look and get a waive I'll raise my Palm for a half waive while still having two hands on the wheel.

Just a safety thing for me, just another distraction.

Dadio24 wrote:
Each summer we vacation several times from the NTX area to the Rocky Mountains. I wave all the RV's along the way. The wave is not like the “Queens’” parade wrist turn or a kid's glad to see you wave, but an open palm facing forward at arm’s length towards the windshield. Not to dissimilar to what the Indians’ did in the old western movies years ago to say "How". Don't hammer me for not being PC, but the history of what they did in the old westerns is the easiest way I know who to describe my wave.

A "How to Wave" tutorial. Priceless!

Now there's no excuse for everyone not to wave. (Just remember to extend all digits and not just the middle one ?)

On my bike, I stop and offer tools or a phone when I see other bicyclists with breakdowns.

I hardly ever see people in cars with breakdowns. If I am not alone I stop.

Each summer we vacation several times from the NTX area to the Rocky Mountains. I wave all the RV's along the way. The wave is not like the “Queens’” parade wrist turn or a kid's glad to see you wave, but an open palm facing forward at arm’s length towards the windshield. Not to dissimilar to what the Indians’ did in the old western movies years ago to say "How". Don't hammer me for not being PC, but the history of what they did in the old westerns is the easiest way I know who to describe my wave.

With as many RV's on the road, its hard to wave at everyone. Often I don't notice a wave until its to late to reciprocate

For me, the only opportunity to actually see an oncoming RV driver is on 2- lane roads. And most of those routes require full attention to the road, especially while passing another wide vehicle. Many times I will peak at the other driver and notice both his hands squarely on the steering wheel looking down the road.

Last year when someone posted here about the lack of wavers, DW and I both started waving and nobody saw us at all. We thought it was kinda funny.

Crowe wrote:
Time to bring this tradition back!

I'd rather bring back the tradition of paying 100% attention to your driving.

Okay....how about an upgraded tradition: Whomever is in the passenger seat (be it truck, RV or MC) is the designated waver (wavist?). The driver's hands stay on the wheel for the sake of safety.

Btw, when we're in our daily driver we ALWAYS stop if we see an RVer broken down on the side of the road or in a parking lot -unless there's someone else already there to help. Pulling over the MH would probably cause more problems than our assistance would be worth!

fitznj wrote:
I don't get "the wave" - I ride a motorcycle, a classic car, tow a TT and often see this behaviour. I understand the "friendly" part of this but just because I'm riding a motorcycle, I'm supposed to wave to other motorcyclists?

Last year I was stranded on the side of the road with a flat front tire - how many motorcyclists stopped to see if I needed help? 2 years ago I broke down while towing my TT and was on the side of the road for 8 (yes 8) hours, how many other "campers" stopped and offered assistance?

I know I sound like a grumpy old man but I don't get it - if I'm wearing a pair of blue jeans and I supposed to wave to everyone also wearing blue jeans?

So, if you see me on the road, I'm one of the one's who does not wave !!

Gerry

There are some who would stop, I would stop for a stranded motorcyclist even if I were on 4 wheels instead of 2. I started traveling on my bike in the early 70's, and there were so few of us, and the bikes were not always the most reliable, we waved, and stopped if necessary. We knew that it could easily be us that was stopped.

But that's why I said "And motorcyclists share a camaraderie to a certain degree, not as much as we used to, but still some."