What are the riding signs/signals?

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FattyJ
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What are the riding signs/signals?

#1 Unread post by FattyJ »

I've been riding for about 7 months and have learned that the riders here have signs/signals for things. Some are obvious things, but some are like general knowledge here. Patting the top of your helmet = Cops are near. Putting both feet down = Hazard in the area. Pointing at the gas tank = You need gas.

Are these common knowledge around the world, or just little group signs that people in your city know? What other signs are there (if they're supposed to be common knowledge), because I must not have gotten that memo?
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Sev
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#2 Unread post by Sev »

I know that when I went with my latest group we'd do the following.

Arm straight out - slow down there's a stop ahead
Point Left/right - obvious
Arm stright up with index finger raised - switch to single file
Arm stright up with two fingers - back to staggered

Of course most of the group uses CB's so those of us without had to watch for signals instead of listening for convo.
Of course I'm generalizing from a single example here, but everyone does that. At least I do.

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Re: What are the riding signs/signals?

#3 Unread post by Lion_Lady »

FattyJ wrote:I've been riding for about 7 months and have learned that the riders here have signs/signals for things. Some are obvious things, but some are like general knowledge here. Patting the top of your helmet = Cops are near. Putting both feet down = Hazard in the area. Pointing at the gas tank = You need gas.

Are these common knowledge around the world, or just little group signs that people in your city know? What other signs are there (if they're supposed to be common knowledge), because I must not have gotten that memo?
When I ride with my club(s) we'll use one foot or the other to indicate a road hazard - road kill, gravel, etc. - as we approach it.

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Telesque
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#4 Unread post by Telesque »

I'm not sure of anything other than the 'common' signals which I've known all my life..

Pat your head = Cop

The others are the common signals, and are to be used, per Michigan law, if you're riding something without turn signals equipped.

(Performed with left hand...)

Elbow out, arm up = Right turn.
Elbow out, arm straight = Left turn
Arm held towards the ground = Slowing down/stopping.
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#5 Unread post by Psycluded »

My group has been riding together for only a little while, so it's mostly simple common-sense hand gestures and head nods. Mostly the stuff you guys have mentioned plus a few other things here and there, like motioning down with your hand parallel to the pavement for "slow down" going into a curve, etc.
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