Blatherings From The Editor

Hand Signals

(October 2004)

Everyone knows the classic middle finger hand signal (or is that a gesture).  Generally used in anger, it is well known as a signal that something or someone has really honked you off.  For the motorcyclist there are a lot of other much more useful hand signals that allow communication between bikes, or between a rider and passenger.  Here’s a couple that I use.

     There’s a bunch of reasons to need to stop.  If I need gas, I point to the gas tank several times.  For those of you whose “gas tank” isn’t really, don’t worry, the message comes across just fine.  A few quick gestures at my crotch means I have to use the restroom; pointing at my mouth a few times or acting like I’m tilting a cool one means I’m hungry or thirsty; pointing at a road side billboard usually means that whatever is being advertised is what I’m looking for.  Pretty simple, huh?

     Road side hazards come in lots of varieties and there’s probably a hand signal for every one of them.  Recently I learned that holding your thumb to the side of your helmet with your fingers wiggling and extended up means dear/elk/moose (think of Bullwinkle’s horns).  If there’s some road hazard like a large piece of wood or household appliance in the road, I hold my hand out and push downward repeatedly.  I’m trying to convey a slow down message.  To warn others of police, I hold my hand up with my first finger pointing up and twirl my wrist.  Trying to emulate the lights twirling on the top of a police car.

     To tell a fellow rider that I am going to speed up (or by pointing to them and using this signal they should speed up) it’s the classic pumping the fist in the air.  Same signal you see winning motor racers using crossing the finish line.  Opening and closing my hand with my finger tips joining (like the old spider doing pushups on a mirror gag) means your signal is on or your lights aren’t.

     Flashing your head lights at on coming vehicles can mean several different things.  It can mean there are police ahead; there is a hazard ahead; etc.  It can also mean you are giving the right of way to the on coming vehicle or pedestrian.  Be careful that you don’t confuse the issue and send the wrong signal.

     Hand signals are really useful and there is a book you can buy that has a million of them.  You could even learn sign language and be able to virtually talk to the other bike.  Might be a bit distracting though.  And last but not least, there’s the thumbs-up or V for victory signs.  Don’t forget to thank folks for doing the right thing.  Deryle and Wanda, thumbs up!