Waving + camaraderie + safety

amy · Post by **amy** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:48 pm

With Spring here and Summer right around the corner, scoots are uncovered, dusted off, re-charged and rearing to go. Sales of new scoots seem to be jumping. We're seeing more and more scooters zipping around, which is awesome!

At our weekly club breakfast we started talking about the influx of new riders and how communicative, or non-communicative other scoots are on the road.

"What's up with the 8 other scoots I passed today NOT waving back?!"

"They must be new; Death Grip."
"Not even a head flick!"
"Wheres the camaraderie?!"
"Even the Harley riders wave."
"I wave at anything on two-wheels."

We concluded that perhaps these riders are either:

A. Scared to let go
B. Too cool for school: ignoring other scoots
C. Having too much fun to notice
D. Uninformed about the camaraderie

Whichever reason it is, IF it is SAFE and you can do it - consider tossing a lil wave. It's no big deal if you don't, but it's just something to ponder...acknowledging that you're part of the spectacular two-wheeled community.

*Clip art courtesy of http://www.clipartof.com/portfolio/julos/scooter

DanielPerrin · Post by **DanielPerrin** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 8:36 pm

I always wave. I won't be the "Too cool for school" guy; I'm doing my part. If other people want to not return the wave, then that's their issue.

I have usually gotten waves in return. There are some exceptions.

I did get a head-nod from at least one Harley rider. Here in no-helmet-required Oklahoma, the wind got under the bill of his baseball cap when he lifted his head. I picked up his HD hat, caught up with him and gave it back.

Quo Vadimus · Post by **Quo Vadimus** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:32 pm

Sad to report roads here in Michigan are bad enough that a nod is the best i can do at least half of the time...

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:48 pm

I gave a head nod to a dude on a Harley from the car today while we were at a light. He gave me a funny deadpan look, until I lifted my helmet from my lap so it was visible from his point of view- I had it with me because I wore it from backdoor to the car in case of hawk attack. Then he gave me a head nod back.

amy · Post by **amy** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:00 pm

LunaP wrote:I gave a head nod to a dude on a Harley from the car today while we were at a light. He gave me a funny deadpan look, until I lifted my helmet from my lap so it was visible from his point of view- I had it with me because I wore it from backdoor to the car in case of hawk attack. Then he gave me a head nod back.

Love that! I caught myself sticking my hand out my car window the other day to wave. No response of course lol

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:14 pm

Yesterday afternoon I saw a guy on a shiny clean new scoot, looking a little tentative in his riding. I almost gave him a friendly welcome-to-scootering wave... then remembered that I was walking.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:29 pm

TVB wrote:Yesterday afternoon I saw a guy on a shiny clean new scoot, looking a little tentative in his riding. I almost gave him a friendly welcome-to-scootering wave... then remembered that I was walking.

HAHAHA..I've waved from in my car before!

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:43 pm

TVB wrote:Yesterday afternoon I saw a guy on a shiny clean new scoot, looking a little tentative in his riding. I almost gave him a friendly welcome-to-scootering wave... then remembered that I was walking.

I remember a Club ride where we were traveling through a scraggly part of town, and a skinny, gnarly looking old black guy who was walking down the sidewalk gave us the two-finger as we passed... I thought it was cute

juls64 · Post by **juls64** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:01 am

I have only had my scoot a couple of months. I know about being too afraid to let go. I now do the wave when I can or nod if I can't get a hand free. I exchanged honks with someone today. It is fun to be part of a community.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:29 am

I just hold out 2 fingers low and to the side. that's common around here acknowledging all 2 wheel riders. The nodding and waving is what can easily throw you off balance. the 2 finger low and to the side is easy keeps you pretty stable.

That said, sometimes I just don't notice. Other times I just don't feel like it.

amy · Post by **amy** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:39 am

Yes - really its the two-finger "wave".

Not like, princess waving.

ravenlore · Post by **ravenlore** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:56 am

I always think about waving, but then i'm afraid the other rider will think, "Who the F are you? Do I know you? I don't know you! Why the hell are you waving at me? F'ing noob!"

So sometimes I wave, sometimes I don't. But I ALWAYS wave back if waved at first.

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:08 am

I wave at everyone... some don't wave back, but most do, including big and small Harleys, Jap bikes, sport bikes etc etc.

Last week I went past a guy riding a sportbike on my way to work, he was in the oncoming lane and stopped at a light. As I passed in my bright pink glory, he honked a few times and was waving ferociously. As I pulled away I honked because I didn't have enough time for him to notice my wave, he jumped at the sound of my horn

. I thought to myself, either he's new to this, or he's just super enthusiastic about waving to people.

still shifting · Post by **still shifting** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:20 am

Amy Your illustrations are Great! Thanks for posting them!

R

Uncle Groucho · Post by **Uncle Groucho** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 2:08 am

Lately I think I've had more response with the little "s'up?" nod. Both scoots and bikers have given one back and I think it's more subtle than sticking out fingers and whatnot. Having said that it is still nice to get "the wave".

Oparu · Post by **Oparu** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:18 am

Honestly, I'd love to wave but sometimes the roads in Boston are so bumpy, it feels like I'm riding a f^&*ing horse!!! So, if anyone in the Boston area sees a red buddy with windshield and rider with an orange reflective vest, I'm just too afraid to let go!

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:41 am

AWinn6889 wrote:I thought to myself, either he's new to this, or he's just super enthusiastic about waving to people.

A few years ago, when I was a "veteran" scooterist with hundreds of miles behind me, I encountered a teenager on a rental scooter on the outskirts of a nearby lakeshore resort town. As we approached each other on opposite sides of the road, he waved his whole arm wildly at me, grinning as if he'd just had sex for the first time ever.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:41 am

I always wave. I would say 75% of the time it is returned.

I did catch up with a couple who just got new buddy 50's and complemented them on good color choices, they didn't acknowledge I was alive

.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:58 am

WHY RED IS RED!

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 4:38 am

I went for a 200 mile joy ride today and there were so many bikers out that waving became comical. Every 20 friggin seconds I was waving at someone or they were waving at me. It was nuts! I was totally laughing to myself. I think finally everyone just said enough's enough because as the day went on, less and less people (including myself) were waving. For a while it really was ridiculous—like going for a one handed scooter ride.

tommyred · Post by **tommyred** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:23 am

I just give the old downlow peace sign or a nod. Way more good responses than bad, too, I'm glad to say. They know we're growing in numbers

Tam Tam · Post by **Tam Tam** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:30 am

LunaP wrote:I gave a head nod to a dude on a Harley from the car today while we were at a light. He gave me a funny deadpan look, until I lifted my helmet from my lap so it was visible from his point of view- I had it with me because I wore it from backdoor to the car in case of hawk attack. Then he gave me a head nod back.

KInda did the same thing today out in the hill country on a twisty road straightaway. My girlfriend was driving, and I did the two finger wave to a rider coming at us. JUst before he passed us, he gave me the quick nod...Jez, I miss riding.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:34 am

When I'm stopped, I love to talk to folks about their bikes, doesn't matter what kind. But riding, I'm not really fond of the wave. I always return it to be polite, but I probably don't notice most of the time if I'm not waved at..

black sunshine · Post by **black sunshine** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:15 pm

amy wrote:With Spring here and Summer right around the corner, scoots are uncovered, dusted off, re-charged and rearing to go. Sales of new scoots seem to be jumping. We're seeing more and more scooters zipping around, which is awesome!

At our weekly club breakfast we started talking about the influx of new riders and how communicative, or non-communicative other scoots are on the road.

"What's up with the 8 other scoots I passed today NOT waving back?!"

"They must be new; Death Grip."
"Not even a head flick!"
"Wheres the camaraderie?!"
"Even the Harley riders wave."
"I wave at anything on two-wheels."

We concluded that perhaps these riders are either:

A. Scared to let go
B. Too cool for school: ignoring other scoots
C. Having too much fun to notice
D. Uninformed about the camaraderie

Whichever reason it is, IF it is SAFE and you can do it - consider tossing a lil wave. It's no big deal if you don't, but it's just something to ponder...acknowledging that you're part of the spectacular two-wheeled community.

*Clip art courtesy of http://www.clipartof.com/portfolio/julos/scooter

we should have something like this given out to every person who buys a scoot at our local shops . . . !

amy · Post by **amy** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:18 pm

LunaP wrote:I gave a head nod to a dude on a Harley from the car today while we were at a light. He gave me a funny deadpan look, until I lifted my helmet from my lap so it was visible from his point of view- I had it with me because I wore it from backdoor to the car in case of hawk attack. Then he gave me a head nod back.

I love that you wear your helmet in case of a hawk attack lol

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:35 pm

Its funny to me..the sport bike guys never wave when I'm on the scoot. But they always wave when I'm on the sport bike. Always makes me remember to wave to everybody on 2 wheels...no matter what I'm on.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:45 pm

amy wrote:
LunaP wrote:I gave a head nod to a dude on a Harley from the car today while we were at a light. He gave me a funny deadpan look, until I lifted my helmet from my lap so it was visible from his point of view- I had it with me because I wore it from backdoor to the car in case of hawk attack. Then he gave me a head nod back.
I love that you wear your helmet in case of a hawk attack lol

I swear it's less crazy than it sounds, hahaha. We have nesting hawks who've parked themselves in a tree above our driveway, and become unusually aggressive. They've attacked my neighbor, my dad, my grandmother's occupational therapist, and a Jehovah's witness. We can't do anything about it because hawks are federally protected, so my family takes umbrellas when we go outside for anything. My dad brought hard hats home from work for us, but my new helmet came, and it has a face shield, so I figured why the heck not? I've already learned the hard way that you can't be TOO careful when it comes to gear.

amy · Post by **amy** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:51 pm

still shifting wrote:Amy Your illustrations are Great! Thanks for posting them! R

Aren't they cute? I included the link to the artist's page in the original post.

I would love to know if anyone has made or seen one of those "memes" that shows "SCOOTERS: What people think I do". Anyone know of one?

ravenlore · Post by **ravenlore** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:53 pm

amy wrote:
still shifting wrote:Amy Your illustrations are Great! Thanks for posting them! R
Aren't they cute? I included the link to the artist's page in the original post.

I would love to know if anyone has made or seen one of those "memes" that shows "SCOOTERS: What people think I do". Anyone know of one?

There's one floating around. It's amusing. I think folks should make more!

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:10 pm

ravenlore wrote:
amy wrote:
still shifting wrote:Amy Your illustrations are Great! Thanks for posting them! R
Aren't they cute? I included the link to the artist's page in the original post.

I would love to know if anyone has made or seen one of those "memes" that shows "SCOOTERS: What people think I do". Anyone know of one?
There's one floating around. It's amusing. I think folks should make more!

Why don't we just make them? I think a lot of the meme sites have meme generators for the purposes of submissions.

Lokky posted this on FB a bit ago, it's more scooter-relevant than it was intended, I'm sure:

First world problems:

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:39 pm

BuddyRaton wrote:WHY RED IS RED!

ravenlore · Post by **ravenlore** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:45 pm

LunaP wrote:
ravenlore wrote:
amy wrote: Aren't they cute? I included the link to the artist's page in the original post.

I would love to know if anyone has made or seen one of those "memes" that shows "SCOOTERS: What people think I do". Anyone know of one?
There's one floating around. It's amusing. I think folks should make more!
Why don't we just make them? I think a lot of the meme sites have meme generators for the purposes of submissions.

Lokky posted this on FB a bit ago, it's more scooter-relevant than it was intended, I'm sure:

First world problems:

Scooter world problems!

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:53 pm

amy wrote:I would love to know if anyone has made or seen one of those "memes" that shows "SCOOTERS: What people think I do". Anyone know of one?

Here's one. It's not the same as the other two I've seen, but I can't find them at the moment.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 1:14 am

AWinn6889 wrote:
amy wrote:I would love to know if anyone has made or seen one of those "memes" that shows "SCOOTERS: What people think I do". Anyone know of one?
Here's one. It's not the same as the other two I've seen, but I can't find them at the moment.

No image...

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:45 am

I don't wave. I notice the bike / scoot. If I get a wave or nod as a rider I return it out of courtesy as I would for any other reason. Otherwsie I can't be bothered.

I'm pretty much over it. Don't want to spend the next 30 years of my life waving / not waving / wondering about waving.

Safety? Funny little Easter story. I was at my sisters having a nice day and a mother came out with her daughter. They were across the street, daughter was learning how to ride a bicycle. Doting mother nearby, watching concerned as her little girl rode up and down the sidewalk.

Proud of her tyke on one pass she put out her hand for a high five. Daughter did the same and hit the ground.

I took it as a sign.

EDIT: Sometimes i nod my head a bit. When I do I am usually ignored so w/e.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:53 am

ericalm wrote:
BuddyRaton wrote:WHY RED IS RED!

So true....So true!

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:04 am

JHScoot wrote:I don't wave. I notice the bike / scoot. If I get a wave or nod as a rider I return it out of courtesy as I would for any other reason. Otherwsie I can't be bothered.

I'm pretty much over it. Don't want to spend the next 30 years of my life waving / not waving / wondering about waving.

Well I am sure L.A. has a lot more scooters and motorcycles riding around than the rest of the US?

Back home in Italy scooters are EVERYWHERE in town, at any given traffic light you are bound to find 3 scooters in each direction or more. Nobody waves to each other while in town but if you are riding in the countryside and meet a fellow motorcyclist we still do so!

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 3:32 pm

LunaP wrote:No image...

Weird. It totally shows up on this computer in chrome.
I'll post it as an attachment then.

scootavaran · Post by **scootavaran** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:12 pm

AWinn6889 wrote:
LunaP wrote:No image...
Weird. It totally shows up on this computer in chrome.
I'll post it as an attachment then.

I can see it. It's funny too because when I told a coworker/friend that a ride a scooter the first thing he says "like the one from dumb and dumber?"
he was just joking.

As for waving, I always wave when waved at.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:02 pm

AWinn6889 wrote:
LunaP wrote:No image...
Weird. It totally shows up on this computer in chrome.
I'll post it as an attachment then.

I like it, except I feel like "what my mom thinks I do" and "what I actually do" are backwards... what I actually do looks much more dangerous, and that's what mums do, worry about the danger. The dude in the other pic is geared and doesn't look like a speed demon like the other pic. But it's still funny, I love these things

kmrcstintn · Post by **kmrcstintn** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:30 pm

I always try to wave at anyone approaching on 2 wheels; many times I get a response & sometimes I don't; sometimes I'm concentrating so much that I forget to give a wave or miss someone else initiating it, especially if I sense someone on my tail that doesn't give riders enough room

jspikes906 · Post by **jspikes906** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:07 pm

This might be the one you all are talking about!

ravenlore · Post by **ravenlore** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:11 pm

That would be the one.

I still think someone who has the oppotunity should do some more.

(I don't have time unfortunately)

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:35 pm

jspikes906 wrote:This might be the one you all are talking about!

Yes! That one!

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 12:41 am

AWinn6889 wrote:
amy wrote:I would love to know if anyone has made or seen one of those "memes" that shows "SCOOTERS: What people think I do". Anyone know of one?
Here's one. It's not the same as the other two I've seen, but I can't find them at the moment.

I actually do what "my mom thinks I do."

Good 'ol mom

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:36 am

Where do I get both of those posters? They're awesome!

Oparu · Post by **Oparu** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:48 pm

Yeah, I actually do what "my mom thinks I do", but with an orange safety vest on.

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:58 pm

Oh yes those safety vests are 100% mom approved.

On a lighter note concerning the "wave" I saw a Can-Am commercial where they show how cool people are on those snowmobiles. In one shot a rider gives passing bikers the...."two fingers down"

But the dude giving it is on 3 wheels

I had to chuckle a bit. If at nothing more, the marketing. They were riding to the tune of Gimme Some Lovin'

etak · Post by **etak** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:28 pm

William H. Macy, you've disappointed me

"We saluted other bikes as they passed with the traditional vague sideways peace sign. (You only salute big bikes, never motor scooters. No offense.)"
Offense taken!
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/t-mag ... arch&scp=1

On the upside, he's ATGATT.

amy · Post by **amy** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:37 pm

Ya, offense taken. What an ego.

Modern Buddy

Waving + camaraderie + safety

Waving + camaraderie + safety

kinda did the same thing today

Re: Waving + camaraderie + safety