Talk:Hand signals

In the US riders use primarily the left hand to signal intentions on a bicycle because the right hand is usually on the bike's rear brake lever? Is it different in the UK, using the right hand and leaving the left hand on the bicycle? Are the controls reversed, or is this simply because the two countries drive on opposite sides of the road? Should this discussion be added to the article? -Speedeep 15:34, Oct 31, 2004 (UTC)

Maybe add pictures
I think it might be useful to add pictures, the descriptions are not very clear, but I don't think they can be made any clearer without examples.

The pictures present are a welcome addition, however, the US Stop signal picture doesn't match the textual description! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Matthewwithanm (talk • contribs) 19:10, 2 August 2008 (UTC)

Safety of extending right arm for right signal
I just removed the following paragraph which was added by User:slargy


 * Stephen G. Largy, Chair of the Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; recommends the "left upper-arm out to the left, parallel to the road and angle your forearm vertically upward'" method for indicating a cyclist's right hand turn, as the only acceptable right hand signal method. This method recognizes that a bicycle is considered a vehicle of the road (thereby following automotive practice), however, and more importantly; the rider does not control the stopping option of the bicycle with their left hand (front brake). The sole use of the front brake for stopping severely reduces stopping ability, balance, and control. For safe and controlled cycling, use your left hand to signal all directional and stopping intent.  

The reasons I am removing this paragraph are:
 * 1) Apparently, Stephen Largy is inserting his own POV.
 * 2) The reason using the right arm to signal right is not allowed in an automobile is because the right arm of the driver is inside the vehicle of a left-hand drive automobile.   Allowing this method for bicyclists is not inconsistent with considering a bicycle to be a vehicle of the road.  It's just logical.
 * 3) Automatic turn signals are so ubiquitous on automobiles now that many people don't even recognize what a right turn signal with the left arm is.  The meaning of a right turn signal with the outstretched right arm, however, is obvious.
 * 4) The contention that "sole use of the front brake for stopping severely reduces stopping ability" is false.  The League of American Bicyclists teaches in their education programs that the front brake provides 70% of the braking power.  This is because applying either brake immediately shifts the weight forward and reduces the rear braking effectivity.  For safe and controlled cycling, if both brakes are required, then neither hand should be used for signaling (a look back over the shoulder is a surprisingly effective substitute).  But if you can afford to take one hand off, then removing the right hand is at least as good as removing the left.
 * 5) Quoting an uninformed source, regardless of his credentials, is not appropriate.

--Serge 18:38, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

Hand signals used by Car drivers and Military Hand signals?
It would be good to include these with pictures... I've failed to find anything on tinternet so far. --129.67.46.95 (talk) 12:42, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

Stop signal confusing
The US stop signal paragraph says to make a different sign than the illustration. Which is correct? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.50.25.105 (talk) 17:39, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

Front / Rear brake
"In many countries, the hand signal for stopping/braking requires that the cyclist signal with the hand used for the front brake, thus relying on the less effective rear brake to slow down."

When using the front brake, your bicycle can lift over to the front, so you should always use the rear brake. --80.187.103.149 (talk) 16:08, 14 August 2012 (UTC)

The front brake is what is going to slow you down. You will not be able to slow effectively using the rear brake. It is exceedingly difficult to flip a bike over the front wheel when braking, unless you make an undisciplined, caffeine-enhanced "Hulk Smash!" grab at the front brake lever. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.153.101.8 (talk) 21:12, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

This really depends upon road conditions. If it's wet, icy, snowy, sandy, or traction is otherwise compromised, braking using the front brake can easily send you into a wipe out. Application of the rear brake allows one to drag the rear wheel, leading to an easily controllable skid. Under normal conditions, using the front is the best and most efficient way to stop. Since the article is talking about normal conditions, I will amend the section to indicate this.-- Stv Fett erly  (Edits)  19:10, 4 December 2012 (UTC)

Road race cyclists
Professional and amateur road race cyclists use a different set of hand signals to those shown in this article. Those signals are less likely to cause the bike to waver from its line and are more suited to bunch riding.

For example, the "stopping" sign is a open hand, fingers together and downwards, placed on the rider's buttock. That doesn't change the rider's centre of gravity, and thus doesn't lead to pulling to the signalling side.

Turn signals are generally not given, rather the technique is to make eye contact with potentially conflicting drivers and then indicate intention by flicking the bike frame or pointing. There are additional signals to those required in the road rules: when riding in a bunch it is considerate to point out obstacles on the road, such as potholes and glass; a flick of the elbow is a request for a rider behind to take up the more difficult role of being the first rider of the bunch.

Professional cyclists also use the position of the bicycle on the road to indicate intent. For example, they will move into the middle of a lane prior to roundabout to prevent vehicles behind from attempting the dangerous act of overtaking a bicycle and then immediately slowing.

It would be worthwhile for this article to be extended to include the signals used by professional cyclists. This would improve people's understanding of road cycling events. It would also not mislead legislators into believing that the signals commonly described in the road rules are in wide use by the most experienced road cyclists. Gdt (talk) 01:00, 1 January 2013 (UTC)

Left-hand drive, bicycle assumptions
The entire article seems to assume left-hand drive (i.e. Overtaking is assumed to take place to the right).

It also fails to cover hand signals for cars, where signaling on the opposite side of the driver tend to be impractical. MoHaG (talk) 09:52, 15 December 2017 (UTC)

What even is this article?
This whole article is just weird. The tone isn't encyclopedic, and most of it is unsourced. Even the parts that are sourced are wrong; the only source in the section on right turns in Canada and the U.S. is from some Spanish website.

XXx360noscopexXx (talk) 19:45, 9 November 2020 (UTC)