Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site noscvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!noscvax!powers
From: powers@noscvax.UUCP (William J. Powers)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle,net.politics
Subject: Re: Bicycles, Violence and Hatred
Message-ID: <944@noscvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Jun-85 11:20:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: noscvax.944
Posted: Mon Jun  3 11:20:41 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Jun-85 07:39:30 EDT
References: <1370@reed.UUCP> <983@vax1.fluke.UUCP> <1385@vax3.fluke.UUCP> <313@varian.UUCP> <132@iitcs.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 48
Xref: watmath net.bicycle:1233 net.politics:9260

>      I suppose that in the end it's a matter of communication.  How do
> a cyclist and I make our intentions known to each other?  When I'm coming
> up behind a cyclist, I honk my horn to let him know I'm going to pass.
> Usually he will move to the right, or wave, or something, and then I pass.
> That's communication.  Occasionally, however, he flips me the finger.  That's
> not communication; and it hardly proves my superior communication skills/
> morality/intellect to hit him with my car :-)
>      Part of the idea behind the Heimlich maneuver is to make sure thet
> EVERYONE knows what it is.  One thing that Heimlch tried to do was to establish
> a universal way to tell somebody that you are choking -- put your hand to
> your throat.  It would be great if some general ways to communicate
> could be taught to drivers and cyclists.
>      With that in mind, there are probably a few signals already in
> existance that are nearly impossible to interpret.  Some thought
> on this would probably help the problem.
> 
>                                              Mark Draughn
> 
> p.s. Comments would be appreciated, flames will be endured.

Great Idea!  Let's have some suggestions.  The network would be a
great forum for suggesting a universal code of simple communication
system between, not only, motorist and bicyclist, but between
bicyclist and bicyclist (this is one of the reasons I'm opposed to the
use of head phones by bicyclists).

There already exists a code for right and left hand turns and for
changing lanes.  Probably one of the best forms of communication
between the bicyclist and motorist is for the bicyclist to look behind
him.  As soon as this is done and the motorist sees this, he should be
aware that the bicylist is about to make some sort of maneuver.
In fact, the bicylist should be frequently looking behind because
communication from the motorist cannot be made unless this is done.
Possibly the system might go like this:
The bicyclist initiates communication by looking behind and the
motorist initiates communication by a short burst from his/her horn.
At initiation by the bicyclist, the motorist would nod or something to
indicate that he/her is ready to receive transmission (If this sounds
alot like a meteor burst communication link, don't blame me.  After
all it is well-modeled by one.).  After initiation by the motorist,
the bicyclist should look around and nod or something to indicate a
similar readiness to receive the message.

After initiation some system of hand signals must be devised.
I'm open to suggestions.  A system like this undoubtedly already
exists, but I am unaware of any.  I'll ask around.

Bill Powers