Lane changes with hand gestures?

[bajakirch]

Yesterday I was out running errands over lunch. On a multi-lane roadway a guy on a sportbike passed me. When he got by me (on my right) he pointed down to the roadway with his left hand, then executed a lane change to his left.

As he moved up through traffic I saw him do the same for a right lane change. This one confused me, as he removed his hand from the throttle to do so.

Then I saw him make a left turn and I noticed his turn indicators (at least the left one) seemed to be working fine.

 

Has anyone seen anything like this before?

[ariwhiteboy]

I sometimes do it in a group setting or on slabs to give an additional indicator of my intentions. Not as a replacement for proper use of signals though. 

[windrider]

I always use hand signals, group or alone.  Proper right turn is left arm parallel to shoulders, then elbow bent 90 degrees so your hand is is straight up. palm facing forward.  Look up the rest.  Bike signals are so small, I don't rely on others seeing them, and hand signals are legal everywhere. In North Carolina, used to be a bike didn't have to have electric signals to pass inspection.  They would test you on hand signals.  May have changed.

[bajakirch]

Proper right turn is left arm parallel to shoulders, then elbow bent 90 degrees so your hand is is straight up. palm facing forward.  Look up the rest.

Left turn = left arm held out straight from the shoulder, elbow straight, arm paralell to the ground
Stop/Slowing = left arm held out straight, elbow bent at a 90-degree angle with hand towards the ground, palm facing backwards

(I've taught a few bicycle safety courses in my day)

I think I would have recognized the standard hand signals. As I've been thinking about it, I recall someone on a group ride using the same kind of signal to identify a road hazard (gravel, bump, pothole, etc.)

[jerjohn]

They taught this in my MSF class. Supposedly by pointing to the lane you are entering alerts cage drivers around you. I used to do it all the time when I first began riding. I will still do it sometimes if there are cars all around me on the freeway. Really just a little bit of extra motion to catch the attention of the singingtextingwhileeating cager.

[cb650]

Some riders are clules.  A bike was behind me the other day and as we came around a corner the was s??? in the road. I seen it and pointed to it and he ran right over it.

[Burgi]

I do it sometimes. It is especially helpful in group rides as riders further back may have a hard time seeing your signals. Figure it doesn't hurt even when solo to help drivers notice me.
I don't do it in place of turn signals, just in addition.

[Laminar]

I can't imagine moving my throttle/brake hand off of the bars for any reason, but I can understand the standard left-hand-only signals.

I think I would have recognized the standard hand signals. As I've been thinking about it, I recall someone on a group ride using the same kind of signal to identify a road hazard (gravel, bump, pothole, etc.)

I've always used feet to point out road hazards.

[happycommuter]

Maybe it was some kind of foreigner.

This weekend I saw a kruzer rider use an inverted right hand signal (elbow bent downward) prior to a right hand lane change.  I vaguely know of the proper signals from group rides, but I sure had no idea what they meant at first - and I doubt that the average driver does either.  
I hope motorists aren't assigning some significance to every instance of me removing my left hand from the grip...

[n5tbu]

I have a friend I sometimes ride with who always uses proper left hand signals,it really helps because he also forgets his blinker on for miles and miles!

[green427]

I've only seen hand gestures once or twice. First time was a group of 3 tree-hugger looking hippies on old touring bikes, they all did the hand signals at the same exact time, like the North Korea soldiers marching. Very strange.

Second time it was a group of kruzer guys, possibly 1%'ers based on their colors.

Most of the time I remove my hand from the left grip is to wave 'thanks' to those that actually see me and stop for me.

[Poligrafovich]

As a bicyclist who still respects the rules of the road, the hand signals are very familiar to me. I don't believe I've ever seen them used for lane changes alone, though, since bicycles rarely change lanes except in preparation for a turn.

The downward arm is supposed to be a "brake light" hand signal. Someone like me who learned it driving cars might well do it upper arm level / forearm down since that's how you have to do it out a car window.

As the old joke goes, arm up = I'm turning right, arm out = I'm turning left, arm down = I'm stopping, arm waving up and down = I'm drying my fingernail polish. People do lots of weird stuff.

[geaux]

I do it hoping it will get the motorist attention somewhat better.

[gammer]

I sometimes do it in a group setting or on slabs to give an additional indicator of my intentions. Not as a replacement for proper use of signals though. 

Ditto...I too do this in group rides. I use it in conjunction with my turn signals and its more to inform the rider behind me what I'm doing or what we (the group in front) are about to do. Same for pointing out hazards (road kill) on the road.
I by no means do this to indicate my intentions to cagers when riding by myself.

[LOKi]

Pointing to hazards in the road with your hand can be confused with a hand signal. The better way to point these out is with your foot in a jabbing motion. Just don't kick that road kill!

[Bumblebee]

I've seen that before. The most unusual one was a guy that changed lanes by using his left arm across the front of him so his left finger pointed right just outside his right shoulder.

Just curious: Was it one of those sports bikes that has the red rear turn signals about 1/4" ot 1/2" to the side of the brake light? Those things are so close to the brake light that they're near totally pointless. Half the time you can't tell their signal is on until you deliberately look very close at the brake light.

[gammer]

Just don't kick that road kill!

Stop kicking my dinner!

[gammer]

Just curious: Was it one of those sports bikes that has the red rear turn signals about 1/4" ot 1/2" to the side of the brake light? Those things are so close to the brake light that they're near totally pointless. Half the time you can't tell their signal is on until you deliberately look very close at the brake light.

I'll raise the bar...have you seen the one's that are a dual light stop light and the left side blinks when you signal left and the right side blinks when you signal right. No signals at all!!
My buddy had one on his R6 and he got nailed for that and for not having the proper hardware for holding his plate.

[Bumblebee]

I'll raise the bar...have you seen the one's that are a dual light stop light and the left side blinks when you signal left and the right side blinks when you signal right. No signals at all!!

  Talk about a case of following the letter of the law yet having zero real world practical application...

No, I haven't seen one of those yet. Or maybe I have and just didn't notice. (Note to manufacturers, when a motorcycle rider doesn't notice something on a motorcycle, a cager doesn't have a chance of noticing it)

[bajakirch]

Just curious: Was it one of those sports bikes that has the red rear turn signals about 1/4" ot 1/2" to the side of the brake light? Those things are so close to the brake light that they're near totally pointless. Half the time you can't tell their signal is on until you deliberately look very close at the brake light.

That describes this rider/bike almost exactly. I noticed the turn indicator operating, but I may be a bit more aware as a fellow rider.