That rider isn’t hanging out on the side of the road just to relax
Tldr: That’s a bit of signaling we do to other riders (and the occasional kind driver) to say we need help.
Thanks for sharing this. I’ve been a motorcyclist for quite a long time, but normally stick to myself and had never heard of this. While I doubt I’ll encounter a situation I’m not prepared to deal with (my day job is essentially planning for and taking charge on very bad days, so I’m pretty good at it), this will better help me spot others that may need assistance.
I’d never heard of it either, and I came from a town that heavily pushed motorcycle riding and motorcycle visibility initiatives.
Something to know and watch out for.
Been riding a couple decades and never heard of this. Even the article links to forums where people are discussing how this isn’t an actual well known signal, which is kinda what you want when in distress.
Try waving your arms.
Every time there’s something about “The Secret Meaning Behind [Thing],” the comments are always about how no one has ever heard of it. It’s almost always clickbait about, at best, a tiny part of a nation-wide community that no one has ever heard of. If it was a common understood sign, there wouldn’t be an article about it. No one would read, “A Thumb Over the Shoulder at the Roadside? It Could be a Cry for Help!”
If you see me on the side of the road with my helmet behind my bike, though, I’m asking you to do more than wave. That’s a bit of signaling we do to other riders (and the occasional kind driver) to say we need help.
If you’re on the side of the road, I’m pulling over and checking you’re ok.
