Never one to give up on a good idea nor fail to beat a dead horse as the occasion arises, I wondered if there were any instances when a wave would be mandatory or forbidden? Granted a rider should forego the wave when controlling the bike is paramount. But beyond simple safety reasons, who ought to get a wave at every opportunity?
So. There I was. Riding along my local suburban street and waving to kids, stoop sitters, lawn mower people as per my usual habit when a driving school cage goes past, and I automaticly wave to it. The driving instructor waves back but the student does not. I was glad that the student didn't wave. The student is supposed to be doing the best that the student can and not risk life and limb by waving to an old biker. But I was really happy to get the wave from the instructor. That was a very good sign.
Anybody with teaching experience can tell you about what is commonly known as a "teachable moment." A teachable moment is something that occurs outside of the lesson plan. It is a rare moment that can make the lesson more exciting because it is a surprise and can be woven into the lesson in a good way. For example, a motorcycle safety class student tips a bike over. The instructor checks to see that the student is not harmed. If no medical treatment is needed, the class can continue. Rather than just picking up the fallen bike and continuing on with the lesson plan, the instructor uses the fallen bike as a teachable moment. The instructor now has a perfect opportunity to teach the class how to pick up a fallen bike with little strain and little danger. All in all, a teachable moment is a good thing.
To get back to our driving school cage, my wave to the car may allow the driving instructor to teach the student something about motorcycles. The instructor could do all kinds of neat and cool stuff? Ask the student if he saw the bike? Ask if he saw the wave? Ask if he saw that the biker was doing his best to leave the school car a lot of room? If the student never saw the bike, then the instructor would know that the student needs more help with scaning and perception. And so it might go for a few moments as the instructor has his teachable moment.
If we, you and me, bikers want the cagers to be aware of us and give us room and all the rest of it; we need to help those driving instructors with good and pleasant teachable moments about bikes. We need to be polite, friendly, predictable, and savy road users.
There you have it. My nomination for a road user that ought to get a biker wave at every opportunity. It can't hurt. And over the long haul, we might benefit from an accumulating world of cagers watching out for us bikers. If this seems dumb, post up your opinions.
Post up your nominations for who ought to get a wave and who ought not to get a wave. A little reasoning for your selections might convince me to wave more often than I do. Or maybe quit waving at somebody.
p.s. Thanx, Sarah, for that 'wave' picture on my original post. Look for a coming post using that pic as a teachable moment.
fran
Filed under: Uncategorized
