Is the "foot wave" a thing?

[ariacode]

Last Friday on 35 Southbound I passed a couple of riders and waved with my right foot to show gratitude/solidarity right afterwards.

Long story short, we ended up parked next to each other on 35 between 9 and 17 and one guy wanted to kick my ass because, as he saw it, I made a gesture that indicated that I wanted to kick them off the road.

It all worked out in the end but now I wonder if I've interpreted the foot wave thing wrong when it's been shown to me, and if I've been effectively flipping people off when I decide to use it instead of a hand wave?

For what it's worth I use my foot when I feel like it's a lot safer than taking my hands off the bars for whatever reason.

Is the "foot wave" considered a "f-you"? Does it make sense to use it as a "thanks"? Neither?

 

[duck_rider]

Apparently, it's more of a thing in England and Australia (or other right-hand drive countries) where their waving hand is needed for the throttle.

I would interpret it as either a wave or sign that something's in the road, depending on the context. I'll do it to wave bye to my friends in heavy traffic.

 

[moto-rama]

Some 1 percenters may consider that a "come hither" gesture. Please watch your 6 if it happens again.







☺

 

[R6Elmo]

the foot thing for me is purely to show when there is a danger on the road as you pass by it to warn the drivers behind you....maybe ones coming.

Foot left means something is on the left side on the ground.

Only gestures i do is peace sign or hand wave.
I do the tap helmet for 5-0 but I don't think most people get it out there.

 

[T100]

So many fucked up people these days. The guy wanted a fight because you waved with your foot!?!?

Iv'e never done it but, Iv'e had riders do it at me. It's just a wave.

What an imbecile.:thumbdown

 

[mrzuzzo]

Long story short, we ended up parked next to each other on 35 between 9 and 17 and one guy wanted to kick my ass because, as he saw it, I made a gesture that indicated that I wanted to kick them off the road.

:wtf

:laughing

:rofl

 

[Yakoo752]

I do it all the time when I am splitting lanes

I needs my hands for the controls :x

 

[Reli]

I'd suggest not doing it anymore. I've been riding for 14 years and this is the first I've heard of people using the foot to wave. Seems rather dorky and ripe for misinterpretation.

If you must wave, why not raise your left hand, or just nod?

 

[1sicv8]

Never heard or seen it... Only time Ive used/seen a foot gesture was to point out something in roadway to someone behind...

If I cant take my hand off the bar to wave, a nice head nod is the go to

 

[banyan]

Apparently, it's more of a thing in England and Australia (or other right-hand drive countries) where their waving hand is needed for the throttle.

I would interpret it as either a wave or sign that something's in the road, depending on the context. I'll do it to wave bye to my friends in heavy traffic.

+1. all over Europe people wave with the foot. It's just them Amuricans that don't get it.

when in Rome, I guess.

 

[byke]

It looks like showing the bottom of your foot.

 

[tzrider]

So many fucked up people these days. The guy wanted a fight because you waved with your foot!?!?

Maybe he wasn't waving with all five toes. :laughing

 

[T100]

Maybe he wasn't waving with all five toes. :laughing

Yeah, maybe his flip-flop fell off, huh?:laughing

The only time I experienced what I thought was a "foot wave," was when I was on my bike riding along in the #3 lane on 85N when a guy on a sport bike passes me in the #2 lane, gently lifted his right foot off the peg and just dipped it down a bit.

I took it as a creative way to wave when the traditional arm or hand wave is not practical.

 

[HeatXfer]

the foot thing for me is purely to show when there is a danger on the road as you pass by it to warn the drivers behind you....maybe ones coming.

Foot left means something is on the left side on the ground.

Only gestures i do is peace sign or hand wave.
I do the tap helmet for 5-0 but I don't think most people get it out there.

This

 

[redruM]

Maybe he wasn't waving with all five toes. :laughing

barf salute 2.0

i only use left foot to alert riders behind me of either "something in the road" or "i'm passing the car in front of me"

 

[423yjl]

Next time try hip thrusts
The universal sign of affection

 

[turboLT]

the foot thing for me is purely to show when there is a danger on the road as you pass by it to warn the drivers behind you....

This. I do this all the time to point out gravel or objects in the road, especially for turns.

 

[ariacode]

To add some context: they waved me by and I sat behind them until there was a good time to pass. They were not going the opposite direction, and it was my right foot.

... when I was on my bike riding along in the #3 lane on 85N when a guy on a sport bike passes me in the #2 lane, gently lifted his right foot off the peg and just dipped it down a bit.

I took it as a creative way to wave when the traditional arm or hand wave is not practical.

That's how I picked it up. It wasn't dorky when they did it, although I'm sure my implementation was.

It seems to me to be a more visible and safe way of thanking someone for letting you by. Sounds like a lot of you don't think it's necessary, so maybe I'll refrain.

 

[madsen203]

I've seen this used for indicating a turn into your lane or lane position (if you're in a close group), I've seen it as a wave and as a thank you gesture, and then a gesture to indicate road danger (gravel, pothole, bicyclist/etc).

 

[ScottRNelson]

I'd suggest not doing it anymore. I've been riding for 14 years and this is the first I've heard of people using the foot to wave. Seems rather dorky and ripe for misinterpretation.

One of the rare cases where I completely agree with Reli.

Just keep your feet on the pegs. I don't appreciate attempts to point out road hazards either, since I always look for them myself. Way back in about 2008 when Cincinnatus had just bought his BMW and I had just picked up my XR650L, we rode up Mines Road to The Junction, then down Del Puerto into Patterson. I had to ask him to stop pointing with his foot, because it wasn't helping me at all, but was a bit of a distraction.