4 ms·

In Saitama I saw an old guy on a pedal bike (not a train) who did this the other day! In fact, I made a note specifically to ask a Nihon friend just what the h

In Saitama I saw an old guy on a pedal bike (not a train) who did this the other day! In fact, I made a note specifically to ask a Nihon friend just what the hell he was doing (so I'll just ask HN instead)... I understand stopping at an intersection and looking both ways. But making a specific pointing gesture and verbally calling out while doing it I thought was just a bit odd. Particularly cause he was the only person at this quiet little 4 way (no lights) stop. Sounded like he said "hayougush... hayougush". Retired train conductor?

inetknght 10y ago
On the other hand, if you're looking directly at a vehicle and _pointing_ at the vehicle, you're more likely to actually _interact_ with the driver of the vehicle if they're alert. If they point back, you know they see you. If they don't, did they truly see you or do you just assume they did? Now you're more alert than you were before.
- jaxbot 10y ago
  If I'm entering an intersection and there's a driver that I suspect hasn't noticed me and may take a turn, I'll make eye contact and point, then signal a full hand for 'stop'. Seems to work.
dingaling 10y ago
In Cycling Proficiency lessons in the UK in the 1980s we were taught to point and say our intentions at roundabouts and junctions. I still so and it often earns a wave of thanks from drivers. I assume that forcing the subconscious lip-reading onto the drivers is part of the 'connect as humans' psychology
mikekchar 10y ago
Bus drivers and taxi drivers do it sometimes too (depending on the company), so probably he's a professional driver who just thought it was a good idea. I won't speculate on what he was saying, though.