This picture was on a Mothers’ Day card that caught my eye in a Target store. The caption inside reads, “Thanks for always covering my back.”
I started thinking, what would my sign say? Probably something like this:
“Thank you for your patience. Normal passage will be resumed when it is safe to pass. Please proceed with caution, and try to have a nice day.”
What would your sign say? In case you are wondering, this is just a little frivolity; I am not seriously suggesting we carry cardboard signs on our backs.
To make it interesting I’ll give signed copies of my book to the three I like the best. Entries will close on Monday, 28th April 23, 2008.
Keep it clean, unless it’s really funny, in which case a little obscenity will be excused. Post as a comment, and email me separately.
If you are interested, Mothers’ Day is on May 11th in the US; the date may be different in other countries.
45 comments:
What's up with that question mark after "me"? Makes Mom's plea sound a bit tentative.
My sign: Dude, have mercy!
Family Jewel
Pass with Care.
Today's Spirit, Tomorow's Solution
Pass with Care & Pride
You're Once This Active
Ride-Drive with Care
Mother's Little Helper
Let Me Stay This Way
Having raised four sons on bikes I have many others...maybe I'll send separately.
Jack
If this is a sign for little kids, mine would go "I am six and I'm on open road 'cause my parents are terminal winos"
Were it a sign for me it would go: "I also drive a car, watch out I don't see you on a bike"
Off Duty
Police Officer
I AM traffic.
I saw this on the web:
"You own a car
NOT the road"
Putting MY tax dollars to use.
Not powered by foreign oil.
Demonstrating the
importance of
not being seen
My Other Bike
Is a Smith & Wesson
share the road
share the planet
pass carefully
and leave something to pass on
Honking is only going to slow me down.
"You own a car, not the road"
or
"If you were so important the state would have given you lights and a siren"
I don't know what my sign would be, but in NYC yesterday on my way home, I was riding downtown when an SUV pulled into the bike lane just as I was alongside him.
I yelled out "Yo" to get his attention.
The driver responded with the standard NYC greeting: "F*ck you!" .
I, of course, returned the greeting.
A block later we pull up next to each other at the traffic light at Delancey and Allen Streets.
He smiles, I smile and wave, he smiles back and waves.
No harm, no foul. And no reason to ruin a perfectly good day.
So maybe the sign for NYC should be "F*ck you if you're about to almost kill me, but have a nice day if you can read this message without having to tilt your head due to me lying on my side in the street."
I dunno. Too wordy?
Thank you Mr. Car Man, for noticing this sign. Between you and me, on the road, we can reach our destination.
Explosive material onboard.
"I know what you're thinking. Would you really like that much time in court?"
Here's two:
1. "No meddling!
I'm peddling!
2. "Caution!
Spandex Crossing!"
Oh man! I'm about to get a custom made messenger bag, and that is the thing that has been bugging me the most! What to put on the back flap for drivers to read?
I think putting something about the 3 feet rule is a good idea.
Or, I could just put "This bike is a Pipe bomb"
I'm always fond of saying something assuming the positive action you want has occured, before it happens.
Like:
"Thanks for passing slowly and with extra room"
or a little more technical:
"Thank you for the legally mandated 3 foot passing distance"
Here's spme signs:
"Don't make me
bleed on your car."
"If you can read this in English, thank a Marine."
"Pass carefully,
I'm chewing tobacco."
"Don't look back
in anger."
I'm doing this to keep your gas prices lower.
Just Pretend I'm A Great Big Truck.
Human on board.
I've always pondered thse two, in big letters on the back of a jersey:
ARMED
or
HOBART UNSPEAKABLY
VIOLENT OFFENDERS
CYCLING CLUB.
Very simple:
"Please pass safely"
Wide Load
Some of these were inspired by my commute today:
"Riders attached to this sign are closer than they appear."
"Baby on board. I swear! It's in the backpack!"
"Stay back! What comes out of MY exhaust isn't pleasant either!"
"Warning: Rider may projectile vomit when startled."
eyes on the road not me
I urinate while riding.
"I have a video camera strapped to my helmet"
"I Wish I Was In Copenhagen"
Person on board
CCW Permit Riders Club. cjg of eroticalee.
A couple:
"Spandex looks better on me,
not on your car"
I always thought Bill Green, S.C. accident lawyer, would make a great cycling team sponsor. Imagine one of his ads on the back of your jersey.
"In a wreck,
where's my check?"
Caution: cyclists eat children.
Relax.
You'll get there before I will anyway.
I'd make an ugly hood ornament.
-Got carbon fiber?
-Draft someone your own size!
-Ok,I'm a superdomestique. But a figgin car wasn't in the contract!
1) I think Critical Mass is stupid too.
2) Better than your Prius.
A green sign outlined and printed in white with a bicycle icon, like the "bike lane" signs around town. Except instead of saying "bike lane" it says "MY LANE"
"Recreational Commuter"
So, who's were your favorites, Dave?
Got an email from you today. It was from a different account in gmail. I just wanted to ensure it is valid.
I was pleasantly surprised by the large response to my “What’s your sign” post. I was able to persuade my publisher to allow me to give away 10 books instead of 3 as originally promised.
I have contacted all those who emailed me. And yes it was a different email but you can use the original one you used or the one on my website if you wish.
Thanks to all who participated.
Dave.
A few more, just for fun:
Have you ever seen Ben Hur?
My chariot has retractable tire shredders!
Protection and counter measures provided by Q Branch
Heads up! Deer crossing ahead!
Caution! Radioactive contamination risk with-in six feet!
POLICE
Leper on board
The last guy who “grazed me” is doing 20 to life.
Thanks for the book Dave!
if you can read this you're too close.
it's late I know.but I'm a slow thinker..great blog, I really enjoy it.
emanuel, barcelona.
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