What’s your sign?

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.

Comments

[Ken Davidson]

Constipated motorist? Can't pass a cyclist!

[Dave]

What's up with that question mark after "me"? Makes Mom's plea sound a bit tentative.

My sign: Dude, have mercy!

[Anonymous]

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

[Nick]

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"

[dvicci]

Off Duty
Police Officer

[lady clay]

I AM traffic.

[db]

I saw this on the web:

"You own a car
NOT the road"

[Bujiatang]

Putting MY tax dollars to use.

Not powered by foreign oil.

Demonstrating the
importance of
not being seen

[Tim]

My Other Bike
Is a Smith & Wesson

[Anonymous]

share the road
share the planet
pass carefully
and leave something to pass on

[Robert Higdon]

Honking is only going to slow me down.

[Marrock]

"You own a car, not the road"

or

"If you were so important the state would have given you lights and a siren"

[leroy]

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?

[Rick J]

Thank you Mr. Car Man, for noticing this sign. Between you and me, on the road, we can reach our destination.

[Ron]

Explosive material onboard.

[Ron]

"I know what you're thinking. Would you really like that much time in court?"

[Moonlight Mark]

Here's two:

1. "No meddling!
I'm peddling!

2. "Caution!
Spandex Crossing!"

[Shaka]

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"

[Hocam]

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"

[chucker]

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."

[Ryan]

I'm doing this to keep your gas prices lower.

[John Marr]

Just Pretend I'm A Great Big Truck.

[Treadly and Me]

Human on board.

[Surly Dave]

I've always pondered thse two, in big letters on the back of a jersey:

ARMED

or

HOBART UNSPEAKABLY
VIOLENT OFFENDERS
CYCLING CLUB.

[Dan]

Very simple:

"Please pass safely"

[Erik]

Wide Load

[Nathan]

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."

[Anonymous]

eyes on the road not me

[Ron]

I urinate while riding.

[baudman]

"I have a video camera strapped to my helmet"

[Zakkaliciousness]

"I Wish I Was In Copenhagen"

[lancewrite]

Person on board

[Anonymous]

CCW Permit Riders Club. cjg of eroticalee.

[spokejunky]

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?"

[leviathan]

Caution: cyclists eat children.

[Marla...O.A.F. with altitude]

Relax.
You'll get there before I will anyway.

[maltese falcon]

I'd make an ugly hood ornament.

[Ron]

-Got carbon fiber?

-Draft someone your own size!

-Ok,I'm a superdomestique. But a figgin car wasn't in the contract!

[Todd]

1) I think Critical Mass is stupid too.

2) Better than your Prius.

[Anonymous]

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"

[Jett]

"Recreational Commuter"

[Anonymous]

So, who's were your favorites, Dave?

[spokejunky]

Got an email from you today. It was from a different account in gmail. I just wanted to ensure it is valid.

[Dave Moulton]

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.

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

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.

[DenDypeOnew]

show my housewife

great page
http://bit.ly/e7UW76