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"