As a cyclist it was mainly for me to make sure the driver saw me.
As a pedestrian I do it were I am living nowadays when I’m about to cross the road on a pedestrian crossing, but that’s mainly because around here people’s behavior is mainly moderated by public shame and drivers tend to feel anonymous behind the wheel, so the point of looking at the other person rather than the car is to get them to feel seen and judged.
Can’t be sure if this latter use of looking actually works, but the one I do as a cyclist definitely works and has saved me from accidents multiple times, for example from drivers coming from a side-street into a T-junction and not looking properly hence not seeing me on a bicycle coming towards them on the main street.
Motorcyclists have a name for that, it’s “What the fuck you looked right at me!??”. Usually used when a car is taking a left turn directly infront of a bike.
Cyclists have a name for that and I think it’s something like “the life saving look”. Usually used when changing lanes or at an intersection.
As a cyclist it was mainly for me to make sure the driver saw me.
As a pedestrian I do it were I am living nowadays when I’m about to cross the road on a pedestrian crossing, but that’s mainly because around here people’s behavior is mainly moderated by public shame and drivers tend to feel anonymous behind the wheel, so the point of looking at the other person rather than the car is to get them to feel seen and judged.
Can’t be sure if this latter use of looking actually works, but the one I do as a cyclist definitely works and has saved me from accidents multiple times, for example from drivers coming from a side-street into a T-junction and not looking properly hence not seeing me on a bicycle coming towards them on the main street.
Motorcyclists have a name for that, it’s “What the fuck you looked right at me!??”. Usually used when a car is taking a left turn directly infront of a bike.