CalBike
  • About Us
  • Get Involved
    • Sign the petition: CA Needs the Bicycle Safety Stop
    • Volunteer
    • Join/Renew
  • What We Do
    • Be the first to Know: E-Bike Purchase Incentives
    • Bike the Vote 2022
    • 2022 Legislative Recap
    • California Bicycle Summit
    • More…
  • Resources
    • Free Quick-Build Bikeway Design Guide
    • Learn to Bike at Any Age
    • Map & Routes
    • Crash Help
    • Register Your Bike
    • California Bicycle Laws
    • All Our E-Bike Work
  • News
    • Blog
    • CalBike In the News
    • Press Releases
    • CalBike Insider
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Everything You Need to Know About Waving Wednesday

Waving Wednesday

What is Waving Wednesday?

It’s a simple concept! It’s Wednesday and you’re riding a bicycle. You see someone else on a bicycle. You wave to them. They wave to you.

Does it cost anything to participate in Waving Wednesday?

Waving Wednesday only costs about 3 calories per wave.

If I wave on Wednesdays, can I still wave on other days?

Yes. Waving to promote camaraderie among people who bike is always encouraged.

What qualifies as a wave?

A wave ‘counts’ when you move your hand back and forth at least 3 times.

Nodding or saluting do not count—those salutations can find their own darn days.

Do I really have to do this?

Yes, you have to. 

When did Waving Wednesday start?

The first cyclist to wave to another cyclist was in 1867, the first time two people on bikes approached each other on a Wednesday. However, the modern concept of mandatory waving on Wednesday was started in San Francisco in 1992.

Is it just me, or is there a male gaze-y white-centric hetero-normative vibe in that picture you’re using?

No, that’s not just you. But Waving Wednesday is supposed to be for everyone on a bike. Send pictures of yourself and others waving on a bike to @calbike on Facebook or Twitter or just add the hashtag #WavingWednesday. We’ll feature them.

Is this just a California thing?

Yes, Waving Wednesday is just for California, for now. But other states will probably copy it like they do everything else.

Shout out to our friends at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, who kept the original flyer from the 1990s bike activists who created #WavingWednesday for us to enjoy.

View this post on Instagram

Not only is today #walkingwednesday but let’s also make it #wavingwednesday” On your walk, give a wave to your friends (virtually). We are all missing the daily interaction with our teachers and friends! #PEathome #stayactive #walkingwednesday #wavingwednesday #sendawave ??

A post shared by Physical Education (@memorialschool_pe) on Mar 25, 2020 at 5:27am PDT

Latest News

  • CalBike Insider HeaderCalBike Insider: First Look at 2023 Active Transportation BillsFebruary 2, 2023 - 3:07 pm
  • bike close upIn Praise of the Classic BikeFebruary 2, 2023 - 2:54 pm
  • e-bikeE-Bike Purchase Incentives FAQsFebruary 1, 2023 - 7:37 pm
Follow a manual added link

Get Email Updates

Follow a manual added link

Donate

  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to Twitter
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Mail
  • Link to Instagram
About Us

Staff
Board
Financials & Governance
Local Partners
State & National Allies
Careers

What We Do

California Bicycle Summit
E-Bike Advocacy
Quick-Builds
2022 Legislative Watch

Take Action

Current Projects
Past Projects
Donate
Contact Us
Volunteer
Join or Renew

Resources

COVID-19 Bicycling
Maps & Routes
Quick Build Guide
All Resources

News

CalBike Blog
CalBike in the News
Press Releases
CalBike Insider

© California Bicycle Coalition 2023

1017 L Street #288
Sacramento, CA 95814
© California Bicycle Coalition 2023

Bike Shops are Essential Businesses During Stay-at-Home OrdersBike repair shops are essential servicesCOVID Open Streets Oakland 2020Oakland Brings COVID Open Streets to California Streets
Scroll to top