It's positively scary as hell on a bike:
from today's xkcd 2932
First they slow down (seldom fully stopping). Then they give this wave-wave of a hand, but you can't quite see through the glint off the windshield. Is that person waving me through? Doing something on facebook? Maybe... reloading? Can't tell, so let me not just bet my life on a chance here. Then they sometimes honk, then (more rarely) get mad and start yelling about the fact that you won't jump out in front of them.
The only good solution I've found is to make a mental note of the oncoming vehicle, come to a full stop, take hands off the bars, and casually look the other way. If you're not looking, they can't do that ridiculous little wave-wave thing. Then they'll usually go on by in the normal fashion. If it escalates from there, I get off the bike and wait on the other side of a tree or similar stationary object.
It's all been ironed out long ago, with stop signs, right-of-ways, and the usual driving rules of the road. Obviously mistakes will occur, and we should all be alert and ready to make exceptions for these. But everyday sitting-at-a-stop-sign? That cute little wave-wave is getting people killed.
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