I navigate between the two frequently. In the cities, where ‘the jobs are,’ people are in each other’s way, and appear expendable, less valuable.. As you move away, people appear more valuable, and you may actually ‘see them again,’ unlike the city.

Also, people in cities ‘make an effort’ to give you some privacy and anonymity by not staring.. It’s weird, and took me some time to figure out. Whereas people in small towns will stare till their eyes nearly burst, becoming seriously annoyed if not acknowledged. I’ve also read that historically ‘country people’ found it to their advantage to be aware of everyone and their intent. Such ‘knowledge’ remains nearly a currency, and much of their ‘waving’ is in order to glean information, a bad habit.

I guess as long as the hand waving does not have a clenched fist or holding a club,not true signs of friendlyness? Small towns and villages seem to be the best,get on a nodding acknowledgement initially, and one day slow down,stop and introduce yourself.

When I am have been and bike touring and geared up with panniers I experience a wealth of friendliness, especially in Europe. But when I ride around the area where I live , I have experienced so much animosity toward bicyclists. I prefer to take my bike closer to Seattle and ride there. I feel so much safer in urban areas than I do in the rural areas outside of Seattle. Rednecks suck.

When I am have been and bike touring and geared up with panniers I experience a wealth of friendliness, especially in Europe. But when I ride around the area where I live , I have experienced so much animosity toward bicyclists. I prefer to take my bike closer to Seattle and ride there. I feel so much safer in urban areas than I do in the rural areas outside of Seattle. Rednecks suck.

Yes. One time on a bike ride with a bunch of friends, I went through a patch of goathead thorns and flattened both my tires. I ended up walking toward my home, with several miles to go. Shortly after I began walking my bike, a woman in a minivan (I think she even had a kid or two inside) stopped and asked me if I needed a ride. Of course I was extremely grateful, said please and thank you, and got a ride all the way home from her. Here's the upshot; last year, I was able to do exactly the same for someone else. That felt good. This occurred in Thousand Oaks, CA.

We live in a very rural area on a state "scenic bike route". A lot of folks start at the beach & pedal their way across & into the mountains. Many pass our house. Chairs are out for resting. We have an outside spigot for water & shade of 150+ year old oaks. Kind of an informal rest stop.