General Cycling Discussion - Blowers

At least once a week I pass a landscaping crew and the guy with the blower is blowing the grass clippings out in the road. Today was my day for this week. :(
Does he turn the blower off or aim it away from the road when I ride by? NO!! He continues blowing the stuff all over the road so I can ride through it. :irritated

He looks in my direction and sees me coming so what is his problem? Does he have a low IQ or just doesn't give a s**t?

I move out away from the curb into the next lane if possible but some days I'm hemmed in by traffic.

Am I the only one who encounters this kind of situation? Just bad luck or bad timing?

low IQ , low pay and he's probably mad at the world.

Originally posted by pnj
low IQ , low pay and he's probably mad at the world.

I agree. Maybe it's naiitivity, but why do so many people in the world have to spend so much time being miserable? It's a state of mind. It's just as easy and a whole lot more fun to be happy. I understand that not everyone lives in the best of circumstances, but I do believe that you should always make the most of what you have. It's amazing how contagious being miserable is too. I guess more irritating than contagious.

Originally posted by RonH
At least once a week I pass a landscaping crew and the guy with the blower is blowing the grass clippings out in the road. Today was my day for this week. :(
Does he turn the blower off or aim it away from the road when I ride by? NO!! He continues blowing the stuff all over the road so I can ride through it. :irritated
Report him. (Just don't say you're a cyclist, they might not take you seriously. If they ask you too many questions leading you to reveal you are a cyclist, wrap up quickly like you're in a hurry and irritated!)

Maybe he was just trying to create a tail wind for you.

Seriously - I pass guys using weed wackers all the time, they always seem to let the motor idle down to let me pass - could just be the area you live, or maybe a isolated jerk.

Originally posted by LittleBigMan

Report him. (Just don't say you're a cyclist, they might not take you seriously. If they ask you too many questions leading you to reveal you are a cyclist, wrap up quickly like you're in a hurry and irritated!)
WHAT AM I SAYING?!

Who cares if you're a cyclist! Report him to his company.

Since this is your regular route, I would give him a break. It is possible that he doesn't realize that this bothers you (hard to believe but true).

For the next couple of times you see him, make it a point to say "Hello" or "Good Morning". His reaction will allow you to determine if he is good natured and dumb or malevolent.

If it turns out he does this just to annoy you, then I would report him.

I hate blowers. What the heck is the matter with a broom or a rake anyway.

Originally posted by DanFromDetroit
Since this is your regular route, I would give him a break. It is possible that he doesn't realize that this bothers you (hard to believe but true).

For the next couple of times you see him, make it a point to say "Hello" or "Good Morning". His reaction will allow you to determine if he is good natured and dumb or malevolent.

If it turns out he does this just to annoy you, then I would report him.
Good advice! :)

Originally posted by Jupe
I hate blowers. What the heck is the matter with a broom or a rake anyway.

Just another product of laziness. I hate them too. So many times I have wanted to enjoy my lovely porch and the a$$ clown across the street is running that stupid blower for hours on end. You can't even talk to the person next to you because it is soooo loud. I think if the guy had to do actual work he would have a heart attack!!!!!!

I also know a neighbor who rides his riding mower to his mailbox everyday!!! (The mailbox is not far) Sick, sick, sick!!!! :confused:

Originally posted by Jupe
I hate blowers. What the heck is the matter with a broom or a rake anyway.
My sentiments exactly!!
I think I am the only person in my neighborhood who rakes the leaves in the fall. Everyone else uses a blower to blow the leaves into a pile and then blows the pile across the yard to the yard waste cans and bags.

Seems like the lazier and more stupid one becomes, the better one fits into society.

Those grass clippings are laced with tiny thorns and other little gremlins from nature that love to stick in your tires. I try to avoid running over the stuff.

My opinion--ten to one he was just zoning out while doing a boring job, and his brain never kicked into gear to think that the blowing might be inconvenient for you. (Or at least not until it was too late to do anything.)