Advocacy & Safety - Winter Roads Getting Narrower and Narrower

Anyone else encountering what seems to be happening here in the Boston area- narrower streets and roads due to snow accumulation?

It has an interesting effect in that cars are parked much further from the curb and each new storm adds more snow on the street side of the cars so now there's no choice to but to ride "vehicularly" well into the center of most lanes. On one hand there is the natural "traffic calming" effect of narrower lanes but I am definitely getting some nasty drivers in response to my claiming the lane.

Had one last night on a street that I was forced to use as a detour because of a burst water pipe. The street was one way with cars parked on either side and a slight uphill. The speed limit was probably no more than 20-25 mph but I was only managing about 15 mph up the hill and taking the middle of the lane. A car ripped up behind and rode a foot from my back wheel for about 100' and hit it's horn twice. At the top of the hill there was enough of a break in the parked cars for me to move right and let the ahole by (I then caught him at the stop sign).

Tonight I had a guy deliberately right hook me after following and then passing too close on the left of me.

Anyone else noticing an increase in harassment with this weather?

More snow tonight.......

I don't know about harrassment, but I might get more honks and yells in the winter. Oh well....

What concerns me more are the big piles of snow that the plows throw to the sides of the roads. This makes it hard for drivers to see us. It also makes curb hopping impossible as an evasive maneuver. Last winter, I had 4 snow plows bearing down on me from behind. I had to throw the bike over a 4 foot snowbank, while I leaped after it. I escaped with my life, but lost a fairly new bike computer.

I don't know about harrassment, but I might get more honks and yells in the winter. Oh well....

What concerns me more are the big piles of snow that the plows throw to the sides of the roads. This makes it hard for drivers to see us. It also makes curb hopping impossible as an evasive maneuver. Last winter, I had 4 snow plows bearing down on me from behind. I had to throw the bike over a 4 foot snowbank, while I leaped after it. I escaped with my life, but lost a fairly new bike computer.

It's difficult or impossible, with the high snow piles, trying to see another small car at a corner when I am sitting down low in my small car. At least the bike rider's head is up higher. That's a slight advantage with the high snow piles. That makes a good argument for a helmet light (front or back, or both) in the winter.

Am I spending too much time on the computer if I remember you snow plow story from last year? :)

I find visibility the biggest issue when riding between high snowbanks. In general I think that the motorists are as courteous or more so in the winter time as they are in the summer.

FWIW, I have found Boston drivers to be among the least patient and least considerate drivers that I have encountered. My daughter once asked me if they connected their horns to their brakes in Boston.

New market niche, new product! I'll be rich!

Horn to brake pedal connecting relay!

I don't think I've been getting any more complaints than usual.

Though perhaps I'm getting better at blocking them out.

Am I spending too much time on the computer if I remember you snow plow story from last year? :)

No, I'm just repeating myself too much. Must be my advanced age. :50:

We always have a certain number of inconsiderate scoff-laws who plow their driveways and push or throw the snow into the street. These snowbanks are always fun to maneuver around or over. I've never heard of anybody getting a ticket for this, but I wish they would. Closest thing to justice is when the municipal plows push it back into their driveways if it snows again. I hate winter!:(

Try heavy snow (though not as bad as last year) and day 50 (that's F-I-F-T-Y) of a transit strike. PM rush hour is now 3:00pm to 7:30pm. Most roads have lost nearly a meter of the curb lane to snow accumulation. Bike lanes and pathways are seldom cleared. Given the mood I'm surprised we haven't had mad gunmen on the roads yet... but we're too Canadian for that, so maybe we can fling beaver-tails at each other ;-)

I generally find drivers more cautious around me in winter, if also passing much more closely. This winter, though, they are being aggressive to everyone. I cancelled a booking today - I ride in almost anything, but was not willing to risk a rush hour traffic in a snow storm.

I cancelled a booking today - I ride in almost anything, but was not willing to risk a rush hour traffic in a snow storm.

Just curious--would you have cancelled the booking if you were driving instead of riding?

Just curious--would you have cancelled the booking if you were driving instead of riding?

That's a hard one to answer, seeing that I've never driven a motor vehicle in my life! If it answers your question, though, I flat-out refuse to get into a car in some weather conditions I still feel safe cycling in. Given the increases in collisions during the strike and the current weather, today would at best be borderline.

Given the road conditions right now, it would likely take me 45 to 60 minutes to bike downtown. Driving to downtown might take less time, but from what the neighbours tell me it might take 2 hours or more to drive back! No thanks.

No, I'm just repeating myself too much. Must be my advanced age. :50:

Me too. :(

That's a hard one to answer, seeing that I've never driven a motor vehicle in my life! If it answers your question, though, I flat-out refuse to get into a car in some weather conditions I still feel safe cycling in. Given the increases in collisions during the strike and the current weather, today would at best be borderline.

Given the road conditions right now, it would likely take me 45 to 60 minutes to bike downtown. Driving to downtown might take less time, but from what the neighbours tell me it might take 2 hours or more to drive back! No thanks.

I used to do a lot of winter driving, and now I do a bit (maybe 5 to 10 miles a month, on average). As time goes by, I get braver about cycling in winter conditions, and more chicken**** about driving. At this point, I'd probably ride in tougher conditions than I'd drive in. If it's super-bad, I'll walk or even take a bus.

If it's super-bad, I'll walk or even take a bus.

Yeah, well we live a short ride from one LRT station, and my studio is a short ride from another. Would be great is the LRT was running! Parliament is back in session and will debate legislating them back to work tomorrow... we'll see.

Only time of year I ever user transit, and they had to strike! Grrr.

Its been a cold but clear January where I am so far, but December was a challenge. I don't mind riding in the cold - regularly in the teens and a couple times below 0 - and I don't mind riding in the snow. Its a kick really, and much better than rain.

But I do agree that the real challenge is how the road crews handle the snow - piling in in berms in the middles and sides of streets so there's just one narrow tire-polished ice path. I don't know what else they could do with it though.

I am very lucky that my town has a bike path that is kept plowed pretty regularly. As far as other riding, if the road is snowy I ride on the sidewalk or through parking lots, or find the quietest road I can.

On the upside, with the canal frozen we have an excellent route dowtown without having to deal with either the road traffic or the useless bike paths. Biking around the skaters is much more pleasant, even though I enjoy rush hour. Today's wind not so much.

I took the bus today!

3-6" of pure slush on the roads today and I just didn't feel like slogging through it- a rare event.

It's turning back into ice tonight and the wind is gusting to around 30 knots.

The walking wasn't so great either today. I slipped bad but caught myself before I did the full smack down.

Felt like a wuss. But the two nights in a row of creepy drivers made me feel like I needed a break.

On the upside, with the canal frozen we have an excellent route dowtown without having to deal with either the road traffic or the useless bike paths. Biking around the skaters is much more pleasant, even though I enjoy rush hour. Today's wind not so much.

Ottawa has canals? What are you--the Venice of the great white north? Anyway, I bet riding on them is a lot of fun. For me, ice biking is one of the great joys of cycling. :)

Ottawa has canals? What are you--the Venice of the great white north? Anyway, I bet riding on them is a lot of fun. For me, ice biking is one of the great joys of cycling. :)

We have one canal, built before confederation for military use... in case the US attacked us, again. :p
Would be semi-useful for me if it went anywhere near home or work... but it doesn't.

Streets today are better than I expected after yesterday's storm, but the Queen Elizabeth driveway is crappy as usual. Instead of a very wide parkway with few intersection, we have a very narrow parkway with few intersection. And impatient drivers. Not my fault you can't pass me, yell at the NCC!

Mmm. In case the US attacks and wants to go skating and have a beaver tail, we'll be ready.

We have one canal, built before confederation for military use... in case the US attacked us, again. :p


That's not the way we learned it in the Detroit schools. Not only did you attack us, you won--temporarily, and occupied Detroit for a couple years, and refused to leave even after the peace treaty was signed.

We also learned that all our bad weather comes from Canada.

:notamused:

That's not the way we learned it in the Detroit schools. Not only did you attack us, you won--temporarily, and occupied Detroit for a couple years, and refused to leave even after the peace treaty was signed.

We also learned that all our bad weather comes from Canada.

:notamused:

Also burned the white house.

Anyone else encountering what seems to be happening here in the Boston area- narrower streets and roads due to snow accumulation?

Hi buzzman,

My main roads heading south, Jamaicaway, Centre St and Washington St had only a slight amount of unplowed slush and snow,and some ice patches on the sides that were rideable these past two days. Just this week I started riding with Schwalbe Marathon Winters and with that increased confidence, I was able to ride as far right when cars passed as I would if the roads were dry. As predicted by Jim's Law of the Road* though, I did get hemmed in by a passing school bus and had to ride over about a 4 inch high bumpy frozen snow mogul with fresh snow covering, about three feet long. The Schwalbes held on.

*No matter how lightly traveled and well paved the road, a car will likely pass you on the left as you encounter an obstacle on the right.

Hi buzzman,

My main roads heading south, Jamaicaway, Centre St and Washington St had only a slight amount of unplowed slush and snow,and some ice patches on the sides that were rideable these past two days.

Do you ride on the actual Jamaicaway, or the path by the pond? (I don't think I'd be brave enough to ride on the Jamaicaway.)

Do you ride on the actual Jamaicaway, or the path by the pond? (I don't think I'd be brave enough to ride on the Jamaicaway.)

I ride the actual Jamaicaway because I ride it usually by about 5:30 AM in the outbound direction. I estimate in about a one mile stretch, I'm passed by about five cars whereas scores of cars pass on the inbound side. Since it is double lane, cars have plenty of room to pass. The overhead lighting is pretty adequate and I have a rear red blinker. It seems I am visible and I don't recall being hassled. If I can't get on the J-way by 6:00 on a weekday, I take South Huntington, or Pond and Goddard Streets on the other side of Jamaica Pond. Today I further preferred the J-way because it was so well de-iced.

I don' t use the bikepath usually, even in good weather when it's light out that early, because a part of the path near the baseball field goes into some secluded woods, and under those circumstances, the J-way is even better.

That's not the way we learned it in the Detroit schools. Not only did you attack us, you won--temporarily, and occupied Detroit for a couple years, and refused to leave even after the peace treaty was signed.

We also learned that all our bad weather comes from Canada.

:notamused:

My history's a bit rusty, so you may be right... although its a bit late to worry about finger-pointing.
I am convinced, however, that most of our winter storms come from the US, as does our summer smog. At least I blame you, and that's probably accurate enough for the 6 o'clock news :thumb:

Strike may be over, BTW. Funny how people start playing nice when they are worried about what the federal gov't will say about them!

Back on topic: did a lot of cycling today. Had to pull over and wave a driver to pass me - he/she seemed afraid to do so. Wish we have more that cautious. Almost made up for the moron who could not read the "construction zone" and "30km/hr" and "do not pass bikes" signs from earlier today. Almost.