bikepearly

Hi there,

If I want to be start with good biking etiquette what do I do when I see loose glass on bike path?

Do I stop then kick it to the side, or report it (and whom do I to call?)

thanks.

Mr. Hairy Legs

A responsible cyclist always brings a broom with him for these scenarios. Or you could call the municipality and request a cleaning. I've never done either

10 Wheels

Do the same thing as you do when you see tight glass.....Keep riding.

DX-MAN

If you feel motivated to move the glass, do so. If you don't, anyone you might call may well get to it sometime in the decade.

Our Rivergreenway MUP has sections that have been "adopted" by various groups, who are ostensibly responsible for basic maintenance along their section. SOMEBODY does it, don't know who, but it's never happened that I know of as a result of a phone call. I know the local Parks Dept. doesn't do it -- they feel OK leaving massive mounds of grass clippings on the asphalt.

When I see glass, I veer around it. There's a circle of it in the pavement less than a block from my house, in the tar that was spread during the chip & seal process of several years ago. It was broken in the street, and the hot sun and fat car/truck tires half-buried it in the tar.

Bjforrestal

I've passed the same 2 spike strip looking things on my commute for 2 weeks straight now. Obviously i haven't stopped to move them, just don't run over them. Maybe I should move them, karma might bite me next week.

justme23

what is tight glass?

the sci guy 

i get jokes.

modernjess

If you live in Minneapolis you call 311 and report it, they come out and clean it up usually within a few hours. I've done it.

If you don't live in Minneapolis then perhaps you should consider moving here

wolfchild

If I see glass in the bikelane or path, I just ride around it.

Bluish Green

It probably varies quite a bit based on what city you are in, but here in Springfield, IL, the city uses a big street-sweeper machine to clean the streets (and at least the one bike path that I use for a short part of my commute). It isn't a frequent occurrence - I'd say my routes get swept a couple of times a year - but the big street sweeper is very effective and gets most everything in the street. I appreciate the service; it may not be perfect, but it is nice to have.

But really the more important point I'd make is to suggest puncture-resistant tires as an option if you ride through a lot of glass regularly. Since I started bicycle commuting, I am nearing 3,000 miles with zero punctures, and I do ride through some glass fields. I use puncture resistant tires for most of those miles, and my studded winter tires, while not billed specifically as puncture-resistant, are tough, heavy tires and haven't been a problem. Look for Kevlar belts in puncture-resistant tires, if you are so inclined. They are probably a little slower than non-puncture-resistant tires, but it's nice not to worry about glass flats. To be honest, I don't even veer much for glass anymore. It's just not an issue for me with these tires.

You still have to worry about nails, screws, and other metal type puncture threats. If I see any of that stuff at a stoplight, etc., I will kick it into the curb or pick it up.

fietsbob

& face your backside to the pitcher's mound as you sweep the stuff off home plate.




I live in the 'County Seat', and the ODOT office is at the foot of the WA bridge , I just drop by for a chat .


[Mostly it's about the sidewalks getting overgrown , and when the driver has only the back of his head towards me
Im not going to cross in front of him ].

AusTexMurf

Austin, too, in theory.....
You can call 3-1-1 or use the coa website, choose bicycling issues at first tree.
https://austin-p1csrprodcwi.motorolas...t.mvc/SRIntake

Broken glass doesn't bother me much. I run quality tires on my bikes. Rarely flat. Including the alleys downtown.

However, I have swept broken glass out of the bike lanes on the way to my son's elementary school.
A lot more rookie riders and kids with crappy tires and no avoidance skills on that route.

2_i 

You may laugh, but I actually carry along a tent whisk and pan set and sweep the glass when there is a more serious spill. If I do not do that, the glass may stay for weeks at a time and a moment of inattention, especially in the dark, may cost me a flat tire or worse if particularly large pieces are lying. Thus, my sweeping can be a good investment. During parts of the year, there aren't many riders following the same route as mine and the municipality sweeps the area just a few times per year.

Stryver

Find out who does what work on your path. The last town I lived in had an active volunteer greenway patrol that worked with the police department. I'm not sure how they would have handled it, but I would have asked one of them what to do. I do know the paths were cleaned (sweeper cart? or blowers) periodically. Every so often the paths would be wonderfully clean, then leaves and sticks and rocks would slowly build up, then one morning everything would be clean again. A necessity for the forest-floor where most of the bike path lived.

bengreen79

I usually stop and kick it off the trail so I don't forget about it and run it over the next time through. The trail I used in the past was mostly used by kids going back and forth to school and I always figured that they don't have what they need to fix the problem (knowledge and tools/spare tubes, etc). The trail I use for my current commute is pretty well travelled and it seems that anytime I see broken glass, it is already off the trail in the gravel. I think the regular walkers kick it off.

Consularrider

Unfortunately it's not the big pieces you can see and easily kick off the pavement that are going to cause the problems.

murdockspencer

You could collect it and sell it? You would just be giving the kids what they want.......

MikeRides

Ride around it! Unless you actually want to take the time to clean up someone else's mess. Depending on where the path is, some towns assign delinquents to clean it up as part of a probational community service or high school students looking for "extra credit" for college(usually in the spring time though).