Plosive

Read this article on Velo News.

A cyclist was buzzed by a snowplow. The cyclist had 2 video cameras rolling and the driver was video recorded saying "Get off the road".
When the he tried to legally peruse the mater he was met by frustration.

Paul L.

Hmmm, that is an interesting predicament. A plow cannot plow the road going at biking in snow speeds, and yet it is not legal to pass the cyclist without leaving a section of the road unplowed. An interesting conflict between law and municipal functionality. I personally have left the roadway for people pulling oversized (houses being moved) loads out of common courtesy. I am not taking sides but I can see where an irritated driver might shout something he should have thought about beforehand It will be interesting to see how this turns out. Do they have the video youtubed?

becnal

Sucks to be a bike rider in America.

ghettocruiser

https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=387275

Not a factor in this case. Review the video on the blog site. The guy on the bike was hauling, he was keeping up with traffic for most of the clip. As soon as there was a bit of a break in traffic the plow passed for whatever reason.

And of course, immediately thereafter, the bike caught up.

Generally in the city the plows are slow-moving enough that I have to figure out ways to pass them.

The one time I did have a plow catch me (this was in pretty deep snow) I pulled over to the oncoming lane (big break in traffic obviously) motioned him past me, and tucked in behind. Doesn't look like a good idea on the road in the video.

Intheloonybin

Here is the article in velo news.

https://velonews.com/article/71866

Here is his blog link.

https://bikesafer.blogspot.com/2007/1...g-my-bike.html

Or you can read the thread posted above from the winter cycling section.

riddei

This is the exactly why I don't commute by bike when snowfall is predicted to be greater than 2-4". It's not that I can't ride in more snow, it's that I don't want to become a hazard to navigation (using nautical terms).

This is posted in the commuting forum, but I don't think the guy on this video was commuting. It looks as if he was out "playing" in the snow. If so, he should find a more appropriate place to play. The reason he has two video cameras running at all times is because he's placing himself into situations such as this.

If I had a plow "buzzing" me from behind for any amount of time (read seconds, not minutes), I'd move over and let the municipal worker do his job.

(now donning Nomex suit)

ItsJustMe

I get off the road for snow plows. I want them to do their job, and I don't want the plow path to weave out away from the side of the road so that they can pass other vehicles.

I get out of the way of plows when I'm driving a car too. It only makes sense to allow those who are trying to make the road more navigable to do their jobs. If there's a plow around, I want to be BEHIND it, not in front.

I will agree that the close pass and the "get off the road" comment were inappropriate. But before that, the cyclist (and, IMHO, the cars) should have gotten out of the way of the plow.

thdave

I see what you're saying, but I find it ridiculous that the police cite the existance of the cameras as proof of the rider seeking conflict with the plow. It's not at all. The bike rider has every right to video what he wants to video and it doesn't implicate him at all.

Yeah, it's the cyclists obligation to pull over and give room if he's slowing traffic down. I'm not sure he was, though. Irregardless, the police and city attorney handled it poorly. That's the problem, imo.

DataJunkie

+1

That and around here plow drivers tend to work horribly long shifts.
I sure as heck don't want to be around one with a driver that has been up for god knows how long.
Then again the Denver metro area is pretty sucky at snow removal.

Paul L.

Just took a second look. The snow is not as deep as I originally thought. I used to do 15-16 mph in 2-4 inch snow. I was thinking 6-10 in which case he would be superman to keep those speeds.

JeffS

I'm surprised that some of you ever make it out of the driveway with the inferiority complexes you carry around.

wahoonc

Probably ought to check the local ordinances... When I lived in the Huron, SD the snow plows basically have right of way, period. If there was a declared snow emergency and you happened to leave your car on the streets you could be forced to pay for damages to the plow if the plow hit your car. Or you could be levied with some pretty substantial fines for leaving a car on a marked snow route.

After reviewing his pictures I think he brought a fair amount of it on himself with his actions.

Aaron

chipcom 

I learned to just get out of the way of plows when I was just a youngin. Even if they pass you in the next lane, you're gonna get a bath of snow and slush and road kill. The guy in the video could have easily turned at any of those intersections, which were probably unplowed and even more fun to ride on, and avoided getting plastered by snow and spending his time complaining to cops and bureaucrats who just plain don't understand or give a damn. Riding ain't about proving your manhood or making political statements, it's about having fun.

DataJunkie

Wow. You are the man!

If by inferiority complex you actually mean a sense of self preservation \ common sense then sure.

roadiejorge 

Exactly. We can all share the road but that depends on people using common sense and in the case of snow plows they're trying to clear the roads so should be given priority. I don't normally ride in weather that finds snow plows cruising the streets but even if I did I'd yield to them as a courtesy and safty precaution.

riddei

Raleigh [NC] average annual snowfall is 2.4 inches per year.
Raleigh [NC] average temperature is 59.8 degrees F.
The average low temperature is 47 degrees F.
The average high temperature is 70 degrees F.


Source: https://www.usacitiesonline.com/nccou...gh.htm#climate

jeff-o

No suit required! I always move aside for snow plows, since I respect the job they perform and I like to make it easier for them. Besides, I'd much rather follow the nice, smooth road behind the plow than push though the muck in front!

I also move for buses and other heavy vehicles if it's impossible for them to pass.

ItsJustMe

Come up to Michigan's U.P. sometime. 18 to 24 inches of snow overnight is not at all unusual; the average snowfall is in the range of 250 inches per year.

Wing plows can't operate below about 30 MPH, they're designed to throw snow 50 or more feet to the side of the road.

Municipalities use snow blowers with 10 by 7 foot intakes and 4 foot diameter secondary impellers. These things will turn you into a red mist if you get in their way; they will be identifying you by the shreds of clothing.

When these are in operation, there's a LOT of snow in the air. Probably more in the air every second than you get in a year in N.C. The operators can NOT see that well.

Further, if they do not do their job, nobody moves.

When they come along, you get out of their way and let them do their job.

Tell me, when an ambulance comes along, do you insist that you have a right to be in the road?

lil brown bat

Isn't this just a wee eensy teensy tiny bit disingenuous?

noisebeam

I keep vid camera running whenever I cycle. Actually except when I am out 'playing' with the bike. So I don't think you can say the cams mean anything.

Al

unkchunk

Okay, okay... and no snow plows in the bike lanes ever. Are we all happy now?

sknhgy 

There are times when you just have to get off the road and let someone or something pass by.

AEO

law here is (city owned) plows get to go first... just safer that way and results in faster snow removal.

Mr. Underbridge

For God's sake, there's a difference between *having* a right, and exercising it to the point of stupidity. If you're riding in the snow and you notice a plow coming behind you, just work with the guy to negotiate a safe pass. The poor guy has a job to do and you have no desire to get the ugly side of a snowplow.

Let him around and enjoy the lovely, freshly plowed road. And hell, draft off him. You got yourself a free tow truck.

Oh, and as the story says, the guy rides with two cameras running constantly because he's done this act before. Methinks somebody's got some issues.

JeffS

Self preservation is a pretty vague notion. That's the same reason my neighbor would give you for driving her H2, why my cyclist coworker won't ride a bike to work, and why half the bike riders I see (it's not many) are on the sidewalks.

I don't really want to speculate about the video because even with the blog narrative it doesn't tell the whole story. I'm also not advocating playing chicken with snow plows...

On the other hand, I imagine I would get very much the same reaction from my city government if I had a video of a school bus passing me with a 2-inch clearance. Judging from this thread, I could also expect a bunch of bicycle riders to condemn my motives for even having a camera on the bike.

I'm at somewhat of a loss... Random rider tells a story of being buzzed by a vehicle and everyone is quick to offer condolences and advice on how they should call the cops, etc. Hell, vigilante tactics are usually met with pats on the back. Same random rider has a video of the incident and aggressively pursues the incident and he's a troublemaker. Would we have felt better about it if he'd caught the driver at the next light and enacted chipcom "destroy thy enemy" justice?

This was just my inarticulate reaction to a whole thread of cyclists saying what most drivers think every day... the cyclist shouldn't be on the road.