Snowplows
 

Once the white stuff starts falling, they're going to be all over the place. How do you deal with these monstrous death machines? I'm worried about them while driving my truck!

I was thinking about getting one of those orange flags on a plastic pole and angling it out towards the lane. Might give them a better idea of where to pass safe.

Also, most of the roads I ride on have no shoulder; no white line; nothing. Should I change my route to allow for snow drifts?

Any tips or thoughts on this?

Stay off the road when it snows. I don't even trust the regular traffic ... even with my steel bumpers and rear hitch.

Well, the trucks keep their plows on until March/April; snowing or not. The roads can be completely clear, but they're still out there and those plows are just so wide.

Dangerous? Sure. In any case I don't worry much about the plow drivers here. Those guys are freaking gifted at plow placement. Really, I trust them and UPS trucks the most on the road (much as you can trust anything on the road).

Better start cross country skiing on the snowbanks!

I grew up in serious snow country, and there the plows would drive five deep on the highway in a staggered flying chisel echelon while trimming 10 foot high snowbanks. There's also an awful lot of snowplow backing when they work around town, totally unpredictable.

There was no rural biking in the winter. Around town, just be real visible. I like the flag idea.a 360 safety strobe from the boating supply store would be nice at night, you'd look just like the plows. Strap a shovel to your rear rack to show solidarity to the drivers.

I have to admit that UPS drivers are consistantly pretty good.

Man, when you think about it plows are really a problem. It's not like you can just pull off to the side when one of those things comes up from behind. You'll be stuck forever. And if it's in front you're going to be bombarded by salt pellets.

The plow trucks for the cities and states are very good though they do through a stream of slush quite far. Its the amateur drivers that hook a plow up to thier pickup or SUV and plow a couple drive ways then drive to work. Many of these drivers are quite dangerous, not knowing how wide the are and backing out of driveways into the road without looking. So even if the roads are clear you have to be very careful. This is another case where taking the lane makes sense. If the drivers have to move into the next lane to pass you they are less likely to try to squeeze by you in one lane.
Craig

The Domino's drivers on the other hand... :eek:

Follow the plow

Exactly! I should have been more clear, but it's these guys I was mostly referring to. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry has a snowplow in this town. I don't trust them especially since one of them destroyed my driveway last winter when he was plowing the road.

hahaha. Those would be fighting words in the winter cycling forum.

Seriously though, if a snowplow were overtaking me I'd just pull into a driveway or parking lot until he passed. Presumably it would be a lot easier to ride with the snow pushed off the road. Around here the plows go so slow that I have on occasion pulled out and passed them.

As for the private guys, they're in the same menace-class as delivery vans in the summer. One time on a four-lane road I had one of those guys in the opposite right-hand lane, three lanes away from me, stop in traffic and start screaming at me to get off the road. The car behind him honking at him to get going drowned out any rational he provided.

I don't know how bad it is where you are, mirona, but you should be okay.

At night, in my home town, there would be 6-8 snowplows, blowers and dumptrucks that would lay siege to entire blocks at a time, backing and beeping with no rhyme or reason. They'd be cutting down snowbanks so high, you couldn't see around corners.

As a bicyclist, just keeping a good distance from the plows was merited. but there would be NO CHANCE IN FROZEN HELL that you would be caught on a bike on the inter town roadways if there was even the slightest chance of plows on the road. The plows would literally span all lanes of traffic, and the shoulder, and drive about 30-35 in a flying wedge. There were deaths yearly from people caught on the side of the highway IN THEIR CARS when a plow line would come by. walking or biking on the 'shoulder' was a definite no go.

The average joe with a snowplow on their truck is an absolute menace in town. "Here, watch this! I can get the plow within an inch of the mailbox..."

:D :D :D

What is this snow that you speak of?