mechBgon

The "nothing wrong with an MUP" thread had me wondering how many peoples' MUPs get plowed in the winter. I've heard that some are (evidently they send out the plows really early in the morning). How about yours?

Denny Koll

One of the local MUPs gets plowed. The problem is that it doesn't always get plowed in a timely manner and most of the winter you would need studded tires to commute on it.

mechBgon

...and I'll vote "no" since our local MUP does not get plowed. Oh, and we're not supposed to use it after dark, either

Tobias Greenich

No for me as well.





Though, that could have more to do with being in Phoenix.

M_S

Yes, and usually in a decently timely manner.

Unfortunately it didn't get paved so it's unrideable for about 4 days post snow-melt, unless you want to get covered in mud.

savethekudzu

It gets swept. Don't know about plowing - this ain't the great frozen tundra here.

DataJunkie

Yup but I tend to be on it before they get a chance. More time for me to play in the snow.

Mr. Underbridge

Thankfully, our local rail-trail doesn't get plowed because the county doesn't own it. Those MUPs that are owned by the county seem to get 90% of the snow depth removed, with the remaining 10% compressed by the plow blade into a slick, hard ice that's much harder to ride than the original snow. That might make sense if they then proceeded to salt the remaining ice, but they don't.

Hobartlemagne 

Yes, but I must explain. I am referring to the White Rock Trail in Dallas. I do still use it.
Much of it is in a flood plain area near a creek. Occasionally there is flooding that will
leave a thick layer of muddy sludge on the path. The parks dept does get out there to
plow it clear.

tjspiel

Yes, they get plowed. Often not down to bare pavement but I prefer it that way. The studs run better (at least quieter) when there's a layer of something between them and the pavement. If the MUPS weren't plowed at all eventually they'd end up unusable or at least really bumpy so I'm happy they do it.

It's done pretty quickly and usually better than the residential streets. Not having to deal with parked cars makes it easier I suppose.

bdcheung

I'm not looking forward to my first winter of commuting on the W&OD

unterhausen

That's just crazy.

cbr2702

mechBogn,

Not only no plowing and no after dark, but 15mph max?

Also, wearing a helmet is under etiquette?

Weird trail you got there.

genec

Doesn't snow here... in fact we have a wonderful Mediterranean climate here... this place should be the bike capitol of the US... but instead Southern California is where the car is king.

On the other hand in Oulu Finland, close to the arctic circle, where it does snow, and they have a wonderful network of well designed bike paths, they do plow. I saw the scratches in the paths... and asked. I was told "oh yes they plow the paths, except for over there." Oh, why not over there... "No one goes to the beach in winter."

Juha

Yes they get plowed, but not in a hurry. All the streets / sidewalks get plowed first, then MUPs. Some MUPs may have ski tracks in winter, but even then there's usually a narrow part cleared for peds/cyclists. They usually don't plow down to bare pavement. I too think studded tyres feel more comfortable on a layer of ice/snow than pavement.

All this assuming we get snow this year. We didn't get any to speak of last year.

--J

mjw16

I ride the Mount Vernon Trail and have yet to see it get plowed. I thought about emailing the Park Service to ask, they were very responsive to my reports of tacks on the trail a couple of years ago. Even with cyclo tires, the frozen rutts make for a difficult ride and we don't get enough snow to justify studded tires.

funrover 

waiting to see still.....

mechBgon

Yeah. And not only that, it has cutesie-pie little blind corners and other design shortcomings. If anyone wonders why I never use an MUP and don't like them, it's not just the issues with other types of MUP users here. I'll take the state and county highway system and the arterials. "Open all night!"

jefferee

Mine gets plowed more quickly, more frequently, and better than the streets in my neighbourhood. However, the surface is flat (rather than crowned like a roadway) so melting/refreezing cycles tend to create patches of ice.

rhm

Nope. I like to ride on an inch or two of fresh snow, but once it has some ruts frozen into it, it gets pretty sketchy. But it's not a paved surface, so it wouldn't plow well anyway. Unfortunately the alternative is a half mile longer and involves one of those open-grate steel bridges, which push my wheels around somethin' awful; so in the winter that portion of my commute gets to be pretty nasty.

pinkrobe

Some of our pathways get plowed, but only after the main roads get plowed. If it snows overnight on a weekday, there's a good chance that the path won't be cleared for 48 hours.

speedplease

No never, Im lucky if there is a wide enough shoulder on the road in the wintertime

artesc

what the heck is an MUP???

cbr2702

multi use path

kokomo61

I've never seen the W&OD plowed. Once the first big snowfall hits, unless it melts completely, the MUP is a mess of rutted ice until spring temps arrive. Fortunately, it's usually only the month of February. I have an alternate route around the worst section for me (Vienna to Gallows Road), but some other sections have no decent alternative.