Snowplow Etiquette
01-18-12 | 06:45 PM
#1
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From: Boston, ma
Bikes: 2011 Surly Cross Check
Snowplow Etiquette
So, I've not yet had a run in with a plow guy, but I'm wondering if anyone has. What do most people do when a plow comes up behind you, either plowing snow or spreading salt? I would think you just find a driveway on the right to dump into. But what if you're on a road with no where to go? I'm fairly certain that, around here, a plow guy won't know what to do... And I don't want to end up tossed into a snowbank.
01-18-12 | 06:59 PM
#2
Still spinnin'.....
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From: Whitestown, IN
Bikes: Fisher Opie freeride/urban assault MTB, Redline Monocog 29er MTB, Serrota T-Max Commuter, Klein Rascal SS, Salsa Campion Road bike, Pake Rum Runner FG/SS Road bike, Cannondale Synapse Road bike, Santana Arriva Road Tandem, and others....
Happens here in my neighborhood Indy fairly regularly when we have snow. Never been honked at and go out of my way to give them the room they need. Interestingly many of these same guys have seen me riding with Apache in good weather, and they often stop to ask how he is coping with the snow. In Baltimore it was different. Often those driver couldn't see me so it was up to me to not get plowed.
01-18-12 | 08:30 PM
#3
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Since you, paperbackbiker, post from Boston, you might be amused to know DX Rider is from Attleboro, I believe.This one is from buzzman, IMO a wise “elder statesman” on Bikeforums, who also posts from Boston (and occasionally New York City):
I was thinking of starting a similar thread [Safety and Winter Cycling] so I'm glad to see someone else is pondering this issue as well…
I have been riding a bike for transportation purposes in New England winters for almost 40 years now. A few things I've observed during that time:…
#4) In really bad conditions the only motorized vehicles on the road will be snowplows, emergency vehicles and people in cars who are too stupid to stay home. That means that the bicyclist must be prepared to take evasive maneuvers and ride with extreme caution when in the proximity of any motorized vehicle during the winter.
#5) Snowplow drivers are super dangerous. Don't mess with them. They have often been driving the plow in horrible conditions without sleep for 24-48 hours and are soused in coffee and possibly worse and they may not be able to discern whether your reflectorized vest and blinkie is an alien spacecraft landing or the beginning of a migraine headache but the last thing they'll expect it to be is a bicyclist.
#6) Take the lane and be visible. Drivers often hop into their car after having scraped a small 4" diameter circle in the ice on their windshield and soon the interior of their car windows are fogged to such a degree to turn all drivers into Mr. Magoo. But be prepared to give way when necessary or to take alternatives that will not put you in the way of too many cars. A plowed MUP can be a healthy alternative to the road…
#10) Winter cyclists are definitely marching to the beat of a different drummer.
I have been riding a bike for transportation purposes in New England winters for almost 40 years now. A few things I've observed during that time:…
#4) In really bad conditions the only motorized vehicles on the road will be snowplows, emergency vehicles and people in cars who are too stupid to stay home. That means that the bicyclist must be prepared to take evasive maneuvers and ride with extreme caution when in the proximity of any motorized vehicle during the winter.
#5) Snowplow drivers are super dangerous. Don't mess with them. They have often been driving the plow in horrible conditions without sleep for 24-48 hours and are soused in coffee and possibly worse and they may not be able to discern whether your reflectorized vest and blinkie is an alien spacecraft landing or the beginning of a migraine headache but the last thing they'll expect it to be is a bicyclist.
#6) Take the lane and be visible. Drivers often hop into their car after having scraped a small 4" diameter circle in the ice on their windshield and soon the interior of their car windows are fogged to such a degree to turn all drivers into Mr. Magoo. But be prepared to give way when necessary or to take alternatives that will not put you in the way of too many cars. A plowed MUP can be a healthy alternative to the road…
#10) Winter cyclists are definitely marching to the beat of a different drummer.
01-18-12 | 10:22 PM
#5
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Last winter though, most of the roads, notably the VFW Parkway had iced walls of snow along the curbside, eliminating the safety zone for at least a month, maybe two as I recall.
Good luck with the snow on Friday, though it's been a remarkably mild winter.
01-18-12 | 10:31 PM
#6
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From: Minneapolis, MN
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Buzzman has excellent advice, but is inaccurate regarding snowplows.
<<<<Snowplow drivers are super dangerous. Don't mess with them. They have often been driving the plow in horrible conditions without sleep for 24-48 hours and are soused in coffee and possibly worse>>>
Most municipalities have strict regulations limiting a plow shift. In MN this is usually 12 hours. Some are 16. The drivers aren't dangerous; the conditions are. Drivers are required to take extensive training including accident awareness and mitigation. Not sure what he means by, "soused in coffee and possibly worse". I suppose anything is possible, but to retain a class B commercial license I would not suspect the driver to be soused in "possibly worse".
.
To the OP's question, the cloud they create exacerbates the existing low visability. Don't rely on your lights and rear blinkies to make you noticed. If you see one coming up on you, run up a driveway. If a driveway is not available, walk your bike well past the shoulder into the ditch. The minor inconvenience is short and worth your safety.
Fortunately, the few encounters I've had, the driver had seen me and slowed down to lessen the velocity of the muck headed my way.
<<<<Snowplow drivers are super dangerous. Don't mess with them. They have often been driving the plow in horrible conditions without sleep for 24-48 hours and are soused in coffee and possibly worse>>>
Most municipalities have strict regulations limiting a plow shift. In MN this is usually 12 hours. Some are 16. The drivers aren't dangerous; the conditions are. Drivers are required to take extensive training including accident awareness and mitigation. Not sure what he means by, "soused in coffee and possibly worse". I suppose anything is possible, but to retain a class B commercial license I would not suspect the driver to be soused in "possibly worse".
.
To the OP's question, the cloud they create exacerbates the existing low visability. Don't rely on your lights and rear blinkies to make you noticed. If you see one coming up on you, run up a driveway. If a driveway is not available, walk your bike well past the shoulder into the ditch. The minor inconvenience is short and worth your safety.
Fortunately, the few encounters I've had, the driver had seen me and slowed down to lessen the velocity of the muck headed my way.
01-18-12 | 10:56 PM
#7
Buzzman has excellent advice, but is inaccurate regarding snowplows.
<<<<Snowplow drivers are super dangerous. Don't mess with them. They have often been driving the plow in horrible conditions without sleep for 24-48 hours and are soused in coffee and possibly worse>>>
Most municipalities have strict regulations limiting a plow shift. In MN this is usually 12 hours. Some are 16...
<<<<Snowplow drivers are super dangerous. Don't mess with them. They have often been driving the plow in horrible conditions without sleep for 24-48 hours and are soused in coffee and possibly worse>>>
Most municipalities have strict regulations limiting a plow shift. In MN this is usually 12 hours. Some are 16...
In my defense let me just say this: Try driving anywhere at any time for 12 straight hours with a few breaks. Or 16! Now imagine driving 12 hours in blizzard conditions, in a huge truck behind a plow driving vast volumes of snow, slush and ice. I think you'll get my "drift". And yes, that all depends on the municipality. And not every snow plow you'll encounter is employed by the city, town or state. Some are private contractors on their way to jobs and they are not vetted and are making money by the job or by the foot of snow. To assume that every snow plow driver is a responsible, licensed, trained municipal employee is certainly an option but to assume they're all potential maniacs might be the safer choice.
I stand by my original statement.
"Don't mess with the snowplows!" There are often city wide emergency orders and requests that only emergency vehicles be on the road. Even the most responsible plow operator is operating their vehicle in order to clear the roads for emergency vehicles first- fire trucks, ambulances, police cars. Needless to say they may not be overly sympathetic to those of us who choose to ride our bikes in those conditions- just sayin'- and I'm often out there in the worst of it but I get out of their way and let them do their job.
01-19-12 | 01:27 AM
#8
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From: beantown
Bikes: '89 Specialized Hardrock Fixed Gear Commuter; 1984? Dawes Atlantis
There's a lot of private plow operators doing driveways and parking lots in their pickups, for many of them it's a chance for a second paycheck and they put in as much time as they can, often after working a full-time job. I wouldn't trust them to be seeing straight after a night of plowing. I also don't think that there is much regulation for the private plow operators.
City and especially highway plows can be very large with not only big plows on the front, but wings on the side. MassDOT announced a super-plow this fall with a side mounted plow designed to clear two lanes at once; I they said during the announcement that it would be limited to highway work. Headlights get covered with snow and if its somewhat warm salted slush that dries on the headlamps making visibility even worse.
Pay attention to what is coming up behind you - you can often hear road plows as they scrape along. If one comes up behind you, get off the road and let them do their job.
City and especially highway plows can be very large with not only big plows on the front, but wings on the side. MassDOT announced a super-plow this fall with a side mounted plow designed to clear two lanes at once; I they said during the announcement that it would be limited to highway work. Headlights get covered with snow and if its somewhat warm salted slush that dries on the headlamps making visibility even worse.
Pay attention to what is coming up behind you - you can often hear road plows as they scrape along. If one comes up behind you, get off the road and let them do their job.
01-19-12 | 07:32 AM
#10
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I'd MUCH rather be behind one instead of in front of one, also; it's just not always the way it goes. When you're already there, and the plow truck arrives later, you have the issue to deal with.
Since they are doing something for MY benefit as well as others, I'll gladly pull out of their way -- if possible. If it's NOT possible, if there's nowhere for me to go, guess where I go? Straight ahead like I was, maybe just a little faster.
ONE time, it was an issue, but I made it to my turn before the truck plowed me under (slow-moving, passive aggression).
Since they are doing something for MY benefit as well as others, I'll gladly pull out of their way -- if possible. If it's NOT possible, if there's nowhere for me to go, guess where I go? Straight ahead like I was, maybe just a little faster.
ONE time, it was an issue, but I made it to my turn before the truck plowed me under (slow-moving, passive aggression).
01-19-12 | 08:56 AM
#11
xtrajack
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From: Maine
Bikes: Kona fire mountain/xtracycle,Univega landrover fs,Nishiki custom sport Ross professional super gran tour Schwinn Mesa (future Xtracycle donor bike)
When I decided to commute year round, I called the town garage to find out what I should do under those circumstances. Basically, I was told the best thing I could/should do is get out of the way, preferably on the other side of the road. I actually haven't had deal with a plow yet.
01-19-12 | 09:47 AM
#12
Fat Guy Rolling
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From: Louisville Kentucky
Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy
I've only had to deal with a plow once. I was in a rural part of Indiana, I saw the plow coming up from behind. There was no shoulder, just a guardrail and an embankment down to a creek. I stopped the bike, jumped off, over the guard rail, lifted the bike, and pulled it over the guardrail.
This way the bike and I were both on the other side of the guardrail. The plow driver waved as he went by, then I had clear roads for the rest of the ride.
This way the bike and I were both on the other side of the guardrail. The plow driver waved as he went by, then I had clear roads for the rest of the ride.
01-19-12 | 11:41 PM
#15
SE Wis
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From: Milwaukee, WI
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01-20-12 | 04:54 PM
#17
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From: Rochester MN
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When a snowplow is coming up behind me I usually try to get to the other side of the road. Those things have horrible sight lines and visibility. I don't want to anywhere near one that is plowing snow.
01-20-12 | 06:43 PM
#18
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From: Ottawa, ON, Canada
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