EventServices

call this a sister-thread to surferbruce's thread about roadside trash.....

If you're riding and you see large items in the roadway, do you grab them and move them to the side?

For example, tree branches, garbage cans, cardboard boxes, or anything else that's
A. lift-able
B. fallen off a truck
C. blown into the road by a strong wind

Or do you just ride past it?

tbdean

If it's my way, yes, I'll get off the bike and move a large object. Otherwise I'll just keep going.

The smaller stuff is what bugs me. Sometimes I'll get the urge to kick something off the roadside and then remember I'm clipped in. I looked at the same lug nut at the light before PIB and Sugarloaf for 4 months thinking I should get off and pick it up but never did. It's gone now, who knows what happened to it.

Glass is another problem. One of these days I'm going to drive out to the one bike lane I use with a big push broom and just sweep up all the glass. I'm only on that stretch for 3 or 4 miles, how long could it take?

donrhummy

If I'm not in the middle of an interval but am doing long distance cycling and it looks like it could pop a tire I'll move the object. I do this if I'm walking somewhere too.

cycle17

Depends how fast I'm going and if it's in my way. If it's in my way...I'l usually stop and move it off to the side so other riders don't have to try to avoid it at a later date. It's worth noting....that I do not do this while riding in a paceline or a group!!! LOL Can you say pileup?

slowandsteady

If I do that, I might as well just leave the bike at home and call it a walk instead of a ride. I would need to bring my wheelbarrow to carry all of the trash.

Namenda

I don't mind tidying up a bit, within reason. Not today, though. The sidewalk cleaning machines were out along my route. They look like those flail tanks used to clear minefields, only smaller. They throw all the winter debris out into the street, so the street-sweeping trucks can collect it. You don't want to ride in front of one while its in action.

pgaulrapp

I saw two dead catfish lying on the shoulder yesterday. I just rode on by.

DaveSANYYZ

If I'm riding, I normally detour around it unless it's annoying enough that it stops me from riding; in which case I'll get off my bike and move it out of the way. If I'm already stopped for a rest and I noticed it, I'll move it out of the way. That's assuming it's a tree branch. If it's dead animal, I won't touch it.

cyclezen

If it'll take a rider down because of size and position, I move it - except road kill, I 'call' that in after the ride. yucky
If I'm on a hammerfest, I'm like the rest of the pack sheeple, I hammer on.

'LonelyGuy' rides, I seem to stop almost 3x a wk now to clear glass from bike 'lanes'. We're gettin a lot more rednecks in the area and the frequency of deliberate broken beer bottles in the bike lane has increased expotentially in the recent year.
Stopping to clear a lane is just like a stop sign or red light to me - it just means I gotta bust hump when I start up again - good way to do forced intervals.

bmclaughlin807

I stop and move things out of the road, ESPECIALLY if it's in the area where a cyclist would normally be. I've fallen way behind my riding partners on more than one climb because I stopped partway up to remove large rocks or other debris from the shoulder or edge of the driving lane.

SirScott

Yeah, I've used that excuse too. Funny how they "missed" the huge boulder I had to spend 10 minutes shoving off the road..

rule

Not always, but I've done it.

celticfrost

Do recumbent mounted Freds count as "roadside trash"? And do rec riders count as mupside trash? Cuz I like to grab them and move them to the side, whilst giving them "the look".

Hambone

If I see a dead body on the way which is obviously dead, I wait until I get home and I just call 3-1-1 (NYC Services direct line.)

If the person looks like they might still bebreathing, I'll move them out of the roadway and call 9-1-1.

Debris and detritis, well, I can't ride and clean up NYC.


(Truth be told, I'm like most others, if it looks like a risk to human well being -- I'll move it. If it is just a threat to cabbies or other reptiles, I'll leave it be.)

CastIron

I actually fell trees on club routes and then mark the pavement so I'll know when to bunny hop and drop my poseur brethren. I'll come back later for the small parts and E-bay them for a little pocket money as well.

bmclaughlin807

...

ratebeer

If it looks like a real hazard I'll stop always to move it out of the way so no one behind me gets hurt.

Starclimber

Yep. If it isn't a problem to clear from the road, I'll get it out of there. I habitually hold doors open for folks too. It's a lifestyle.

Blue Jays

If I'm out riding alone and see a brick-sized rock or something in the road, I'll pull to the side and move it. During group rides, I'll call it out, and leave it in place. When out walking, I'm more than happy to remove debris.

Hambone

I always tell ladies when I give them my subway/bus seat not to thank me, but to thank my mom. (It gets a nice smile from the over sixty crowd.)

tbdean

I routinely donate half my liver to orphans, regenerate it, then repeat.

curiouskid55

If its to big to flick off the road with my toe it stays.

oboeguy

I've done it. Descending Tantulus in Honolulu this past summer there was a HUGE branch -- or branches, I forget -- which I was lucky to spot soon enough to brake hard and not hit. You bet I cleared-out what I could.

SirScott

Ironically enough, 3 kids were just arrested here for placing a rock on a path resulting in a rider nailing it. If another rider had stopped to move it, perhaps this would have been avoided.

https://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=67115

Hambone

you want to make the world a better place, release ass wipes like that to the custody of the victim.