Bad weather advice

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Neddy

Well-Known Member
Location
Derby/Nottingham
Alongside a message letting us know that they've run out of grit, my employers posted the following advice.

Travelling to work in bad weather conditions
Published date: 05-01-2010
Below are some top tips, which may help you to travel more safely in bad weather conditions across site.

Pedestrians
1. Take extra care and allow more time for travelling between your destinations.
2. Only wear shoes or boots with appropriate grip. Bring an extra pair of shoes if necessary.
3. Always dress warmly, but also wear bright colors so motorist and cyclists can see you.
4. Pay extra attention to roads you may cross - cars may not be able to stop quickly or as suddenly in ice conditions.
5. Try to avoid carrying things while walking, as this can throw you off balance.
6. Take extra care when getting in and out of vehicles.

Cyclists
1. In these types of conditions with patches of black ice on the roads it is advised to find alternative methods of transport if possible.
2. When arriving at the site, we advise that you dismount and walk across site.
3. Always dress warmly, but also wear bright colors so motorists and pedestrians can see you.
4. All cyclists traveling in poor lighting conditions must have front and back lights on by law.
5. Reduce your speed, according to road conditions.
6. Focus on road conditions and activity well ahead.
7. Remember motorist may not have such a clear view from their vehicle and may not see you
8. Make sure bike is in good working order.
9. On your journey, regularly check your breaks, pedals and wheels for ice or snow build up. Stop if necessary and clean, checking your breaks are still effective.
10. There is a higher risk of ice build up and hidden obstacles on the side of the roads – please ensure you cycle on a clean area of road.

Drivers
1. When roads are slippery it will take you longer to stop - up to 10 times longer.
2. Drop your speed and give yourself more time to slow down.
3. Do not use you mobile phone when driving, this is against the law.
4. Take extra care when approaching crossings, giving plenty of time to brake/react.
5. Take extra care in car parks and be considerate to other motorists and pedestrians when parking.
6. Make sure your headlights are kept regularly clean.
7. Ensure your tyres have adequate tread.
8. Ensure snow on your roof is removed as this can slip forward and block your view.


Whilst I can see that it was well-intentioned, I wasn't impressed with tips 1 and 2 for cyclists!
 

PBancroft

Senior Member
Location
Winchester
Actually, tip 2 I can certainly agree with - sometimes it is better to walk. I would say that for people driving too, mind you.

As for alternative methods of transport, ie., tip 1... that should maybe apply to car drivers too but that's not to say it shouldn't apply to cyclists in my humble opinion.

Sometimes its safer to just think... "is it worth it?" - this is something many people don't do, cyclist or driver alike.
 

Sheffield_Tiger

Legendary Member
Kaipaith said:
Actually, tip 2 I can certainly agree with - sometimes it is better to walk. I would say that for people driving too, mind you.

As for alternative methods of transport, ie., tip 1... that should maybe apply to car drivers too but that's not to say it shouldn't apply to cyclists in my humble opinion.

+1

Alternative methods would be an apt tip for car drivers too. But we shouldn't be as stubborn in a "you'll not get me off my bike" way as the car obsessives are stubborn in "you'll never get me out of my car"

I gave serious consideration to walking the last phase of my trip home (rutted compacted snow) and would have done if more traffic had turned up - as it was there was no-one on the road so I rode in such a way that any fall would be minor
 

neslon

Well-Known Member
Location
The Toon
I watched a cyclist slide under may car tonight - fortunately it was parked and I was walking back from Tesco. He was doing everything right, but the bike just went away from under him. With shedloads of snow on top of ice thats been there since before Xmas, walking the bike is a very good option.
 

Sheffield_Tiger

Legendary Member
BADGER.BRAD said:
Think number 2 means we don't want anyone having an accident on our site in case they sue our ass! :biggrin:

Could be, but I know my work's site - in snow or ice it is often very treacherous and #2 would be good advice for me at work.

In fact, the ride in wasn't bad, the few yards across work were the worst. Lorries arriving early soon compact snow and spinning lorry wheels make "skid patches" here and there
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Too much info OP........

MTB off road...IF work decide to Open tomorrow.....

My blooming spiked tyres delivery delayed by.....flipin snow ..... grrrr
 

threefingerjoe

Über Member
fossyant said:
Too much info OP........

MTB off road...IF work decide to Open tomorrow.....

My blooming spiked tyres delivery delayed by.....flipin snow ..... grrrr

Reminds me of a couple years ago when a supervisor at work fell on the ice and broke his ankle...while delivering a carload of ice spikes (for the workmen to wear on their shoes)
 

sunnyjim

Senior Member
Location
Edinburgh
My employers make no such pretence about staff welfare - just a reminder that :



"If the Site is still ‘open for business’ although access may be difficult for employees to get to work, employees’ options will be:
  • To attend work as normal
  • To request any un-worked time off as annual/flex leave
  • To work the time back
  • To request unpaid leave "
They forgot about 'To phone in sick'
 
sunnyjim said:
My employers make no such pretence about staff welfare - just a reminder that :

"If the Site is still ‘open for business’ although access may be difficult for employees to get to work, employees’ options will be:
  • To attend work as normal
  • To request any un-worked time off as annual/flex leave
  • To work the time back
  • To request unpaid leave "
They forgot about 'To phone in sick'

:sad: That one works even when it isn't snowing!
 
Regarding what employees should and shouldn't do, a lot of places I imagine don't give any advice to their employees at all, so they're left with the 'don't travel unless it's absolutely essential' advice that the emergency services give out. Not an issue for me - I've walked to work through miles of urban snow before - but I've often wondered: what would happen if someone rang their place of work and said (in the absence of guidance from their employer) that they weren't coming in because the general advice on radio/tv was not to travel? Would the emergency services regard journeys to work as 'absolutely essential'?
 
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