# Am I a jerk for blowing grass clippings into the street? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-jerk-for-blowing-grass-clippings-into-the-street/797127 "2017-09-23T23:37:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-jerk-for-blowing-grass-clippings-into-the-street/797127/41 "2017-09-25T20:55:16Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I can see how it could be problematic, but not how it could be jerkish. You aren’t intentionally trying to hurt people, and there is no one directly affected. It just may cause undesirable effects. (And, no, I don’t buy the motorcycle one. Why are you driving so close to the side of the road, anyways?) If I’m in a convertible or have all the windows down and grass someone has blown onto the road gets in my clean car interior I won’t like that very much. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-jerk-for-blowing-grass-clippings-into-the-street/797127/42 "2017-09-25T20:57:20Z")
As noted, the biggest concern is clogging drains. But after that, I’d worry about bicyclists more than motorcycles. It doesn’t take as much grass to make the road dangerously slick for a bicycle, and the grass tends to collect more along the curb area where cyclists ride. It’s worth considering if you would you feel comfortable with the traction if you had to make a quick turn to avoid some obstacle. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-jerk-for-blowing-grass-clippings-into-the-street/797127/43 "2017-09-25T21:02:37Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > If I’m in a convertible or have all the windows down and grass someone has blown onto the road gets in my clean car interior I won’t like that very much. Pobrecito! What about the bird poop, the falling leaves, the asphalt or dirt you track into the car just walking across a parking lot, the bugs that hit the windshield or fly inside, the dust in the air, the sunlight aging the interior, etc? If a few blades of grass make you upset, maybe you and your car should just stay inside. The world is a dirty place. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-jerk-for-blowing-grass-clippings-into-the-street/797127/44 "2017-09-26T02:06:52Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I can see how it could be problematic, but not how it could be jerkish. You aren’t intentionally trying to hurt people, and there is no one directly affected. It just may cause undesirable effects. Those “undesirable effects” may include you and your neighbors losing their homes. My neighborhood received ~42" of rain(based on nearby county rain gauges - I couldn’t keep up with emptying my own frequently enough) during hurricane Harvey. The water in the roads in my neighborhood was flowing like whitewater rapids. If only a few storm drains had been clogged I’m sure some houses would have flooded. Fortunately I’m not aware of any residents who have a lazy attitude about grass clippings, otherwise it might have caused a gathering with pitchforks and torches. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-jerk-for-blowing-grass-clippings-into-the-street/797127/45 "2017-09-26T16:48:25Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > What about the bird poop, the falling leaves, the asphalt or dirt you track into the car just walking across a parking lot, the bugs that hit the windshield or fly inside, the dust in the air, the sunlight aging the interior, etc? If a few blades of grass make you upset, maybe you and your car should just stay inside. The world is a dirty place. That’s it, I’m doing donuts in your yard. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-jerk-for-blowing-grass-clippings-into-the-street/797127/46 "2017-09-26T17:26:33Z")
When I mow (mulching push mower) the bottom strip of my lawn nearest the curb, I guess I don’t pay attention to whether I’m going the way that will primarily discharge towards vs away from the street. Since I vary my mowing, I assume it is approximately 50/50, and the amount of clippings that make it into the street is pretty small. Would be very surprised if it clogged up the storm sewer - even if everyone did the same. In the fall, I mulch my leaves and rake/sweep the street gutters a few times. Not sure I’ve ever seen anyone else do the same. IMO, the person who is the jerk is the homeowner who has the storm sewer in front of their property, and who does not regularly check it to make sure it is clear. I readily acknowledge it is not HIS/HER drain, but if I had one, I’d have no difficulty regularly clearing out the handful or 2 of detritus that built up, to prevent any problems in a storm. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-jerk-for-blowing-grass-clippings-into-the-street/797127/47 "2017-09-26T17:45:11Z")
This is a tricky question to answer. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-jerk-for-blowing-grass-clippings-into-the-street/797127/48 "2017-09-26T18:31:14Z")
When I was a young man, “blowing grass” meant something completely different. You kids get the hell off my lawn, that I don’t mow! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-jerk-for-blowing-grass-clippings-into-the-street/797127/49 "2017-09-26T22:57:25Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I’ve never really given it a second thought. But I’ve seen some FB posts that say I am a _grade-A jerk_ for blowing grass clippings into the street when I am cutting the grass. They say a motorcycle will slip-n-slide on the clippings, causing the rider to wipe out. They even say it’s illegal in some municipalities. > > So should I be more conscientious about this? I never really thought about it until I started riding. But yeah, it can ruin someone’s day on a motorcycle. It’s amazing what can cause a bike to slide. Grass plus dust plus a sprinkle of water turns the road into a slip-and-slide. It’s really scary when you hit this. I’ve already broken my foot on gravel. You’re not a jerk unless you’re doing it knowing it’s a hazard. I hope a lot of people read this and learn something new. Consider your post a good deed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-jerk-for-blowing-grass-clippings-into-the-street/797127.md?page=2)