# I pit snow plow drivers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 14, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341 "2014-02-14T16:54:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/41 "2014-02-15T20:07:33Z")
people also have cantilevered (horizontal mount with the vertical post farther back) or rope/chain hang from a cantilever. advantage also is you can easily clean snow up to and under it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/42 "2014-02-15T21:12:07Z")
I remember from my childhood how difficult it was to remove the hard, packed-in snow that the town plow left at the edge of my parents’ driveway. My father’s snowthrower was not particularly powerful, so we’d have to break up the snowpack by hand, using shovels and then use the snowthrower to move it to the side. It was exhausting. But one of the neighbors owned a construction company and sometimes went up and down the street clearing the fronts of driveways with a backhoe. Even though we still had to clear the majority of the driveway ourselves, it was a big help not having to deal with that snowpack. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/43 "2014-02-15T22:06:12Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > Thanks, I actually invented my own. I sunk a steel pipe in the ground and then put a larger capped pipe over that so it would rotate and attached the mailbox assembly to that. I drilled a hole through both pipes near the bottom and I put a cheap bolt in there to act as a poor man’s shear pin. Works like a charm! There is also something called a “frangible coupling” that is used on airfield lighting. The coupling snaps instead of the pipe, so it’s an easy fix for the maintenance guy (that was me once, a long time ago). ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/44 "2014-02-16T01:07:29Z")
Hopefully we will get a warm spell soon, perhaps it might be time to nationalize Alberta’s chinooks, but anyways, the lawn is now getting high enough with snow that its going to be interesting with the snow blower. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/45 "2014-02-16T01:12:11Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Street plows often have what is called a ‘gate’ that can be raised or lowered by the operator from within the cab of the truck. The gate is just a small auxiliary plow blade that is attached to the right side of the main plow blade and angled forward. When the operator comes to a driveway, he lowers the gate, which diverts the snow back into the main blade, which is then carried past the driveway. It’s not so often, a lot of municipalities don’t have the money to buy snow gates. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/46 "2014-02-16T03:50:39Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > Hopefully we will get a warm spell soon, perhaps it might be time to nationalize Alberta’s chinooks, but anyways, the lawn is now getting high enough with snow that its going to be interesting with the snow blower. > > Declan there is. it’s called June. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/47 "2014-02-16T04:28:01Z")
Man up, put your money where your mouth is, switch jobs and show us all how it’s done. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/48 "2014-02-16T05:13:18Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > It’s not so often, a lot of municipalities don’t have the money to buy snow gates. Well, I can’t define “often”. Perhaps I should have used “sometimes” or “occasionally”. The point was, however, that they exist. It was just informational for the person I was responding to. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/49 "2014-02-16T20:40:32Z")
[Snowplow shatters restaurant windows, knocks over customer.](http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/NYC-Snowplow-Shatters-Restaurant-Windows-Knocks-Over-Customer-Video-245630791.html) I’ll join you in Pitting at least _some_ snowplow drivers - this guy didn’t even stop! ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/50 "2014-02-16T20:45:50Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > [Snowplow shatters restaurant windows, knocks over customer.](http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/NYC-Snowplow-Shatters-Restaurant-Windows-Knocks-Over-Customer-Video-245630791.html) I’ll join you in Pitting at least _some_ snowplow drivers - this guy didn’t even stop! Was going to mention that. I saw it on the Weather Channel last night. That guy must have been really moving. Plus, I read about a private snow plow driver in a store parking lot running over a poor woman who was loading groceries into her trunk. That’s another one to Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/51 "2014-02-16T21:41:05Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Plus, I read about a private snow plow driver in a store parking lot running over a poor woman who was loading groceries into her trunk. That’s another one to Pit. Post 8. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/52 "2014-02-17T02:11:45Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Well, I can’t define “often”. Perhaps I should have used “sometimes” or “occasionally”. The point was, however, that they exist. It was just informational for the person I was responding to. Well, I did mention them in post #3. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/53 "2014-02-17T22:44:57Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Disregarding your stupid ass crap that they don’t work hard, what exactly is ‘THE RIGHT WAY’ to plow a street so the snow doesn’t get in your driveway. If they are plowing ‘curb to curb’, there isn’t any way to prevent it from getting in your driveway. So do tell, how do they prevent that? Replace the plough blades with snowthrowers. Then they can spray the snow across the fronts of peoples’ houses and not block their driveways. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/54 "2014-02-18T01:41:13Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Replace the plough blades with snowthrowers. Then they can spray the snow across the fronts of peoples’ houses and not block their driveways. Well we use plows because they are significantly cheaper and faster. If the OP wants to foot the bill for their city to use snow throwers and wait a few days for them to get to their street I’m OK with that. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/55 "2014-02-18T01:50:32Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Replace the plough blades with snowthrowers. Then they can spray the snow across the fronts of peoples’ houses and not block their driveways. nothing damageable should be in the path of the discharge. they wouldn’t be used except to put snow into open fields/lots or into the beds of dump trucks (this would block two lanes of traffic). ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/56 "2014-02-18T18:45:31Z")
crisp cornered white walls smooth and crunchy underfoot thank you sidewalk plows 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/57 "2014-02-18T22:12:50Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > Hopefully we will get a warm spell soon, perhaps it might be time to nationalize Alberta’s chinooks, but anyways, the lawn is now getting high enough with snow that its going to be interesting with the snow blower. My father has been shoveling out every time and has run out of room to throw the snow by hand (the piles around the house are higher than he is). He has finally broken down and ordered an electric snowblower. But yeah, yay for plow trucks! Such a relief to hear them coming sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/58 "2014-02-23T03:28:35Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > Jesus Christ you sound like whiny pansy. If your 98 pound friend can’t manage to shovel her own driveway maybe she should hire it out or live in an apartment. The name is russian heel not Jesus Christ but thanks for the compliment anyway. I love how whenever someone complains about the hard work involved in being a homeowner, there’s always some jerkoff there to respond with the “Why don’t you sell your house and move into an apartment” blast, which is ironic coming from someone who lives in their parents basement. As for being a “pussy” how brave of you to call me that in message Board. I only hope we meet one day and you call me that to my face so I can show you how much of a “pussy” I am. Unless your female in which case allow me to pass on my condolences to any poor sap who has the unenviable task of trying to fuck you. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/59 "2014-02-23T03:32:28Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Post 8. Irrelevant. Snow plow drivers, Bobcat monkeys, all cut from the same cloth. The incident in NY further supports my point. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341/60 "2014-02-23T03:52:38Z")
Yeah, that’s how plowing streets works. I have _some_ sympathy, I live in NYC but I grew up in Buffalo and own a home in Buffalo, and let me tell you, NYC (both the municipal systems and the individual residents) isn’t set up for this kind of snow that we are having this year. Sidewalks are narrow and right up against the street, so there isn’t a natural banking area for the removed snow. But … it’s not the plow drivers’ issue. Yes, it sucks to shovel your driveway out multiple times, but that’s the reality. The point, by the way, is to shovel as soon as you can (or know someone with a snow blower or a plow, which is common in areas with typically heavy snow but not so much in NYC), with _the full knowledge that you will need to shovel again_ after the plow comes through. You’re going to shovel the same amount if you wait until after the plow. It’s easier to do it in two installments. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-snow-plow-drivers/681341.md?page=4)