Grass on the Roadway - Issue for Riders?

[carolinarider09]

Just saw an article on our local news website about grass clippings  on the roadway being an issue for motorcyclists.

I don't remember ever riding through heavy grass clippings, but they I forget some stuff like that.

My question, is that a concern for you?  Have you experienced issues riding through grass clippings? 

http://www.wistv.com/story/39014949/grass-can-prove-deadly-for-motorcyclists

[Gavin_Sons]

I have almost been put down twice from clippings on the road. Both times coming around a tight corner. It should be illegal to blow grass on the roads.

[Rams]

Although I live out in the county, I have a neighbor that I am required to pass by his place to get to town.  This neighbor always cuts his grass in a manner that his yard clippings cover half the road.   

These clipping make traction a real issue.   I think I'm going to have to have a face to face conversation with this young man.    I don't believe he understands the hazard he is creating....

Rams

[MAD6Gun]

I have almost been put down twice from clippings on the road. Both times coming around a tight corner. It should be illegal to blow grass on the roads.

 Gavin I did a quick Google search.  It is illegal in the cities of Terre Haute,Brazil and Sullivan IN but not in the state as far as I found. You're right, it should be. I guess I have been lucky, I have rode through grass on the road fortunately not in curves.

[Gavin_Sons]

One time it was wet grass the other dry as far as grass goes but both fresh cut. First one was early in the morning so i bet it was mowed the evening before. Second time was in the afternoon and after the rear tire almost slipped out from under me i saw the man on the mower. These were not small slips either, they were the rear end kicked out to the left and full rooster to the left on the handle bars. I should have high sided both times but somehow came out of them. I like to think it is my superior riding skills. 

[old2soon]

            Yeah-while I'll admit I am Not riding as much as I used to BUT I've had "issues" with grass clippings on the road surface. Also have to be extree careful bout hay harvest. Bales come undone and couple years ago came around a curve and an entire large round bale was on the intersection in front of me!  CRAP. Got slowed and stopped and managed to Not dump Phatt Ghurl. Got off the road and found a board and started removing hay from the road surface. Heard a M/C approaching and he was wailing! Got about a 1/4 mile closer to him and he managed to get it shut down with out dumping it. He helped me finish getting most-90% at a guess-of the hay off the road surface and thanked me for getting him stopped. Both of us came to the conclusion grass hay and other "stuff" not actually part of the road surface-BAD fer Us-BIKERS. RIDE SAFE.

[da prez]

It is illegal to deposit anything on public roadways. Check with any municipality. Even plowing snow across a road could cost you. I also so have slid on grass on the road. A few years ago on a fall color ride , we went thru a very deep and long stretch of grass covered back road. The farmer did not care.

                da prez

[Gavin_Sons]

I live on a dead end street and always mow my grass back into my lawn. Never blow it in the street. Kinda a pet peeve of mine.

[9Ball]

They do it here all the time...and the field irrigation and muddy tractor and cart debris all over the road is typical, especially in the spring and fall when more riders are taking some scenic farm country rides.

[DirtyDan]

Riding on grass.........

 

Dan

[Kokomo Kevin]

I was riding last weekend in and around Rochester Indiana area and I can tell you it was really bad! Lots of people mowing and blowing grass right out in Highways in and around Amish Country. Dodging road apples and grass was a bitch

[Jess from VA]

Most in the straightway is no big deal, but watch out in the corners.

Similar to sand and gravel and leaves.  And wet makes it worse.

What I have found distressing is riding up on a big mower shooting out on the road, and wondering if I'm going to get a chunk of rock or other hard object shot in my face/eye.  So I look away, or hold up my hand over that side of my glasses (half helmets) as I go by.

Sometimes it's private and sometimes it's the G (DOT) or G contractors doing the sides and medians.

Few years back on a PowWow ride in Amish country, the decades of horse poop from the buggies had become part of the roadway almost everywhere.  Slippery.  Long past road apples, it had become road coating.

[cookiedough]

as said,  mowing grass clippings in the road is illegal.  Several people in our small town have gotten warnings I know of and asked to sweep the roads up or be ticketed.  Happens again, a ticket is coming, but warning first and clean it up as it should be.

snow, ice, leaves, cow manure, grass, apples/fruit, is all bad.....  Even those darn acorns if hit front tire just right coming down all over us spits them out far and shifts the bike around a lot.   I raked my 30'x100' backyard and got NO JOKE a 55 gallon trash can totally full of those acorns.  Not as bad though as about 100,000 japanese beetles caught in 2 live trap bags this summer and burning them in burning barrel - they SMELL BAD when flames are burning them to a crisp...

[fudgie]

Riding on grass.........

 

Dan

Yea who hasn't ridden high before? 

[fudgie]

Not an issue for me. Wet leaves is more of an issue. 

[sheets]

Wet leaves and dry leaves. Just a month ago I was putz'n around town on the 650 dual sport. Within two miles of home I don't bother putting on long pants ( ), just wear the heavy duty yard-work shorts and sleeveless T-shirt I typically wear around the homestead. Always wear good over the ankle boots and gloves (and helmet). Briefly visited a local vendor who's place of business is configured with a rather steep driveway for ingress and egress from the highway. Have been in and out of there a hundred times over the years. Upon departure I clicked it into first gear and rolled out at idle speed. This end of the driveway/parking area is covered with small dried Live oak tree leaves - small and tuff as leather. I chose a path in a wheel track that had been chewed up some with regular vehicle traffic. I gently rolled on gas as I initiated my left turn to go up the driveway. I went down so fast I thought I had just been struck by lightning. The multiple layers of partially chewed up leather-like leaves was like riding on multiple layers of wax paper. I never felt the rear slide out. One moment I'm upright and underway . . . a half-second later . . . BAM!  ! Down on the left side with handlebar end smacking the pavement. Hands still on grips, feet still on pegs . . . engine still running (in gear). Not realizing bike was still in gear I squirmed a bit to get my left leg out to get up off the ground. I propped myself up on the left knee just enough to make the rear wheel contact the pavement. Took me about three feet and at the expense of a couple layers of skin to determine that was not a good idea.  . Killed the motor and proceeded to untangle myself from the predicament I found myself in. Wound was only skin deep, but still hurt like hell. Took nearly six weeks to lose the scab. Despite the flesh wound, I am most glad I had good boots on. Any less of a shoe and I would have been out of commission for a long time.      

[baldo]

One time it was wet grass the other dry as far as grass goes but both fresh cut. First one was early in the morning so i bet it was mowed the evening before. Second time was in the afternoon and after the rear tire almost slipped out from under me i saw the man on the mower. These were not small slips either, they were the rear end kicked out to the left and full rooster to the left on the handle bars. I should have high sided both times but somehow came out of them. I like to think it is my superior riding skills. 

I'll bet it smelled good, though.....I love the smell of fresh cut grass.

[Gavin_Sons]

One time it was wet grass the other dry as far as grass goes but both fresh cut. First one was early in the morning so i bet it was mowed the evening before. Second time was in the afternoon and after the rear tire almost slipped out from under me i saw the man on the mower. These were not small slips either, they were the rear end kicked out to the left and full rooster to the left on the handle bars. I should have high sided both times but somehow came out of them. I like to think it is my superior riding skills. 

I'll bet it smelled good, though.....I love the smell of fresh cut grass.

smelled like fresh country air. i smell it every day   

[old2soon]

          sheets-I tried that wearin shorts thing on my Phatt Ghurl Zackly ONCE. AND I'm here ta tell ya THAT ain't NEVER gonna happen again!  Least ways long az I still gotz Most of my marbles!  And THANKS to All who have posted bout trash on the roadway!  RIDE SAFE.

[baldo]

One time it was wet grass the other dry as far as grass goes but both fresh cut. First one was early in the morning so i bet it was mowed the evening before. Second time was in the afternoon and after the rear tire almost slipped out from under me i saw the man on the mower. These were not small slips either, they were the rear end kicked out to the left and full rooster to the left on the handle bars. I should have high sided both times but somehow came out of them. I like to think it is my superior riding skills. 

I'll bet it smelled good, though.....I love the smell of fresh cut grass.

smelled like fresh country air. i smell it every day   

We've had a great shore breeze for the last few days. It's nice smelling the ocean mixed with burnt Jet A while out on the ramp....

[Alpha Dog]

I was riding last weekend in and around Rochester Indiana area and I can tell you it was really bad! Lots of people mowing and blowing grass right out in Highways in and around Amish Country. Dodging road apples and grass was a bitch

You have more than grass to dodge up there.  I get up to Topeka on business from time to time.

[Kokomo Kevin]

Topeka area is nice, lots of Amish gold road apples there as well.   

[Jess from VA]

I'll tell you what has really got to me.

Riding by huge agricultural planting areas in Spring with wind blowing the fertilizer in my eyes (phosphates, nitrogen, yada).  I was blinded with running nose and eyes, and had to stop and pour my bottle of water in my eyes to get my vision back. 

[Kokomo Kevin]

In Indiana, ride of the East side of a confined Hog Operation! You can literally smell it for miles before you even see it especially during summer months.

[Detn8er]

What amazes me about this thread is with all the comments it appears nobody has bothered to watch the video from the news site........If you watch closely while the "biker dudes and dudettes" are interviewed you will see a Valkyrie appear. Course it's one of those slow looking red and whites but it is still a Valkyrie.
I kept waiting to see if anybody noticed and apparently they didn't.  ??? ???

[The emperor has no clothes]

I didn’t watch. A red & white in South Carolina ? Our friend HubCap ?

[Rams]

What amazes me about this thread is with all the comments it appears nobody has bothered to watch the video from the news site........If you watch closely while the "biker dudes and dudettes" are interviewed you will see a Valkyrie appear. Course it's one of those slow looking red and whites but it is still a Valkyrie.
I kept waiting to see if anybody noticed and apparently they didn't.  ??? ???

My guess is this, most of those who commented didn't even click on the link.   I didn't.     Unfortunately, I'm thinking there was sufficient experience with the topic it wasn't necessary to see the linked information.     There is also the simple fact that many folks don't like following links to unknown sites......

Rams

[Detn8er]

I didn’t watch. A red & white in South Carolina ? Our friend HubCap ?

The news story is from across the border in North Carolina......Doesn't look like anybody I know.....

[hubcapsc]

I didn’t watch. A red & white in South Carolina ? Our friend HubCap ?

The news story is from across the border in North Carolina......Doesn't look like anybody I know.....

My innernet connection is way to slow to watch that thing... grass is nothing,
there's a guy near here who sprays herbicide with no regard for passing
motorists (or motorcyclists)...

-Mike

[carolinarider09]

When I saw the article I thought that I had never had a problem with grass on the roadway.  Sand, gravel, snow yes but grass no.  So I thought I'd ask the questions to here.

I think I have put a lot of miles on two wheels  and I have never encountered a grass problem.  

The Valkyrie is at 1:23 and 2:03.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

The Cherahola Skyway has a nice wide grassy roadside most of the way. I rode it earlier this summer and it had ongoing mowing in several areas. Grass being thrown clear across the road by the county John Deere tractor mowers. I slowed down below the PMV a few times.

[Rams]

When I saw the article I thought that I had never had a problem with grass on the roadway.  Sand, gravel, snow yes but grass no.  So I thought I'd ask the questions to here.

I think I have put a lot of miles on two wheels  and I have never encountered a grass problem.  

The Valkyrie is at 1:23 and 2:03.

As a general rule, I don't see it often with the exception of this one neighbor.     This gent tends to mow  his yard only when it's about to go to seed.   So, it's about three times the height of his closest neighbor when he does mow.  This results in an unusually large amount of clippings being spread on the pavement.
  
I really don't care if he ever mows it or mows  every day, I just don't appreciate all the clippings on the asphalt.    Turn the damn mower around and shoot those grass clippings into your own damn yard.

Yeah, I know I'm whining.......
Rams

[The emperor has no clothes]

The Cherahola Skyway has a nice wide grassy roadside most of the way. I rode it earlier this summer and it had ongoing mowing in several areas. Grass being thrown clear across the road by the county John Deere tractor mowers. I slowed down below the PMV a few times.

Having lived here in the desert for some time now, I seldom see mowing of grass. When we were back in that area for Inzane, it seemed that's all I saw was people out mowing. Happily none was going on while riding the Skyway. I thoroughly enjoyed that road. 

[Oss]

did smoak have a red and white?

[hubcapsc]

did smoak have a red and white?

Still does. I emailed him the other day, and then we texted back and
forth later that day while he stood on the side of the road after (he guessed)
the main relay melted...

-Mike

[baldo]

https://wnep.com/2018/09/06/elderly-man-fined-for-grass-clippings-wants-warning/

[Robert]

I dont like the grass clippings but no one has mentioned leaves on the road. They are like ice when you hit them especially the leaves are from the olive trees.

[Rams]

I dont like the grass clippings but no one has mentioned leaves on the road. They are like ice when you hit them especially the leaves are from the olive trees.

I believe the whole point of the thread was to enlighten and alert those who cause man made hazards versus naturally occurring Mother Nature versions.   While leaves that fall or blow onto the road are a hazard, they are not (normally) the result of human interaction.   

Rams

[Rams]

Thinking I may have made my point with the gent who blows his grass clippings over half the road today.    Have stopped by his place three times now, multiple vehicles in the drive but no one will respond to a knock on the door or the door bell.

Soooooo, today I had my tractor with snow blade still on it.  I rode down the street with the blade just barely scraping the asphalt with the blade angled toward the yard.   Made a very nice wind row just off the asphalt, all except that stuff that stuck to the blade that came loose in front of his driveway in a big pile.   

His next door neighbor called me laughing about a hour later.   He had observed my activity.    Can't see where I might have done anything offensive but, I'm sure someone will be offended.   That's alright, at least the street is now clear and free of slick grass piles.

Rams

[Gavin_Sons]

I dont like the grass clippings but no one has mentioned leaves on the road. They are like ice when you hit them especially the leaves are from the olive trees.

Guess you didn't  read carefully enough.