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[Closed] Snowmageddon

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At times, ice tyres have been the only way I could commute as roads were blocked and/or so icy that cars and buses couldn't travel.

That was in an urban area.


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 4:11 pm
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ransos - Member

81.5% of the population (England & Wales) lives in urban areas. Source = 2011 census.

Yep, but urban areas aren't necessarily busy, choked up. 54% in cities though that still includes folks like me that are basically in a village that happens to be in the city limits.

I think, probably the key thing here is traffic density rather than people density though- we got a load of disruption here one time because of overspill from a trunk road, 50 metres away there was no traffic but stupid buggers blocked one of the junctions over the main road. A small number of people can block a road, or not.

But assuming that all the roads will be blocked with cars because it's snowed is, I think, definitely city-biased.


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 4:11 pm
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Autosocks. Enjoy your winter.


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 4:12 pm
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I am considering swapping the 4x4 for RWD imminently, if it happens the switch may be end of December... which would probably ensure snowmaggeddon in January through to March.

Even higher probability comes if we move up into the hills to the place we were looking at today!


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 4:14 pm
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Snow is my favo(u)rite and my best. I love it.

I'm currently living in Seattle, and I'm hoping for a decent winter, but it's not looking that good over here ๐Ÿ™

Maybe I should stop driving my 7.4l 2100kg climate killer....


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 4:33 pm
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[quote=scotroutes opined]At times, ice tyres have been the only way I could commute as roads were blocked and/or so icy that cars and buses couldn't travel.
That was in an urban area.

Me to that is why I never fit them and throw a sicky


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 4:42 pm
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Me to that is why I never fit them and throw a sicky

Why on earth would you do that? You just phone your boss and say 'I'm not going out in that' and he says 'nor am I, don't be ridiculous'. If you do go in you find that the office is almost empty anyway.

No idea why people beat themselves up so much about getting to work when it's snowy. Essential and emergency services notwithstanding of course.


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 4:52 pm
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No idea why people beat themselves up so much about getting to work when it's snowy. Essential and emergency services notwithstanding of course.

in most offices I've worked in there are two extreme types with most in the middle being pragmatic:

1: will beat themselves to a pulp to get to work, one guy was proud of having taken four hours to get into work one snowmageddon day.

2: will refuse to come to work or go home early if the possibility is even forecast.


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 4:56 pm
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No idea why people beat themselves up so much about getting to work when it's snowy. Essential and emergency services notwithstanding of course.

Our ever so helpful employers make you either take it as holiday unless the office officially closes, or make you work up the hours. So being stuck at home if it snows is a pointless waste of a day. On the basis that if I can go for a ride (about the only use of a day off in that situation) I may a well ride into work and be paid for it.

Really pissed me off one year, phoned the office automated phoneline to see if it was open (it was), rode in (about 2 miles) and found that I was one of eight (out of about three thousand) that had turned up, and the entrance road was under 2ft of snow as were the car parks. Basically they were banking on no one turning up so they didn't have to close the office.

Had a long shower, cooked breakfast in the canteen, modicum of work, long lunch, pretended to work, rode home via the pub.


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 5:23 pm
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It's your responsibility to get to work. If you live so far away from your place of work that you can't handle a little trouble once in a while then move closer or be docked a days pay (this probably doesn't apply to the "make-weights" that seem to be in most organisations).


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 5:27 pm
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It's your responsibility to get to work.

As directed by your employer. Your employer has a duty of care so can't ask you to come out in conditions that would put you at risk. So most don't.

Of course those on hourly rates would be pissed off.. so I guess that's why.. I should've clarified my comment by referring to many of the office workers that seem to stress over snow so much.


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 5:40 pm
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When we had the last snow mageddon the only two of us in were the two who lived the furthest away

he got in on the bus and I cycled in - 14 miles for me.

One woman who lived 600 metres away said she was snowed in

IME what counts is how close you are to a major road as you often cannot get off estates even when the main roads are clear


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 5:44 pm
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Yes, our house is at the bottom of a short steep cul-de-sac - they plough the road 300m away but it's the 50m of hill that's the kicker.


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 6:08 pm
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You could surely push a bike up a 50m hill?


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 6:11 pm
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Of course, but it's a long old way to London by bike when it's snowing ๐Ÿ™‚

Anyway I was just backing up the earlier point. I always put my studs on and ride when it's snowing, but I'm usually told not to come to work so it's not much of an issue.


 
Posted : 14/10/2015 6:12 pm
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On day 365, you get warm fuzzy feelings of self-worth for your astute vehicle choice.

I'm very much looking forward to smug day.

Will it be the same day as Christmas?


 
Posted : 15/10/2015 12:44 pm
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I like a week of snow but it got tedious in Newcastle back in 2010 when it was hanging around for ever.

I walked/cycled to work as it is only 6 miles. Took a little longer but going across the town moor was stunning when there was a couple of feet of snow on it.

Used the mountain bike but now have ice spike tyres for my commuter. I end up using them a fair bit. While my commute is through Newcastle it is mainly off the road so not gritted - normally icy in parts. I put the spikes on at the first sign of freezing weather and then leave them on as I'm too lazy to change them. Wouldn't be without them now.


 
Posted : 15/10/2015 1:04 pm
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I hope we get none. This country cant cope with it! Everything comes to a stand still.


 
Posted : 15/10/2015 1:23 pm
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But assuming that all the roads will be blocked with cars because it's snowed is, I think, definitely city-biased.

I grew up in a small town, and now live in a city. The effect of heavy snow is exactly the same: gridlock. Those of us with the good sense to live within cycling or walking distance of work are of course unaffected.


 
Posted : 15/10/2015 1:57 pm
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Those of us with the good sense to live within cycling or walking distance of work are of course unaffected.

While those of us with the better sense to live just far enough away from work and/or in a rural area, get the benefit of a day off. ๐Ÿ™‚


 
Posted : 15/10/2015 2:16 pm
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While those of us with the better sense to live just far enough away from work and/or in a rural area, get the benefit of a day off.

Which is taken from your annual leave, or taken as unpaid leave. So there's no benefit at all.


 
Posted : 15/10/2015 2:18 pm
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my boss suggests we call it 'working from home'.


 
Posted : 15/10/2015 2:34 pm
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Remote working, bringing about the end of snow days for adults since Terminal Services was released.


 
Posted : 15/10/2015 2:35 pm
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ransos - Member

Which is taken from your annual leave, or taken as unpaid leave. So there's no benefit at all.

Sometimes. Depends on your employer.


 
Posted : 15/10/2015 2:36 pm
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LOL at the Express

Didn't even read the article, just control F for "Exacta" was enough.


 
Posted : 17/10/2015 12:06 pm
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The Met Office-led study claimed that although the effect will be offset by recent global warming, Britain could see some cooler than average winters in years to come.
So, that'll be [i]some cooler than average[/i] mixed in with [i]some warmer than average[/i]? Is it the concept of [i]average[/i] folk are struggling with here?


 
Posted : 17/10/2015 12:07 pm
 Drac
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Posted : 17/10/2015 12:08 pm
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