(originally sent February 10, 2011)
PEDAL PEOPLE NEWS FEBRUARY 2011 Contents: * Extreme weather announcement * Storm delay website page ** EXTREME WEATHER ANNOUNCEMENT ** As you might have guessed, the record-breaking snowfall and cold weather this winter has created new and interesting challenges for your Pedal Person. During an average winter, we only delay once due to weather conditions; last winter, we did not have any weather delays. To date, large and poorly-timed snowfalls have caused us to delay pickups on FOUR occasions this season! The numerous snowfalls have coated many of the side roads, alleys and driveways that we regularly traverse with an uneven layer of ice, compacted snow, and slush. You can help us avoid some of the weather-related hazards we are encountering: * Access: Please provide clear access from the street to the location where you place your waste containers (this is standard Pedal People policy - whether or not its snowy). If your containers are in a garage, on a back porch, or down a long driveway, please make sure that you've cleared the snow from the street to your containers. If snow and ice is covering your driveway, we may not be able to maneuver our trailers to and from your pickup location. If that is the case, we recommend bringing your containers as close to the curb as possible. If we have difficultly completing your pickup due to snow and ice on your property, you can expect an extra charge of $2 to $4 per pickup to compensate your carrier for the extra time spent accessing your containers. * Compost: Frozen compost sticks to compost buckets! When its really cold, we spend a lot of time trying to loosen the compost that's stuck to its bucket. Sometimes, the compost is so stuck, we end up leaving some of it behind. You can avoid this problem if you line your bucket with a paper or biodegradable plastic bag. * Icy/Snowy bins: If you store your trash and recycling containers outside, please make sure they are covered to prevent snow and ice build-up inside the bins. Otherwise, snow and ice get inside your containers and make them difficult to lift ... and we end up hauling that extra weight with us to the transfer station. Thanks for helping us manage this particularly challenging winter! Curious to hear more about collecting waste in the snow, here's a story about what we've encountered: "After our first big snowfall this year, I was headed up a steep hill with a fully-loaded long trailer when I got stuck. The trailer was too heavy and the road surface too slippery to get enough traction. To make matters worse, the pitch of the hill was so steep that I couldn't even set my bike down without the whole kit and caboodle rolling backwards down the hill. I was seriously stuck. I stood there pitifully with my hands on my brakes, watching cars effortlessly climb the hill and pass me by, for many minutes before a kindly soul stopped and asked if I needed help. With her pushing from behind, I easily walked my bike and trailer up the rest of the hill. I can't say how grateful I am to the people who have helped me out of tight situations like that one!" -Annie ** STORM DELAY WEBSITE PAGE ** When we delay due to inclement weather, we'll let you know by e-mail or phone. You can also check out our storm delay website page for the latest information: http://www.pedalpeople.com/index.php?page=60