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Winnipeg's True Colors  A rant by: FreedomFries I was incredibly depressed having to wake up to the snow storm today. Not that I don't like snow, but I really wasn't looking forward to the drive across the city during rush hour. Things didn't start out too great, Got the car stuck in the driveway, had to shovel it out, had trouble getting going, but I finally made it onto the road. Anyways I had a change of heart after a bit of driving and watching how the rest of the city was handling the storm. It's amazing how Winnipegers handle something like a snowstorm, it's what defines us. All over you see people coming together to help each other out, pushing cars, shoveling driveways, people snowblowing their neighbours driveways, etc. Not only was it nice to see everyone helping out, but it was also an entertaining drive. I saw three city buses in the ditch or sideways on the road, cars in the ditches, people sliding all over the place, and it was a challenge to drive. You can't get better than that! My nightmare I woke up to became a highlight of the day. Going home today may be another story though. ;) << Back Add a Comment Comments ( Add a Comment ) Grumpy says: 2005-11-15 11:07:16 Hey, Jack49 buy some real winter tires then you too can blow by the clowns trying to drive on \"all season\" tires. KSPOT says: 2005-11-15 17:12:18 Freedom it is nice to see everyone coming together at a time like this helping each other out. Now I\'ll ask you, how many people did you get out of your car to help this morning? FreedomFries says: 2005-11-15 17:48:34 Good Question,.....0......I was in a hurry, but the thought was there. Anonymous says: 2005-11-15 18:03:56 Winnipeg is such an awful place to live in. This is a horrid city. Myst says: 2005-11-15 19:43:55 "Anonymous says: 2005-11-15 18:03:56 Winnipeg is such an awful place to live in. This is a horrid city." Again, is someone forcing you to stay in Wpg? Don't like it here? Leave. Seems pretty simple to me. ;) Anonymous says: 2005-11-15 20:22:14 ^^Thats exactly what i was thinking and i'm sure everyone else. roscoe says: 2005-11-15 21:11:43 hey jack49, were you the dufus on a bicycle this snowy morning? jammin says: 2005-11-15 23:59:48 Hmm.. I have to agree with FreedomFries on this. Between driving home from work last night, and driving today I saw very few people driving like idiots, and I saw lots of people helping others get unstuck. I only needed to stop and help one person who I saw was stuck without any help. Usually I dread the first snowfall in Winnipeg because people seem to forget how to drive on ice and snow for the first week, but people were suprisingly good today. Hmm.. I guess I also need to remember though that half of the city stayed home and took a day off, so that would also account for the easy driving conditions... BigB says: 2005-11-16 19:21:53 Fries, I enjoyed your post. It’s true that it really is a good feeling to see people all working together. I left for work at 4.30am on Tuesday. The old man on my street was out and I said a cheery good morning to him (usually I’m grouchy and ½ asleep on my way in). I like the challenge of a snowstorm. I left for work w/o shovelling my dway (if you shovel your dway before leaving for work you wouldn’t get stuck in it. I planned ahead an backed in so I could get a easy start out. As usual my neighbour snow-blowed my driveway as soon as I pulled my truck out of the driveway (along w/ the rest of the bay). The city was quiet at 4.30. That evening when I went home everything had changed. The roads were all slicked up from morons spinning their summer tires until the roads all had a nice polished finish, cars that aren’t made for even rain were strewn throughout the ditches. For at least 4 hours I was driving around pulling people out of ditches, digging snow out from under cars and making trails for their little cars to follow to get out. Sure if feels good to tow people out and be a hero, but something that you “users” need to realize is you are taking people like me for granted. We drive our trucks in all conditions, and then we can use them to their full potential when there is a storm. But we do still break transfer cases, chains (or tow straps) burn lots of gas, buy heavier duty tires and suspension and this is all being used at your advantage. Rather then paying a $50+ tow bill we do it for free. Would it hurt to throw a guy 10 or 20 bucks as a way of saying thank you for stopping in the cold when we are doing just fine, climbing under your car and making your day a whole lot easier? To me its not so much the money but more the way of showing true appreciation. Our trucks don’t pass many gas stations when we are driving in 4whigh and dragging your accent behind. As for the girls that I towed out of the ditch, the thank you that you gave me was greatly appreciated :P 30something says: 2005-11-16 19:53:30 Is it just me or does anyone else notice that most of the people speeding through the slick icy streets are in big trucks or otherwise have 4 wheel drives. I had someone tail gating me this morning on my way to work who was sure enough in a mini van and driving like it was a nice sunny day. I'm glad he had faith in his brakes but if he was wrong, it would have been my little car that was smashed up and me the one hurt, not him in his big van. I used to have a 4 wheel drive and although it felt like I was invincible on the road and was really convenient, they still do slip and slide around, and what's worse is that it happens when you least expect it. I just wish people with 4 wheel drives would drive carefully as well so as not to scare the crap out of the rest of us. Red024S says: 2005-11-16 20:15:40 The good news,no more mosquitos, flies, etc., for the next several months. The bad news, Autopac rates go up because of idiotic drivers who take two months to adjust to the road conditions. Yeah it's nice to see neighbors helping neighbors, but how many hopped in their cars and almost smacked into me at a light because they didn't allow for the conditions? Let's keep helping each other, but not just in our driveways. Damn, this should be a MPI commercial! Anonymous says: 2005-11-17 12:45:20 I don't understand what all the huff is about. My brother switched trucks w/ me for the rest of the week and I am driving his ranger. Trucks a 2 wheel drive, no weight in the back and all season tires. He was complaining that he had no traction. For you kids out there, In winter...keep your fuel tank full. This eliminates problems w/ condenstation and also it give you more weight. I put 60litres of fuel in the truck and as long as you don't drive like a fool there is no problem. Didn't slide around or have trouble w/ traction at iced up intersections. In conclusion, if you slide off the road, get stuck, or hit another car then your a moron. FreedomFries says: 2005-11-17 14:46:08 I was driving down the perimeter today, and a truck with West Virginia plates lost complete control, did two 360s, avoided oncoming traffic, and ended up facing forward. That's a driver! nekochan says: 2005-11-24 23:32:30 I like to think what really defines us on a day like that Tuesday is that we just suck it up and get on with our day. Unlike some cities who call in the army. Anonymous says: 2005-12-22 11:12:07 I don't mind the winters toooo much. You know, we got snow tires, studs also, my faverate winter roads, are after a 2 foot snow fall. Snow still blowing, its then I can do my usual 80 mph. All the smart people are at home, and the wimps are in the ditch. Ps. Yes. I do stop for the ladies in destress. But never for an engineer. But that's another story. The bandit has spoken. |
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I hate all you people that act like its fun to drive when it's snowwy out. Your the people who blow past me in unsafe conditions. Get off the road.!