A recent bomb hurricane blanketed large parts of the US and Canada with snow, making it difficult to get around. Sidewalks and bike paths are particularly hazardous and are usually among the last areas to be cleared. But a man from Victoria, British Columbia, came up with a new solution in the form of a bicycle snowplow.
Last year, Philip Marciniak added a snow plow blade to his electric cargo bike. To his surprise, it worked really well. He then modified his design with a split plow or V plow and took it out for a quick spin in a recent storm. The round turns into an adventure; Marciniak had so much fun with the bicycle snowplow that he decided to ride it downtown, using it to pick up Vietnamese food for dinner.
The sight of bicycles cleaning sidewalks and bike paths caused quite the backlash from motorists and pedestrians alike. The people reacted in disbelief and laughed, pointing as the snowplow tossed waves of snow, clearing a wide path. However, the effectiveness of Marciniak’s discoveries quickly proved their worth as more than just curiosity.
The interest in environmental sustainability and the desire for better health has led many people to start cycling. It also spurred the growth of electric bicycles, both a homemade dragster or available from Walmart. Even motorcycle companies like Ducati doing electric bike stunts. There’s no shortage of options, except when riding in winter.
Several years ago, Marciniak started a company called Sustain-A-Waive to make electric cargo bikes. He also makes a living repairing equipment and using electric bicycles as his main mode of transportation. During the winter, he often found himself wishing someone would clear the bike path, leading him to the snowplow idea. Given its effectiveness and the attention it received, he hoped to raise some money to bring about his invention, paving the way for others to follow suit.
