Pulled-up plow sticks are a big problem for Umeå municipality

Every autumn, Umeå municipality puts up around 5,000 plow sticks on cycle paths so that those who plow can see how the roads go.

But it is also a safety aspect to prevent someone from being injured when the sticks are set up to warn in places where there may be obstacles under the snow.

"Very sad that they are removed"

Nevertheless, a large number of canes disappear or are destroyed each season.

When SVT met the street operations manager at Umedalen in Umeå, we found lots of plow sticks thrown in the forest and along the roadside.

- It is very sad that they are pulled up, if you remove all the sticks, plowing will not be as well done there, says Per Hilmersson, street operations manager.

Half disappears or is destroyed

The cost of setting up plow sticks is around SEK 40,000 and during a season, about half of all sticks are lost or destroyed by weather and wind.

Hear what you can do if you see plow sticks pulled up, and why it is important that they are present, in the clip.