Category: Leaves

Leaves & Hazard Reporting

Posted on by RideCoordinator

The leaves ARE falling and it’s a good time to remind everyone that the City did make some improvements in their leaf program last year. As we continue to monitor those changes it’s also a good time to look at what resources are available to us to report issues.

These are contacts meant for cyclists to report various road hazards, from potholes and leaves to cars blocking the bike lane.

Program these numbers into your cell phone and the links into your bookmarks. Call or click whenever you see an issue. The City has a good record of being responsive but they can’t act if they don’t hear from us.

Thanks to the WeBikeEugene’s Hazard Page for the following information.

City of Eugene Roads and Paths

Online Bike Lane Service Request

Online Pothole Reporting Service

Online Vegetation Complaint Service

Maintenance Hotline:

  1. 682-4800 – Potholes, leaves, cracks, unresponsive traffic lights, etc. This is a very important number- use it!

Eugene Parking Services: (541) 682-5729 For cars parked in the bike lane.
Police Non-Emergency: (541) 682-5111
Use when other numbers don’t work.

Springfield Roads and Paths

Maintenance Hotline: (541) 726-3761 for All hazards
Police Non-Emergency: (541) 726-3714

Glenwood and Rural Roads

The responsibility of maintaining the roads in Glenwood is spread between Eugene, Springfield, ODOT, and Lane County.  Refer to the PDF on WeBikeEugene as a guide.

ODOT Maintenance Hotline:
(541) 744-8080

Lane County Road Maintenance Hotline: (541) 682-6900

There are also a couple Flickr groups to share photos of where issues are as well as where some of the great spots are for cycling in Eugene.

Flickr Group to post photos of issues

Flickr Group to post positive photos

 

Leaves Continue to Fall…

Posted on by RideCoordinator

As many of us know from our rides around town there continues to be an issue with leaves being piled in unsafe and illegal areas, including bike lanes.  However, we knew that this wasn’t going to be problem that just went away.  The City has made a major effort over the past year to improve the leaf collection program to make it safer for cyclists.  As we continue to work with them to improve the program there are a few things you can do to help.

1- Report the problems.  The City has a phone number and a website set up to report the exact location of the problem area.  By reporting it you not only get the issue dealt with (many riders have already experienced 12-48 hour clean up times) but you also raise awareness of specific repeat offenders or trouble areas

The number is: 541-682-5383
The website is: http://www.eugene-or.gov/leaf

South of Bailey Hill & Warren
Leaves in the Bike Lane

2- Post some photos.  A new Flickr group has been set up by a GEARs member called “Eugene Bike Accessibility Issues“.  There you can post not only pictures of leaves in the bike lane but other issues such as cars parked in bike lanes, incomplete infrastructure, poor pavement, and other issues that make cycling less safe or discouraging.  There is a sister group called “Eugene Loves Bikes” where you can post the positive side of what makes Eugene a great place to ride.

3- Record the issue.  Whether it’s via the Flickr group, your own photos, cell phone camera, or simply writing it down on paper, record the issue.  As we talk to the City about broad issues, specific problems, repeat offenders and difficult areas it will be important to have documentation.  As part of GEARs and the cycling community you are our eyes and ears out there.  Record what you see and get it to us.

4-  Direct action. Some folks have had luck actually talking to the offender, whether they’ve called a business, knocked on the door of a home-owner, or approached a landscaper actually blowing the leaves at that moment.  Many people don’t know the rules and regulations, remember this is the first year that the city is actually telling people NOT to place leaves in the bike lane, it’s going to take some time to unlearn this bad behavior.  If you choose this method remember that you are an ambassador for cyclists, this is not meant to be a confrontation but an education.  If it starts to look ugly or to get heated simply step back and pedal away (and record what happened).   The hope is that we can work with the City so that they are doing the education and enforcement with these folks but until that happens and if your comfortable with it feel free to give it a try. Let us know how it goes.

(A story appeared on KVAL about this issue- see the report HERE.)

Leaves are Falling

Posted on by RideCoordinator
The leaf piles are out to get us... fight back!
The leaf piles are out to get us... fight back!

The leaf season is here and this year we have some good developments from the Public Works Maintenances Leaf Program. GEARs has worked closely with the City to make changes to their program including changing their outreach material, working to create priority sweeping streets (similar to snow plowing routes), and a new reporting method.  The changes are a major development from just last year when the City was putting out fliers showing people how to “neatly” stack leaves in the bike lane.  The recognition that leaves are not allowed in the bike lane is a great step forward and the new program changes are a great start to improve this important safety issue for cyclists.

The new reporting method includes a city website that allows you to see where the latest street sweeping has happened (with up to the minute updates and a history).  You can also report exact locations where leaves have been piled by residents and businesses.  With this reporting method the city will have a way to see where repeat offenders are. Go to http://www.eugene-or.gov/leaf to use these services. Finally, for an off-line method of reporting they have set up a Leaf Hotline to call and report problem areas.  That number is 541-682-5383. Plug it into your cell phone.

For this system to work well we need people to use it.  When you see issues go online or call them in to report them.  As we go through the year we’ll work the City to refine this program and we’ll continue the work to make our streets safer for everyone.