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Council directs staff to prioritize bike lanes in street‑sweeping and leaf‑pickup schedule
Summary
The council unanimously directed staff to prioritize safety and bicycle utility in the city’s street‑sweeping and leaf‑pickup programs and asked for proposals on parking restrictions, outreach and program changes.
The Chico City Council unanimously on Tuesday directed staff to prioritize the safety and utility of bicycle facilities when scheduling street sweeping and leaf pickup and asked staff to return with program proposals and options for selective parking restrictions and outreach.
Council member Winslow introduced the item and said the intent was to reduce hazards when leaf piles and debris collect in bike lanes and gutters. “For over a month at a time, often we'll have bike lanes that are used every day by people that are full of leaves,” Winslow said. He asked staff to prioritize bicycle corridors and to bring back proposals for program changes, selective parking restrictions, equipment upgrades and increased outreach. The motion passed 7-0.
Staff and several public speakers described specific problem areas where parked cars block the curb face and prevent sweepers from getting close enough to remove debris. Speakers highlighted Forest Avenue, South Campus and other corridors used by bicyclists and schoolchildren. Bruce McLean, a frequent cyclist, said piles of leaves in bike lanes force cyclists into traffic and urged quicker pickup. Jesse Horgan, who works in transportation at Chico State and serves on an alternative transportation committee, said better bike-lane maintenance would support efforts to reduce student car use and increase cycling.
Why it matters: councilors said clogged gutters and leaf piles can wash debris into storm drains and local creeks, create unsafe conditions for bicyclists, and increase maintenance burdens. City staff said they already prioritize some bicycle corridors and can evaluate higher-frequency pickup and possible short-term parking restrictions in problem locations. Staff also noted logistical questions such as where cars would be moved to and how the changes would be communicated.
Next steps: staff will return with proposals for how to modify sweeping and leaf‑pickup schedules, consider selective parking restrictions, outline outreach strategies and identify equipment or staffing changes needed to implement prioritized bike‑lane sweeping.
