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Eugene council schedules public hearing on proposed ban of soliciting in travel lanes after 5-4 vote
Summary
After divided debate about safety, data and equity, the City Council voted 5-4 to direct the city manager to schedule a public hearing on a draft ordinance that would prohibit transferring items or soliciting from the vehicular portion of the right of way.
The Eugene City Council voted 5-4 on Oct. 27 to schedule a public hearing on a draft ordinance that would prohibit what staff described as “unlawful transfer on vehicular portions of the right of way” — a proposal aimed at stopping people from soliciting or distributing items in travel lanes.
Chief Skinner of the Eugene Police Department opened the discussion as a continuation from a Sept. 17 work session and framed it as a safety issue, alongside related topics the council has considered this year such as metal theft and shopping cart recovery. The council debated whether the ordinance would address a genuine traffic-safety hazard, duplicate existing laws, or unfairly target people who are unhoused.
Councilor Groves, citing experience as a fire captain, argued the practice is dangerous: “Nobody's saying in this proposition that people cannot donate to people. It's just get out of the…
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