New street sweepers could improve safety for Bend bikers

The city of Bend is planning to purchase new street sweepers specifically designed to clear debris from bike lanes to improve riding conditions for commuters on two wheels.

Bend’s proposed biennial budget includes funding for two small-sized sweeper units that fit into the narrow, protected bike lanes that are separated from the main road, said David Abbas, the director of Bend’s Transportation and Mobility Department.

Separated bike lanes are currently found on the Wilson Avenue corridor but more are planned to be built in Bend.

Grit, rocks, pinecones and other detritus can be hazardous for bike riders, especially in downhill areas where riders can slide on the loose gravel when making turns or sudden stops. Debris leftover from winter street sanding operations can make bike travel in spring particularly treacherous.

“Keeping our bike lanes free of gravel has been a huge challenge up until this point, especially in the spring when it is often a real safety issue,” said Ariel Mendez, a Bend city council member and an avid cyclist.

“I’m thrilled to support purchasing better tools to keep our bikeways cleaner and safer,” he said.

Clearing Bend’s sidewalks involves a coordinated effort, said Abbas. It starts with a team of workers with backpack blowers pushing dirt and debris from sidewalks into the city streets. Coming up behind the crew working the sidewalks is a full-size street sweeper. If they are purchased, the city plans to utilize small-sized sweepers in protected bike lane areas.

Depending on the location, the sidewalk and bike lane crew are aided by another worker in a Toolcat with a sweeper attachment. Toolcats — built by equipment manufacturer Bobcat — are compact utility machines that can be outfitted with various attachments for different uses.

While the city is looking to improve biker and pedestrian safety, it doesn’t clear all sidewalks. The city is mainly responsible for roundabouts, bridges, and main route corridors. Per Bend city code, property owners are responsible for keeping the sidewalks in front of their homes or businesss unobstructed and maintained.

One of the new sweepers is planned to be purchased with the city’s streets fund, said Abbas. The second will be funded by Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization. The sweepers are budgeted to cost around $200,000 each.

The smaller sweepers don’t require a commercial driver’s license and cost less to operate than the full-sized sweepers, said Mendez.

An all-electric version is under consideration but only if the city can find one that can hold a decent charge and withstand Bend’s variable climate.

“While the technology is progressing rapidly in the electrification industry, the duty time of a charge is currently limited for service-type vehicles such as street sweepers,” said Abbas. “We continue to look for opportunities to electrify (our sweeper fleet) considering level of service for a full work shift and being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

The city also plans to purchase two Toolcats and attachments — one funded by the city’s street fund and the other by the Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization. Each Toolcat and its attachments are expected to cost around $115,000.

The city is expecting to purchase the sweepers and Toolcats after July 1 with its newly adopted budget.

“I hope the city can get them out there cleaning up some of our more problematic areas, as soon as possible,” said Mendez.

541-617-7818, [email protected]

'If they are purchased, the city plans to utilize small-sized sweepers in protected bike lane areas'

When you say protected, are you talking about the stripe of paint on the road?

The article mentions the new protected bike lanes on the Wilson Avenue corridor. Those are physical bollards - not just paint.

Thank you.

Wonderful. Can we please repaint the bike lanes in april instead of waiting until mid summer?

excellent. thanks!

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