The view from the bike on this tour of Albany streets east of Lyon Street Sunday evening, July 5, 2026.
And now, for something a little different, join me on the bike for a short tour of Albany streets.
This slow ride took us along some of the city streets east of Lyon Street. The Hackleman Historic District covers part of that area.
What’s historic in this neighborhood, besides some very nice old homes, are the streets. They have been in historically bad shape, as you saw on the video.
For years Albany officials have talked about raising money to be spent on fixing the worst streets.
Last year the city council went so far as to enact an ordinance authorizing a street utility fee to be added to monthly water bills. But the council has not yet set a rate.
Some council members also want to call an election on starting a city fuel tax. They have kicked around an amount of 5 to 10 cents to be added to the state and federal fuel taxes that now total 58.4 cents per gallon.
All this talk about fees and/or taxes may come to a head on Aug. 12. City Manager Peter Troedsson told me that’s the date the street funding issue is scheduled to be on the city council’s agenda again.
Something may be decided then. Or maybe not.
This was going through my mind during Sunday’s little bike tour. Thanks for coming along. (hh)
Hasso – that was great – a real close up look at some of the streets that need repair – and a bit of a travelogue through Albany. Thanks!
Thank you, Hasso. That was great and a film Albanyites need to watch. For the millionth time, part of 22 million was spent on pink bricks for Water Street, thanks to CARA, the now-retired (Thank God!) urban renewal district. So, for a smooth bike ride, folks, pedal on down to Water Street. There’s no one there except on Saturday mornings for seasonal Farmer’s Market, so you will have a peaceful, quiet, and very smooth ride. (Thanks to Albany’s property tax payers!!)
Actually, the Water Avenue “plaza street” is not a smooth ride. It feels a little like riding on cobble stones.
Oh my gosh! That’s good to know. Thanks. I thought it was meant to be a good place to walk and a good place to bike ride.
Interesting dumpsters at about the 0:30 mark. Apparently the are permanent fixtures per Google Street View from April of 2025? Anything to beautify downtown.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Albany,+OR+97322/@44.6365914,-123.1021802,3a,75y,195.41h,87.03t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sMFhItReiyk4vn9zHxWnNxw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D2.971689885645901%26panoid%3DMFhItReiyk4vn9zHxWnNxw%26yaw%3D195.4137240349666!7i16384!8i8192!4m6!3m5!1s0x54c06d1030cdcdd3:0xebf1d327e3ddaf02!8m2!3d44.646184!4d-123.0158383!16s%2Fm%2F07npxfp?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDcwNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Great video for the Albany Visitors Association! How embarrassing.
“Last year the city council went so far as to enact an ordinance authorizing a street utility fee to be added to monthly water bills. But the council has not yet set a rate.”
Wasn’t that the vote that our “isolated” mayor actually voted to break a tie so that 2 of his cronies on the council could “pretend” to be on the side of the taxpayer and vote opposite? He wasn’t running for re-election, but the other 2 were.
2025 was not an election year. And whenever a council member is on the ballot, the mayor is too.
Then the mayor was unopposed.
It’s either tree branch’s or potholes…thank god it’s not both….nice video to show the city…..watch out for the 6 inch craters…oh my
A hopefully accident-free quibble….
I think Oregon uses the standard Vehicle Code, which requires full stops for bicycles at stop signs, and caution otherwise at all cross streets. (I know this rule isn’t always practical, or obeyed, but a bicycle helmet won’t stop a fractured arm or leg.)
The law was changed in 2019. Now the so-called Idaho stop is legal in Oregon. As I explained on Aug. 10, 2019: “The law change adopts a form of the so-called Idaho Stop in Oregon. It says that cyclists may treat stop signs and flashing red lights as yield signs if there is no cross traffic bearing down on the intersection. They must still yield the right of way to vehicles or pedestrians, and the law adds new violations if they don’t.”
Did 1919 Bikes have brakes ???
I thought I got that fixed within seconds of posting the reply. I guess not. Trouble is, my default century for mentioning years is the 1900s.
Thanks for the clarification. Hasso, and also for the select 5th Street pothole collection.