autumn leaves

Bike lanes in the fall, as leaves pile up

Written November 9th, 2025 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 5 responses.

This is the time of year when Albany bicycle riders must sometimes use the driving lanes because the designated bike lanes are blocked by piles of autumn leaves.

Posted in: Bicycling, Commentary, News
Tags: autumn leaves, bike lanes, Republic Services

What about all those left-over leaf piles?

Written December 17th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 15 responses.

In case you had not noticed, there are many piles of dead autumn leaves left on Albany streets. Will somebody pick them up and clear the gutters of all that mulch before it clogs the storm drains the next time it rains?

Posted in: Bicycling, Commentary, News
Tags: Albany streets, autumn leaves, leaf pickup, leaf removal, Republic Services, storm drains, stormwater swales

Leaf piles in the street: Patience, please

Written December 2nd, 2020 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 5 responses.

This is the last period of the fall when Republic Services picks up piles of leaves left on Albany streets. Pointing this out also highlights how impossible it is to carry out the city’s advice on just how and where to pile up leaves.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany leaf pickup, autumn leaves, bike lanes, Republic Services

When autumn leaves refuse to leave

Written November 22nd, 2019 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 11 responses.

This just in, a small item from the Department of Petty Annoyances. As you can see, Republic Services has come by and emptied the yard debris bin, as it does in Albany, without fail, every other week.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: autumn leaves, Republic Services, yard debris

The annual battle of the fallen leaves

Written November 18th, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 6 responses.

Autumn leaves are piling up everywhere in Albany this mild and dry — so far — November. But the end is in sight as more and more of our trees are beginning to look pretty bare.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Albany parks, Albany streets, autumn leaves, Republic Services

Fall means blocked bike lanes

Written November 18th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: one response.

As bike lane obstructions go, this isn’t all that bad. Still, it’s an example of why people on bikes sometimes can’t use the bike lanes all that well. This is on Albany’s Salem Avenue, where homeowners have swept the autumn leaves into the street in the hope that sooner or later, the piles will be picked […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: autumn leaves, bicycling, bike lanes, leaf removal, leaves blocking bike lanes

Lanes for bikes and leaves

Written November 10th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 2 responses.

I’m not complaining, but does this seem a little odd? The sign on Elm Street in the block occupied by Albany General Hospital prohibits parking on the curb, presumably to keep the bike lane open for bicyclists. But blocking the lane with piles of dead leaves is OK?

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Albany leaf pickup, autumn leaves, bike lane obstructions, bike lanes