Comments on: Liberty btw Third and Fourth

By: Fabian

Fabian — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:57:56 +0000

What about bagging leaves for pickup?

That’s what we do in Ypsilanti Twp. It keeps the streets cleaner in my opinion, and it really isn’t any more difficult to bag. I’ve always watched the elaborate leaf pick up efforts in Ann Arbor that involve backhoes and blocking off streets for hours. In Ypsilanti Twp a truck comes, a guy gets out and he throws the bags in the truck. Done.

By: Rici

Rici — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:56:34 +0000

I have been wondering how the leaves get picked up on Huron (the ones stored on the parklawn strip). In the surrounding neighborhood, they get pushed around by front loaders. On Huron, do they block the lanes and use people with rakes to get the leaves onto the street?

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:35:15 +0000

Vivienne, the only information I have (and it's not "inside") is that the world has very likely passed peak oil production, which has huge economic implications for every level of government. Yes, much of our current spending could be considered "wasted" in the context of peak oil and the economic crisis. I could just as easily pose the question about any city service/spending, but this item was an opportunity to ask it about leaf collection. Recycling is a different matter because it results in energy savings, as do the investments in "green" energy and certain transit programs. (Parking structures? No.) Composting by the city has a revenue stream from the sale of the finished compost, but it doesn't reduce energy use. I think it will be interesting to examine from that perspective. We need to start discussing such questions as a community. We're in this together and the repercussions will affect all of us. For a very informative series of videos on peak oil and its implications, go to this website. For another excellent series of videos that help explain the logic behind the peak oil model as well as limits to growth, go to [link]. (Part 6 of the series includes some of the key points.) Growth is over, folks. Let's find ways that we can comfortably enjoy that fact.

By: Joe Hood

Joe Hood — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:37:27 +0000

One never sees these mounds on Huron. Folks on Huron have piles on the tree plot (between the sidewalk and road). Shouldn’t tree plots stowage be the same for bike lane roads?

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:29:50 +0000

“We won’t be able to afford to continue doing it for more than a few years in any case.” Do you have some inside information, Steve? Is that because of the many dollars wasted in various unwise projects that the city has engaged in, including the new single-stream recycling plan? That is going to cost us a lot of money upfront for no real service improvement.

There is a practical need for the leaf pickup. Streets would become impassable without it. Burning is not an option. I personally compost the leaves on my property, but I can’t process the deadwood and some other compostables. Composting is a hard physical effort beyond the capability or desire of many people. It also requires a fair amount of space on the parcel. And it is hard to imagine how it would be accomplished for rental properties.

This is a basic service. If the city can’t afford it, we should be scrutinizing a good many optional programs such as the ambitious building, transit, recycling, and green energy programs that consume so much money. Or are you trying to withdraw money from basic services to pay for those, Steve?

By: mcammer

mcammer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:24:42 +0000

Stopping leaf pickup is a rotten idea.

I don’t know what it means to say we can’t afford it. Can we afford to pick up trash? Of course, there’s a cost associated with it. What’s the alternative? It’s unreasonable to expect that I can compost that volume. How about letting me burn it?

By: Mary Morgan

Mary Morgan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:08 +0000

Here's a link to the city's fall leaf collection schedule.

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:26:17 +0000

What do you all think about stopping the leaf pickup (and the pickup of other compostables) next year? We won’t be able afford to continue doing it for more than a few years in any case. Recycling is more likely to pay for itself for a little longer. Will the public accept it now, not until it’s no longer economically feasible, or not even then?

By: Tom Whitaker

Tom Whitaker — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:46:47 +0000

Per the City’s website:
“For bike commuting safety, properties facing marked bike lanes on the street may only put leaves in the street 24 hours before the scheduled pickup day.”
Tomorrow (November 18) is the scheduled pick up day for this area.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:42:41 +0000

I agree – quite frustrating. This is my first fall in Ann Arbor and while I love all the bike lanes I hate that they are currently equivalent to leaf pickup lanes.