Innovation on the Streets: Napa’s Pedal-Powered Bike Lane Sweeper
Until 2024, Napa didn’t have any protected bikeways. The Napa County Bicycle Coalition (NCBC) had long advocated for them, but maintenance challenges kept projects in limbo. Local officials acknowledged the need for increased safety, yet the estimated $200,000 to buy a street sweeper designed to clean a protected bikeway was a significant hurdle.
Then, in January, Caltrans resurfaced West Imola Avenue (SR 121), a key east-west route in Napa. The project added new flex post barriers to existing painted bike lanes. While the new infrastructure is a win for bike safety, keeping the lanes clean is critical to creating a comfortable and inviting place to ride. Debris in bike lanes — including glass, gravel, and dirt — poses significant hazards to cyclists, forcing them into vehicular lanes and increasing the risk of collisions. But traditional street sweepers can’t fit into protected bikeways, and this issue nearly led Caltrans to remove the protective posts.
Bicycle-powered bikeway sweeping
Faced with this potential setback, the Napa County Bicycle Coalition offered to adopt and maintain the protected bikeways on West Imola, and Caltrans accepted, modifying the Adrop-A-Highway program specifically for this bike facility. A local bike coalition can’t afford the $200,000 price tag for a motorized, bike lane-sized sweeper, so, to keep the lane clear, NCBC invested in an innovative new street sweeper designed by California inventor Pierre Lermant.
“Regular cleaning is the Achilles heel of protected bike lanes, as its budget is rarely factored in when the lanes are built,” says Lermant. “The Napa Valley initiative demonstrates how the Eco Sweeper devices can bridge budget shortcomings and leverage the community to help clean up bike lanes and promote bicycling, our shared ultimate goal.”
The sweeper, a battery-powered device that attaches to the rear wheel of a bicycle with a Burley bike trailer-style hitch, efficiently cleans bike lanes. And, at just $4,500, the cost is a fraction of a traditional sweeper.
NCBC launched a GoFundMe campaign on May 21, 2024, to raise the money to buy the sweeper. Thanks to the generosity of 50 donors, including a significant contribution from coalition member Bill Tuikka, the campaign met its goal in just one day.
Efficient, effective, and economical bikeway cleaning
During its first run on June 17, 2024, the sweeper collected nearly 36 gallons of debris, a hefty load for a compact, bicycle-pulled device.
“We appreciate Caltrans for partnering with us and for being willing to pilot changes to their Adopt-a-Highway program that allowed us to find a solution. Napa County’s first protected bike lanes are on our high-injury network, so preventing the removal of these improved lanes was critical for improving safety,” says Napa County Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Kara Vernor.
The tow-behind bike lane sweeper is not just a practical solution for Napa; it represents an approach to urban planning and public safety that other cities can learn from. By steadfastly advocating for and embracing innovative solutions, Napa is setting a precedent for a safer, more bike-friendly future.
