Published: November 02, 2009 04:58 pm      

Fall foliage

It’s pretty, but can be slippery when wet

Although autumn leaves offer us a spectacular color scheme, they also can be a danger to pedestrians and motorists — particularly when it rains. That is why Cumberland’s annual leaf collection is important from more than just an aesthetic viewpoint.

Most motorists worry about standing water but give little thought to piles of leaves. Those piles, when wet, can make braking, steering and stopping difficult. For the pedestrian, it is easy to slip on wet leaves. Leaves also can clog up stormwater drains.

The leaf collection began on the West Side Monday and will continue through Friday. Other neighborhoods will be visited for the remainder of the month. But, residents should be aware that because of city budget reductions, there will not be any revisiting this year. Once crews visit a neighborhood, they will not return a second time. However, residents may also bag leaves and place them on their regular trash days. Western Maryland Waste Systems will collect up to eight bags of trash per household, including leaves.

The collection schedule is:

• The upper West Side collection will run through Friday on all streets north of Greene Street to Wills Creek, including Braddock Road and the Seton Drive area.

• Nov. 9-13, Lower West Side south of Greene Street to Kelly Road and the Dingle area.

• Nov. 16-20, North End/East Side between Baltimore Avenue to the city limits on Piedmont Avenue.

• Nov. 23-27, East Side/South End between Baltimore Avenue and Industrial Boulevard.

• Nov. 30, South End below Virginia Avenue underpass and west of Virginia Avenue to Industrial Boulevard.