Portland Bike Party won the sweeper in a contest to make the city’s bike lanes cleaner and safer.
Author: Katie Delaney
Updated: 9:18 AM EDT June 12, 2026
PORTLAND, Maine — A cycling group based in Portland just got a specialized sweeper to clean bike lanes.
Portland Bike Party, a monthly group bike ride, won the sweeper through a contest. It attaches to the back of a bike and collects debris with an electrically-powered brush.
The company Bike Lane Sweeper asked biking groups around the country to submit a video about why they need a bike lane sweeper.
Jesse Abbruzzese, the director of music and entertainment for Portland Bike Party was ready to make a pitch for the city. He put together a video showing some of the dirty bike lanes in Portland, with hazards like hubcaps, nails, and even a dog bowl.
“Help us provide a safer, more accessible environment for cyclists young and old; future generations will thank us,” Abbruzzese said in the video.
The submission stood out, and Portland Bike Party won the sweeper.
Before the win, Abbruzzese said there was not a designated bike lane sweeper in Portland. Especially as last year was the deadliest year for cyclists in Maine, Abbruzzese said he hopes the bike lane sweeper will improve cycling in the city.
“This is a big initiative, trying to get the bike lanes clean so it can be safer and more accessible to people. A clean bike lane is a safe bike lane,” Abbruzzese said. “If you have to avoid debris in the bike lane, that’s going to kick you out into traffic, that’s going to put you in a dangerous situation.”
Portland Bike Party is now looking for volunteer bike lane sweepers to start cleaning the streets.
Later this month, cyclists will be able to check out the sweeper to use in their neighborhood. It’s stationed at Portland Gear Hub.
Anyone interested in taking it for a spin can reach out to Portland Bike Party on Instagram or Facebook.