BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

They are pretty safe but lighting is the main concern. You will need to illuminate the entire trail most of the times with your own lights.

Also keep in mind that there will most likely be a number of people doing the same thing on bikes as well as walking so just be extra alert.

That's what I was figuring on.

Is it madness to try to bike to Station Square then take an incline up to Mt. Washington for the fireworks? I've never been here for the 4th

I think Mt. Washington is the most popular place to be.

Personally, I would not ride the Chateau Trail at night (between Heinz Field and the Western Pen near Alcosan). I don't particularly like it during the day.....

I would have no problem riding the North Shore trail to Washingtons Landing (there are a few parking spaces along River Avenue, sort of opposite the switchback ramps as well as on the island). I'd also ride the Eliza Furnace Trail, but not into Junction Hollow, given her desire to ride only in well lit areas.

Southside Park, then into town via the back roads is also an option.

Swalfoort: Since I take that section of the trail home I'm wondering why you wouldn't ride it at night? It is narrow - is that the only reason why, or is there another reason? Last time I drove down Beaver it was riddled with potholes so I've been sticking to the trail.

When I ride it, I am usually alone (and female). I try to be "street smart" in whatever I do, and I find that particular section of trail to be a little too isolated for my taste, unless I know that a lot of people will be out on it.

I think that when I am on the Chateau trail, I am aware of the narrowness of the trail, and the encroachment of high vegetation - grasses and bushes. That means my lateral vision is somewhat impaired. I don't like the inability to anticipate what might be ahead that results.

I know from experience that there are areas on the trail where I have to slow to a crawl to get past the barriers, so I can't really get up too much speed on the trail. I also know that it is really hard to make a turn OFF the trail onto one of the side streets due to the presence of barriers, the absence of curb cuts, and the lack of warning as to where the streets ARE due to the high overgrowth. So, if I do get spooked (and I did once, very innocently), I feel like I have no place to go to escape, other than the river.

Once on side streets, I am likely to have to travel close to a mile to find any sort of assistance, should I need it (unless I were to flag down a motorist passing on Beaver Avenue, in which case I would only be about three blocks from assistance).

Note that these are all based on my PERCEPTION of safety, not any actual threats or issues on the trail per se. So, the trail might be perfectly safe for you to use at any time.

In this case, I recommended against the use of the Chateau Trail for his thread specifically because the original poster wanted a well lit area to suit his wife's needs. I don't think this trail is as well lit as the ET or the North Shore Trail, which benefit (a little bit at least) from the streetlights on adjacent River Avenue or Parkway/Second Avenue).

Finally, I think I am willing to believe that the Chateau Trail is less safe than other trails because I find it boring, and I ride it less often than I ride other trails. So, I have little evidence to the contrary.

@Noah:

I'm pretty sure I read that the Port Authority will be running additional shuttle-buses from the vicinity of the Mon Incline (like they did when it was shut down) on the Fourth to alleviate crowding on the Inclines. Given that those buses don't have racks, and given that the inclines are likely to draw big crowds, I wouldn't be holding my breath about trying to get a spot on one with my bike.

That said, you could still try of course. The politeness of some in this city never ceases to amaze me. As a final straw of course people could always simply lock their bikes up somewhere at Station Square and hoof it the rest of the way to the incline/shuttle.

@Noah

You will have a hard enough time getting youself on the incline, let alone your bike. The lines get very long. My suggestion is to watch the fireworks from the far end of the station square complex past the Ft Pitt bridge. That's where I usually watch them from. It's also good on the river walk by Heinz Field.

Anybody want to meet up to watch the fireworks?

Lou, what part of town do you live in? Getting out and getting home is usually the tough part. Parking near the South Side Works, riding the Hot Metal bridge and the Eliza Furnace might be the best compromise between ease and ride distance.

Noah,

If you wanted to try to get up to Mt Washington on the 4th I would say try using the other incline. They are much nicer to deal with. A few weeks ago I went over to far incline on a Saturday afternoon because the one at station square had a hour wait. When I arrived at the duq incline the line was pretty big too. The operator actually came out of the little room and asked the tourists to let me on first then let them board the car so people wouldn't be walking into and falling over my bike. Just in general it seems like less people use the duq incline plus the people running it want you to use it. It seems like the PAT run incline is just a inconvenience to them.

Also if you feel like riding up it williams street off of arlington ave is a fairly easy ride.

My wife and I frequently park at the eliza furnace trailhead and ride around the flat part of the city at night and have never had an issue. It can be a little creepy at times because it gets so dark but I have a feeling there will be other people with the same idea.

We're in Highland Park and I am just trying to make it as easy as possible for her. I am in agreement that others may have the same idea. I think we'll just end up doing the Eliza Furnace Trail.

I think we are probably going to end up where we were last year, right in front of the Mister Rogers Monument at Heinz Field. Although the Casino Amphitheater stairs might be a good choice too.

A 1-hour wait to ride the incline? Boy howdy, that's good business. They should try a different pricing model!

Noah, if your going to come across down town I suggest takin the Liberty Bridge and then up McArdle. There is a set of steps at Ross st & 1st Av in front of the PNC first site building. They take you up to a sidewalk you can use to ride across the bridge & then up McArdle. I'll warn you that Grandview av is elbow to idiot on the 4th and it's difficult enough just walking around and you will probably have to push your bike around once you get up on Mt. Washington.

Looks like light winds out of the SW that evening, which would make the area from the Heinz Lofts/Alcoa up to the Fineview area less desirable than Station Square up to MtWash.

I remember not checking the forecast one year, chose Manchester, and couldn't see a thing for the breeze coming out of the SE.

Thanks for the tips guys. I was actually going to leave my bike at the foot of Mt. Washington and go on foot from there. I had an idea that area would be jammed with people, so I might skip it. Just wanted to confirm with you all first.

Do they enforce watching from bridges? Smithfield might be nice.

If anyone decides to plan a group ride, let me know. I might be interested.

I think they do enforce it for vehicular traffic but no idea on pedestrian. Smithfield Street might be a rough viewing angle. Seems as if they want the viewers to be west of the Point as the skyline makes for a great backdrop, but that's just my opinion.

In the past I've seen a lot of people stop on the Mc Kees Rocks Bridge (in their vehicles). I suspect West End Bridge might be a good vantage point for a pedestrian/cyclist.

I've bicycled to fireworks a few times, last time 2 years ago and watched from the Smithfield Street Bridge. Very nice location, all in all. Lots of cheerful people. But there are many good spots. We'll be riding downtown this year too, at least from the EFT parking lot if not from my door. EFT parking lot would be a good place to meet up.

Be aware that a lot of other people have the same ideas. So, expect long lines for the inclines up to Mt Washington. Parking for the Eliza Furnace trail will be harder to come by than usual. The pedestrian part of the Ft Duquesne bridge will also fill up, as will the river by the stadia, the Science Center, and the Casino. I'm not saying don't do it- just adjust your expectations accordingly.

If the Eliza Furnace trail lot is full, you may be able to find parking in the run, near or past Big Jim's, or maybe in the lot at that end of the Junction Hollow trail.

If the Eliza Furnace trail lot is full...

Wouldn't that be nice? I'd call that a good problem.

That's a biiiig lot. Does it even fill on weekdays?

I thought that only the 30 or so spots outside the fence were public, and that the ones inside were UPMC park-and-ride. Maybe UPMC won't care or enforce, or maybe I'm just wrong. I've never actually parked a car there- I just pass through getting on/off the jail trail.

Also if you feel like riding up it williams street off of arlington ave is a fairly easy ride.

Ha ha, real funny. I took the bait, you know... ended up saying eff it and went up Arlington instead