It looks like we are getting close to knowing if (and when) Allegheny County will experience a transit strike. Last word is that the Union will vote on November 23rd, and a strike, if authorized, would begin on or abotu December 1.
Many of the bike "groups" in the region are starting to look at bicycle options as an alternative to transit.
What could we do, as a region, and in the timeframe we are looking at (2 weeks to design and implement something) do to make it possible for you to use cycling as an alternative to transit during the strike?(assuming there is one.)
Any and all ideas are welcome. We've already thought of bike buddies/bike escorts, but would need input on start and end points, times needed, frequency of departures, etc. We are also looking at the Park and Pedal concept, whereby you could drive your bike, in your car, to a park and ride location 2-3 miles from downtown. You'd be able to park for free, jump on your bike and follow a mapped route or trail to downtown or to Oakland. Are there other employment centers/schools that we need to provide routes to?
Please, your input is really important. Don't wait until the second day of the strike to say "why didn't anyone think of ___ (fill in your idea" It may be too late by then. We'd like to hear your ideas now, while there is still time to evaluate and implement them BEFORE we all get stuck in massive traffic jams.
-nyc implemented certain roads only being open to bikes, vanpools and motorcycles. ellsworth would be a great option for this, but also allow for "local" traffic, basically if you have a parking permit to have your car in there.
-allow bikes onto the east busway
Don't forget the West and South Busways, too. West, in particular, has a lot of P&R space. East would work best, of course, since (a) it goes all the way Downtown, and (b) there are no rails to deal with.
The bigger problem is, of course, getting Port Authority to go along with it. When I brought up the topic to a couple of staffers there, the idea was not met with enthusiasm.
This might be the time, though, to try to get them to relax any bicycle restrictions on the Wabash Tunnel -- assuming it is open at all. Maybe they could leave the gates down on both ends, thus allowing ONLY bicycles in it.
I do not recall what the Duquesne Incline did in 1992. Port Auth owns it, but does not run it. It both owns and runs the Mon Incline, so that one would shut down along with the rest of the system.
of course it wasn't met with enthusiasm. it's more work for them.
i just feel if nyc can shut down FIFTH AVE during their transit strike, we can allow bikes on the busway.
desperate times call for desperate measures. if the city and PAT were serious about trying to get people to work, they should do something other than just let everyone fend for themselves.
Article in this morning's P-G.
The word "bike" was mentioned once, in a less-than-prominent position.
The article did bring up a point I hadn't previously considered; the number of high school students who rely on transit to get to school. Is that an area where bike commuting could be fostered? "Get 'em while they're young..."
Does your average Port Authority rider know that bicycle commuting is an option and that Bike Pittsburgh has bikethestrike & bike pool options? The media coverage I've seen doesn't seem to be providing even basic lip service.
http://community.post-gazette.com/forums/t/3618.aspx?PageIndex=4
the P-G ran an article on it on October 20th.
it would be good if they reinforced it tho.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08294/920795-28.stm
I thought this morning's PG article was weak on alternatives. They basically published interviews with Pittsburghers who are all going to just start driving, or those that truly do not have cars and will either walk, ask relatives, or use car services. As a result, I think it would be a mistake for BP to request street closures. That would only serve to aggravate an already difficult situation and put a negative spotlight on cycling advocacy having "shut down the roads we need". As much as the strike is an opportunity to introduce newbies to the cycle commuting world, it is also a public transportation crisis in very short order. It would be an incredibly radical choice for commuters from the South Hills, North Hills, and distant East & West communities who haven't ridden a bike since childhood to go get a bike and start commuting to work both ways in the dark in December.
So yes, I agree that we should work to highlight successful infrastructure already in place, raise the visibility of already functional bike commuters and commuting groups, and use the opportunity of the strike to get the message out there that you can bike to work everyday in Pittsburgh. However, I would caution against high visibility impediments to drivers that have "damn bicyclists" written all over them.
I recall when I was riding my bike for the last strike NOTHING extraordinary was done by either the City or the Port Authority. People were pretty much left to their own devices. I noticed a lot of people simply standing at bus stops hoping for a ride. People would drive up and ask "you going downtown?" and a spontaneous car pool would occur.
In would not expect much pro-active action from the city or PAT. Liability concerns will prevent the busways from being opened to bikes. Traffic fears will prevent roads being re-dedicated to bikes. Our best bet will be to just get ourselves out there and be visible.
On the first day of the strike, I expect every news organization to be out at bus stops talking to commuters. Seek these people out and talk to them. Get on camera or on the radio. Tell them people CAN commute in Pittsburgh. Tell them that BikePgh will help the newbies find safe routes and even riding companions. Look happy. Look confident. Smile. Have some extra bike maps.
Any way legally to hang placards at some of the larger bus stops letting people know about the Bike the Strike meet up points and times? Or just a Bike the Strike sticker with an info hotline? Something that would not constitute vandalism...
Or could we weasel a public service add out of the PG if the strike takes place?
Bright yellow T-shirts with
BIKE
THE
STRIKE
.ORG
on the *back*.
Then get out there and make sure everyone sees them.
here's an update from mr joe grata of the PG on what to expect:
http://postgazette.com/pg/08321/928361-85.stm
Nice "Bike the Strike" graphic on the front page of the website.
Except that it appears to say "Bike the Stike".
arrrrrrhhhh!!!!
Typos are now fixed on the site AND there's a link to all the BikePools Mary lined up for us. Just click the bus on the homepage or go to www.bikethestrike.org
is anyone else really relieved that they're not dependent on transit or a car during this?
Link to BikePool Map
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=108814509676041702613.00045c8ace241ff644d35&z=13
Port Authority, union reach tentative agreement on new pact
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Parties in the bitter Port Authority labor dispute reached tentative agreement tonight at the International AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C., after four days of special negotiations unprecedented in the authority's 44-year history.
The tentative settlement was announced this evening in a joint statement from the Port Authority and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85, which represents about 2,300 drivers and low-level supervisors.
"We are glad to inform the community that the Port Authority public transportation service will continue without interruption," the statement read.
Terms of the agreement were not immediately disclosed. But the statement said that the terms of the previous contract, which expired on June 30, 2008, will remain in effect until a new pact is ratified by the union membership and approved by the Port Authority board.
The possible agreement ends uncertainty for commuters who have been bracing for a work stoppage as early as Monday. That's when the Port Authority had promised to impose its last contract offer, which likely would have landed in court. Union officials had said that an imposed contract would constitue a lockout and likely would result in a work stoppage.
First published on November 25, 2008 at 8:38 pm
