Well we should definitely do something about the state of cycling in our city. I agree with you whole-heartedly. It's almost comical to be a cyclist is such a bike un-friendly city. Things were much worse ten years ago, however, and things have to get better. I live in the South Hills. As you can imagine, cycling for me is even more challenging. There is no effective route into the city. I could climb Mount Washington but I ride a single-speed(not fixed mind you I'm not that crazy). I could take the bike on the trolley from where I live but oh, wait, not during peak time rendering the idea almost completely useless to me.
Ever the productive person, I have chosen to channel my frustration. I am currently lobbying for a bike trail servicing the South Hills. I've got the proposal I just need the permission and the support.
Getting Around Pittsburgh
Dunno if anyone saw this, but the "Getting Around" section is quite funny.
* By bicycle
Pittsburgh has an extensive network of biking trails, most of which run along the rivers. Unless you are a particularly suicidal biker, you will stick to the trails as roads are generally narrow and filled with gaping, man eating potholes. Cyclists are advised to weave in between traffic, dart out from parked cars suddenly, and stop without warning.
Given Pittsburgh's topography, certain hills have been known to induce cardiac arrest in bikers cycling uphill and sudden face-pavement fusion in bikers going downhill.
Additionally, be aware that Pittsburgh drivers are let off with a warning if they kill a cyclist.
Benny,
I don't want to discourage you, but believe me, the lack of a bike trail between downtown and the South Hills is not for lack of effort. Do you have a route or alignment in mind? PM me, and I'll try to bring you up to date with what's been tried/considered in the past.
Saw mill run blvd is ideal. it is the only flat rd that leads through the only gap along the ridge
that is mt washington.
Hey levitsky, why dont we just connect all your
parkinglots and call it a bike trail?
Benny, There are less steep routes over Mt Washington, there are ways to get over without gears.
Southern Ave. is good for getting into the city, 18th good for getting out.
I like in Brookline and have to travel west liberty and route 51 to get to these routes. Not saying it's impossible just saying it needs to be better.
No argument from me about the need for improvement. But honestly these routes look a lot worse than they are in practice. I used to commute to West Liberty Cycles from town, after a few weeks I had no real problems.
I'd love to see all the extra space in the Armstrong tunnel turned into a bike lane.
If and when they connect Homestead into Mckeesport then you might be able to get into South Hills.Rumor is they might also someday connect a trail from Station Square to Montour Trail in Groveton.The bad news is we might all be dead by the time this occurs.
I bicycled through the Wabash Tunnel on Tuesday at rush hour. (No signs to prevent it, so...) I don't see what would be preventing Port Authority from allowing bikes in there. It's wide, it's well lit, and nobody uses it. All of four cars passed me at 6pm. With a 25mph speed limit, I was very nearly able to match that under my own power. The only irritation was the noise. All those fans going, it was like having a hair dryer over your head.
Return trip from Dormont, I used Saw Mill Run, Boggs, William. I think I'd prefer the tunnel.
Could we make a case for a greater amount of expected bicycle trips through the wabash, than vehicle trips? First bicycle only tunnel in Pittsburgh; Pennsylvania; U.S.; North America; Galaxy? Or did the germans beat us at that too?
n.b. you have to exclude big savage mtn. as it's for walkers too...
Maybe, but there's this problem called Saw Mill Run Blvd, which is HORRIBLE. I'll tackle McKnight Road 50 times before trying any piece of SMRB again. Even going uphill on West Liberty is a breeze compared to it. And I was only on it from Warrington to West Liberty, and back as far as Boggs a bit later.
Oh i mean for a bike lane along saw mill run, not to actually ride it!!! Its the south hills equivalent bigelow or 28... a road zoned commercial that is 50mph all the time..
I have been pulled over in the wabash.
Uh yeah, Wabash, not Armstrong. Duh
this thread went so many weird places...
to get back on track, i read all three of the guys g-20 ramblings and was entertained thoroughly
That was an amusing write up. Exaggerations all the way.
bump.
I couldn't find a better West Liberty thread, so...
"Mr. Cessna said the road will be striped with five lanes - two in each direction and a center lane for left turns. "This is an accident location. We're going to deal with it," he said. None of the current on-street parking will be removed, he said."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09350/1021201-147.stm#ixzz0Zr3bfvMm
West Liberty will have 5 striped lanes from 51 to Mt. Lebo. Good, bad, indifferent?
That's a start, and a big improvement for someone living in the South Hills.If they could now find a way to stripe a major road that leads into downtown,that would be great!!
Striping may be good for drivers, but I like riding it as a two lane road with a 12 foot shoulders on each side.
That is unless one of those lanes is a bike lane. Any plans on sharrows so they can at least have the satisfaction of running over painted bikers in lieu of the real thing?
Will it help bicyclsts climb from SMRB any easier? Will it help buses get to or from the South Busway any easier? Will it do anything to help in any truly useful way other than to allow for the slow-moving warehousing of cars?
I think bd has it right.
I'm curious to see how they are going to fit these 5 lanes
Mixed bag. I'll wait to make a final decision. I suppose I won't be leaving my house next year.
I will be really happy to have the one lane bottle neck at the McDonalds removed. That's actually about the worst stretch of that road for a commuter.
I don't know where they're going to get 5 lanes the whole way though.