BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Brighton Heights represent!

Right now wife and I take McClure to the prison and take the trail in, Also cross at the 7th (warhol) into downtown. When the trail is flooded or snowed, we took shadeland over to brighton.

Let's hear it for the 'Heights.

I work in the South Side. Most days, McClure/trail or Beaver/Ft Duq/the Point to town, then either Second Ave/10th St Bridge or Jail Trail/Hot metal. Occasionally, California to Columbus and cut through Manchester.

When I feel like getting the blood pumping a bit, I'll do West End Bridge/Carson St all the way in. Fast and fun, but traffic can be iffy.

I've been trying to find a better way into town from Robinson than 60/west end/Carson, and i hadn't considered the McKees rocks bridge to the prison to the trail. Thoughts?

It would add a couple miles. cross the bridge, up termon, right on mcclure to the bottom, catch the trail at the prison.

Might also consider taking california after crossing the bridge.

I often ride in from just past Bellevue. I usually take Lincoln to Benton to California (through the killer merge at Marshall) to Brighton, then across whatever bridge looks good that day into downtown -- usually the 7th or 9th Street Bridge. On days when I am escorting a newbie, or want to stop for coffee, I'll take Lincoln to Benton to Shadeland to Orchlee(?) to Brighton (near the top of the hill at Marshall) and follow the same route in from there. Heading into downtown I used to like the West Ohio to Merchant/Scotland Route behind the Clark Bar Building near the stadiums, then across the pedestrian bridge into Point State Park, but construction has made that a MESS.

Heights in da howse! Shadeland/Brighton or McClure/Trail then Duq Bridge/Station Sq Trail to the S. Side. Never get tired of watching motorist frustration heading into the Ft. Pitt tunnel as I peacefully cruise along enjoying the river view.

@edmonds, a friend used to ride the McKees Rocks Bridge into the Northside all the time. Says it was a nice ride, depending on traffic. Connection to the trail is a little iffy....up the hill, a quick wiggle to McClure (nice downhill) then a right on Woods Run, the Eckert Street Tunnel and a wiggle to the trail. You might want to just do Benton to California (top of the hill) and bomb down California to Brighton. I think you can handle the quarter mile of terror where the road merges with a Route 65 off ramp just before Marshall. The rest of the ride is sweet. What route would you take to the Rocks?

SW, I would just take little back winders to the bridge, Beaver Grade to Aiken to Clever to Pine Hollow, etc. A number of different ways to do that, that's easy.

I hope one day that come up with an idea to make it easier to get up to the bridge from the trail.. would make it easier to get to say.. cori to connect to the montour trail.

Thread-jack: I need to get out to Kennedy Township on Sunday from the South Side. I was planning on taking West Carson St. to the Rocks but was not looking forward to Carson’s nastiness past the circle. Is North Side to Mckees Rocks Bridge a good alternative? I don’t mind a few extra miles if it makes the ride more enjoyable.

FYI W Carson on a Sunday is piece of cake, almost dead, take it to Stanhope/Linden/Chartiers/Broadway/Pine Hollow. That's my normal way home.

Here's the Montour Trail Council/Shaw-Weil recommended route from North Side to Montour Trail at Groveton.

Am currently working with McKees Rocks to discuss options for Bridge access from the extended bottoms, from Chartiers Crossing Plaza at Route 51/Carson to Glenn Street (at Fleming Bridge/Neville Island Access....) There are some back roads that appear to ALMOST work. McKees Rocks is completing a revitalization plan -- no jokes please - which in conjunction with Active Allegheny might actually make some logical improvements here. It is certainly on everyone's radar....

http://www.shawweil.com/trips/montourchateau.shtm

Thanks Edmonds, I'll stick to my original plan.

McKees Rox Br to town, I use Termon to Fleming to Antrim to McClure to Eckert to wiggle to trail. The climb going the other way is OK, though that little bit of Antrim feels a tad steep sometimes. Much less traffic than dealing with California.

Coming from Bellevue, I like swalfoort's route, with one little wiggle, a L onto Woodland, R Stayton, L Hodgkiss, R Brighton. Reverse the same. Eliminates that much more traffic and grade change on Brighton.

Of course I'm starting way north of town, over 2 miles north of West View. I prefer using Federal over using Perrysville going into town, and Brighton to NCharles to Perrysville going out. I'll climb Federal to Perrysville if I have to, but it's very busy, and long, and steeper than NCharles, and Federal straight up is almost Dirty Dozen steep.

If I'm just trying to get to the suburbs, NShore trail to Millvale to Babcock Blvd is the way I go.

@Stu -- thanks. I do that wiggle from Benton to Brighton, but can never remember the names of teh streets involved. It's pretty intuitive, however, if you know your general destination (Brighton) is ahead and to the right, and that the longer you stay off Brighton (north of Marshall) the happier you will be.

Wow...all 4 Nor'siders checked in on the same day

I tried Stu's and Swalfoort's route (Brighton - Hodgkiss - Stayton - Woodland - Shadeland) on my way home today. I must say, I'm a fan. Brighton is nice and wide up to Marshall, with almost no cars parked on the uphill side. The climb is near the beginning, and then you can just cruise the rest of the way into the 'Heights. I think I'll try the reverse on my way in tomorrow.

@Stu -- If you like to go fast downhill, try following Termon to Brighton and then make a right onto Woods Run. It was repaved last Summer and is nice and smooth, and without as many hard bends (or a stop sign right in the middle of the decent) as McClure. Be careful during rush hour, though...I hit a new record of 37 mph a few weeks ago, and then right around the bend traffic was stopped, backed halfway up the hill from the light at Woods Run. My life flashed before my eyes, and I've been afraid to really crank it downhill since...

If you don't mind speed follow Benton all the way over to California (Wine and Spirits Shop/Coffee House) and take California all the way to Brighton (past the post office). No cross streets, few stops and a steady downhill make for great riding, until.....

Just north of Marshall Avenue you'll be forced to make a decision. Stay right, and do the relatively short merge onto the Route 65 off ramp (at 25 mph or more), or stay left and ride into oncoming channelized traffic for two blocks. Personally, I do the merge, although I bought a handlebar mirror to help monitor traffic coming up behind me.

You'll want to crank here, as you will be merging with traffic at speed, from the left. There will be light and probable stop at the end of the merge at Marshall, however.