BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I think I am reading this as a Park and Pedal inquiry...where to take the bike via car, and ride in the last few miles?

Two suggestions come to mind: Shoot over Rochester to Millvale, and park at Millvale Riverfront Park, and take the trail to the 31st Street Bridge. Then through the Strip a few blocks to his destination.

The other would be to take Union Avenue to Bellevue, park on the street there, and take the Brighton Heights Route along Lincoln/Benton/Brighton/Shadeland/Woodland/Brighton/North Shore/Trail to 31st Street Bridge.

Or, he could even do the Lincoln/Benton/Brighton/Woods Run to SCI-Pittsburgh and take the trail all the way to 31st Street Bridge.

There is no good parking that I know of at the North End of the North Shore Trail (near the Penitentiary) or along Woods Run. But, I don't know the area all that well, and options may exist. That would avoid the McClure hill on the way home. I'd have him explore that area for parking options if he wants a trail ride that is longer than just Millvale to the Strip.

It's an almost ideal bike commute. He has only one hill, the one right next to his house.

Easy peasy, no car required. Drop down to Rochester, R Babcock, wiggle through Millvale, trail to 31SB, R Liberty, park bike.

I park at the pen on days I know I dont want to come back up the hill or my bike is fully loaded. I park Westhall right by the valspar building. No signs says you cant, and it is a public street. I have never had any issues and the valspar people and pen people have never said anything. I have left my car there from 7am till midnight a couple time. I also see other people that are using the docks and trail park there.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=3610+Wickshire+St,+Pittsburgh,+Allegheny,+Pennsylvania+15212&ll=40.472082,-80.042658&spn=0.002285,0.00376&t=h&z=18

What is Babcock like to ride on? Don't make it out that way much.

I have never had a problem on the lower part of Babcock, near Millvale. It's nearly level, not that much traffic, what there is rarely exceeds 40mph (posted 35), and with the exception of one small bridge is fairly wide.

There are a couple of places where you have to get left a little bit because of dedicated right turn lanes, but traffic is light and slow, so just make your intentions known and be visible.

The left onto Rochester (going north) is also fairly tame, even if it is on a bit of an uphill. As soon as you clear the light you're on a downhill again.

As far as suburban roads go, it would be hard to envision a nicer road to ride on than Babcock -- wide, flat, straight, tame.

Even up to the right-angle bend (Babcock turns right to go up to Northway Mall), it's still pretty good. Beyond that up to McKnight, all bets are off: Hilly, curvy, fast, dangerous.

Note that Babcock intersects McKnight twice, the southern one on an interchange (McKnight goes over it on a bridge), the northern one at grade.

@stu: easy peasy if you're not in restraints.

I'm just not sure about how to ride in restraints. I'm thinking a recumbent might be a good idea. Or a hacksaw.