BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I don't know the current use of the Port Authority's former Beaver Avenue Park and Ride lot (under Route 65 near UPS facility) but there is a flat ride from there. It used to be a great park and pedal location.

Past experience about what has been "bike-friendly" may not help predict what will be "bike-friendly" next week. It's a different sitch. My guess is that the trails will have lots of pedestrians on them. I don't know what form the road closures will take, but I'm assuming they are going to be manned barricades. I expect that there won't be lines of cars backed up at them. So my first shot is going to be to bike up to a road closure, and hop off and go around on foot. If you never hear from me again, that didn't work.

But if I'm right, then the most "bike-friendly" routes during the G-20 are going to be unusual routes. From the north, the 16th st bridge and down liberty and grant might work, assuming that access to grant from the strip is, in fact, possible. Are you actually going inside the Pink Zone or not?

there will be jersey barriers, as they are already staged up in the medians on Grant Street.

I don't believe bikes will have to travel over 16th. I believe you will have 6th, 7th and 9th for bike/ped access from the northside. It's car traffic that is restricted on the sister bridges.

It looks like the 7th and 9th st bridges terminate in the Pink Zone, though.

There are only 3 ways to get into town if you are on a bike, in a car or walking. Roberto Clemente/Sixth St Bridge, Smithfield St Bridge and the intersection of Fifth Avenue with Ross Street. Buses and shuttles are permitted on the Seventh Street Bridge but even that traffic will be limited by some rolling security closures - and it will then be bumped to the Sixth Street Bridge. The Ninth Street Bridge is off limits entirely to everyone.

Here is a good map http://www.g20safety.org/map.htm The green areas might be misleading as to how they are titled, but it was not our intention. Just pay attention to the red zone - and know that you cannot go there.

Being able to exit Downtown from any location (outside of the red zone) allows for some flexibility, but you can't always get there.

If you do find instances of conflicting information, please let me know so that we can have it corrected or clarified.

Patrick

Pedestrians and cyclists may go about their daily business Downtown with little disruption unless they are traveling within the United States Secret Service's security perimeter. Permitted vehicles must enter the CBD at one of three designated locations, but may exit at any point Downtown: Smithfield Street Bridge at West Carson Street; Fifth Avenue at Ross Street; and Roberto Clemente Bridge at Isabella Street. Drivers must meet certain procedures in order to enter Downtown.

The website states that there are more than three ways for biking or walking.

The Secret Service Security Perimeter published last week does not encompass large area you are describing. If we follow the city's statement from yesterday, bikes and pedestrians ARE permitted to travel freely within the city's big green area on their G20 website in the "restricted traffic area" on the interactive map.

I'm following this:

http://www.post-gazette.com/downloads/20090916g20_downtown_security.pdf

And the information here:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09259/998292-482.stm

Unless the city can explain it better...

I don't think that you will be able to take a bicycle into the Secret Service Perimeter because (unfortunately) someone could use it as a projectile. There are also parts that could be stripped from it and used as such. Not to mention the bike lock itself. But I don't speak for the USSS. Just note that they will be in charge of the red zone on the maps and will not allow "items determined to be a potential safety hazard".

Please notice that in both maps there is no green zone connecting the Strip with Downtown. I see no information on either map referred to on this thread or in the narrative that conflicts with that. Perhaps there is some misunderstanding.

There are two maps, the city's and the Secret Service's .

The city's "red zone" encompasses the Secret Service's "red zone" and "green zone." The city's "green zone" does not overlap any of the Secret Service's "Red" or "Green" zones.

The city's "green zone" permits pedestrians and cyclists. The secret service's "red zone" in side the city's "red zone" permits pedestrians and cyclists.

The secret service's "green zone" within the city's "red zone" DOES NOT permit pedestrians and cyclists who DO NOT have proper credentials.

You are doing a disservice by imitating the illustration and deviating from the content developed by the Federal Government and released to the public on September 8th.

The city's map shouldn't have zones. They should only show the "restricted traffic" perimeter and the entry points for authorized motor vehicles. The city is confusing people with red and green zones that conflict by definition, size and location with the colored zones illustrated in the Secret Service Map.

I don't think one can cross the intersection of Grant and Liberty. I should receive conformation of that within a few hours and will post tomorrow. I will also clarify the sidewalk access along Grant St in front of the Court House. Thanks

So if I'm understanding all this, we have unfettered access to Point State Park, and the Fort Duq Bridge pedestrian sidewalk. That means that the suggestion above, to use the Beaver Avenue park & ride, and bike past the casino to the FtDuqBr, would be just about an ideal way to get into town. Right?

Meanwhile, I'm still ready to ride with anyone from West View, into town via Bellevue, then Shadeland and Brighton. Meet me at Rita's Italian Ice at 7:30 on 9/25. (Sorry, can't do this Friday, unless you want to go in at 5:45 a.m.)

My office is above the new Crazy Mocha on Liberty Ave, right on the border but within the Pink Security Zone.

A buddy at work suggested parking my car at the Milvale Riverfront Park, which has access to the trail to the Northside. Has anyone parked and pedalled from there?

So either Milvale or the Beaver Ave park and ride to dump my car, and then cross one of the 3 sisters bridges (9th, 7th or 6th Street) or Ft. Duq Bridge into Downtown is the current plan of attack.

Really appreciate the advice all! Thanks

I pedal from Millvale 3x/week. Use the 7thSB, as 9th is off limits anyway. 7th has a ramp going up to street level (watch the blind corner at the top). 6th you can pedal up to, too, on the PNCPark side, but with really tight switchbacks. Easier to carry the bike.

There is a small park & ride in Millvale, near Hardees, but it fills up early.

RE:marcfleming, I work over on herr's island and ride the route your saying almost every day but backwards. If you wanted to you could park your car in the restaurant/marina parking lot on the island and then ride out to the north side trail. You would be alittle closer plus I know the parking lot there is fairly safe. Might be a good idea to ride on river road next to the north side trail because I've heard the city is gonna let people protest on the trail.

The millvale riverfront park lot is perfect for this purpose. The ride in is quite easy. I suspect there will be quite a few folks using it as a park and pedal location.

Just a warning, there was barriers put up on the sides of the north side trail today. So far they are mostly on the paved section behind the water front apartments, but there are also some going up the first few hundred yards where the dirt section starts.

I rode the trails along the Allegheny and the Mon for the first time today to check out the different ways in.

WOW! Can't believe it took me 5 years living in Pittsburgh to find these amazing paths. Here's about 2/3rds of my trip before my iphone battery drained:

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=357708

Willie, Herr's Island is an interesting area. Thanks for the suggestion to check it out.

You are absolutely right about the barriers being set up from across the Convention Center. City workers were putting them in when I rode by.