BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I ride through CMU and Sq Hill on my way to Point Breeze.  I ride Beeler to Wilkins to Dallas, and I agree that Wilkins is narrow, and drivers are generally irrationally impatient there. There aren't any great options, but they would be taking Solway [part brick which isn't ideal] to Woodmont to Forbes, or Shady to Northumberland to Forbes.  Forbes has a bike lane going up and sharrows going down, but it's a lot steeper than Wilkins and adds a significant distance. My opinion, take Wilkins.  The more bikes the frequent the stretch, the safer it will be as people driving cars become more familiar with seeing people on bikes [in theory].  Stay out of the door zone, but show people behind you that you are conscious of their presence and are intentionally taking the lane position you are.

if you're going from sq hill to cmu, just take forbes or fifth. I used penn to fifth daily when I had a commute from Regent Square to Pitt. From Sq Hill to CMU should be pretty much all down hill, so Forbes seems to make sense.

also, on the way back, you can use the bike lane on Forbes and go left on Northumberland, which parallels Wilkins and is wider with less traffic

I agree with Nick D's basic statement, but if that's not your speed, the other suggestions are all quite reasonable. Continuing in that trend, a very relaxed, slightly more out of the way, and somewhat scenic alternative, schenley drive is worth considering. Lastly, I don't know CMU campus at all, but by proximity, it seems worth asking around or just doing a little scouting to see if there's a cut through from campus to Gladstone Rd. or Northumberland directly. If it's possible to get on Northumberland more or less directly and stay on it till Shady that would be a really relaxing ride. If there is that cut through, please share!

This is great, thanks. While I agree with NickD too, the total lack of bikes on Wilkins when I've been there is discouraging. I'll let you know how it goes next week. Now if only the weather would continue like this...

I sometimes commute to CMU through Squirrel Hill. When I go that route inbound, I tend to take Aylesboro, which is relatively calm, with decent sight lines. It runs parallel to Wilkins and Forbes, and spits you out onto Forbes.

Hillier and farther out of the way would be Shady->Aylesboro -> [either dogleg Murdoch -> Forbes or elft of Forbes at the end of Aylesboro] -> Schenely Drive through the golf course. Might make (some) sense if you were going to the library or Parker, Baker or Scaife halls. I take Wilkins, but it is usually off-hours I travel.

On a somewhat related note, I was only passed too close [albeit, slowly] once on Wilkins today by a woman [talking on her phone] who was very patient. Although it wasn't safe from my perspective, it was obvious that she was making a conscious effort to be safe. I have a feeling that many drivers are unaware that it is perfectly legal to cross a double yellow to safely pass someone riding a bike.

Totally agreed, I think there need to be billboards for public education on some heavily trafficked arteries with a picture showing not just a car giving a cyclist 4 ft but going over the center line to do so. A driver trying to squeeze by, in lane, on a narrow section was how my mirror was (very lightly) clipped going up Greenfield maybe a month ago. In that case maybe there was some bad depth perception going on, too.

Take Shady south R on Northumberland or Ayelsboro, L on Forbes, R on Schenley Drive, R on Tech street and onto campus. I am also comfortable taking Forbes between Shady & Schenley Drive. Since you live on Sq Hill, be sure to explore Beechwood if you haven't already. It runs parallel to Shady but has less traffic, a more gentle slope, and bike lanes!

@byogman Lastly, I don’t know CMU campus at all, but by proximity, it seems worth asking around or just doing a little scouting to see if there’s a cut through from campus to Gladstone Rd. or Northumberland directly. If it’s possible to get on Northumberland more or less directly and stay on it till Shady that would be a really relaxing ride. If there is that cut through, please share! There is a well travelled route from the end of Frew Stret to Northumberland. At various times, it was my preferred route through Squirrel Hill in hurry. I'm guessing you mean from the main stretch of Margaret Morrison, and I dont' know of a cut through there. Biggest issue is that Norhumberland goes down a steep little hill to get onto Forbes and uyou lose all your momentum there. Once while speeding (I mean, like speeding for me) to a dentist appointment, I came as close as I ever have to running down a pedestrian in a crosswalk on Northumberland. It was Bike-Pgh's own Lou Fineberg.

Lastly, I don’t know CMU campus at all, but by proximity, it seems worth asking around or just doing a little scouting to see if there’s a cut through from campus to Gladstone Rd. or Northumberland directly. My grandfather's family lived on Gladstone Road/Roselawn Terrace in the 1920s and I've had occasion to poke around there. So far as I know, there is no outlet off Gladstone Road down to the CMU campus, but there is a staircase that comes down from Gladstone Road to Forbes Avenue, by Normlee Place. Even with the bike lane/sharrows on that stretch of Forbes Avenue, I almost always find myself on Schenley Drive through Schenley Park when I'm going from CMU campus to Squirrel Hill. The road feels a lot wider and there is less car traffic, and I feel like it's generally a quieter ride. Depending where on campus you're starting it might be 0.2 miles longer, but I think it makes sense regardless. Both Northumberland Street and Aylesboro Avenue are quieter than Wilkins Avenue, and both go all the way from Dallas Avenue to Forbes Avenue, though Aylesboro does a zig-zag at Shady Avenue. My recommended low-stress route would be either Northumberland or Aylesboro, cutting up via Murdoch Street, and continuing on Forbes Avenue where it's flat or downhill, and taking Schenley Drive through the park. http://goo.gl/maps/Ew1JM Mick, I'll have to check out that Northumberland-Frew connection.

I've ridden Wilkins between Negley and Beechwood twice a day for the past 2.5 years. I know one co-worker who does the same except he goes to Fair Oaks... so there's not a total lack of bikes. I have mixed feelings about it. By far the worst problem is cars making a left from Murray pulling out in front of you - in either direction, but obviously it's worse going downhill. I get passed too close sometimes but I wouldn't say it's any worse than any other road in that regard. I think about taking Northumberland but I've never done it. Maybe I'll try it. But, going to CMU that sounds like a pretty decent option... a lot more stop signs that way though. FWIW, when I worked at CMU I took Fair Oaks->Wilkins->Beeler and encountered some unbelievable pricks driving on Beeler. People do 40-45 on that road routinely.

@ieverhart Mick, I’ll have to check out that Northumberland-Frew connection. First part of the unpaved path is so steep I walk up it. I'm not sure if I've ever ridden it, even with my fAmOuS granny gears.

Aww shucks, can't be that bad, right? On google maps you just click the arrow and teleport over the unpaved stuff!