Hey folks,
I am considering a Forest Hills - Harrison City ride tomorrow morning as I ramp up my training for the MS 150.
I've driven on Rt. 130 from Turtle Creek to Harrison City plenty of times but I never paid attention as to its suitability for biking. I recall that the stretch from Turtle Creek to Pitcairn is just this side of an expressway and that makes me a little nervous.
So -- if I take this ride, am I taking my life in my hands? Should I stick to borough roads from Turtle Creek to Pitcairn?
Yes, don't go that way. I ride the other way all the time, on the suburban streets that run along the expressway, and they are fine. From Turtle Creek you would follow Airbrake (or one of the adjacent streets) to cross the creek at Patton, then loop around under the bridge and follow Wall Ave the rest of the way.
Is it better past Pitcairn?
It's no longer an expressway (you have to take Mosside Blvd to get to it) but it is still narrow and there's no shoulder.
I have used portions of the Tri-Boro to get between Turtle Creek and Pitcarin, but I try to minimize how much I ride on it when it is is more expressway-like. People drive really fast there. If you use Penn Ave., Airbrake Ave. and State St. you can avoid much of the busier part of that road. Westbound when you are returning there is a pretty wide shoulder and I usually get off at the first exit and hop onto the same side streets. It is a little narrow going into (eastbound) Pitcarin, so just be careful. If you want to add miles and skip 130 on the way out, here's a route that I've modified from Swan's book that takes you through Monroeville to get to Pitcarin: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/14362936
I haven't lived out that way in a long time but could you cross the river and ride the wall side to avoid the "expressway" section? Or even just stay on Airbrake avenue up to Pitcairn?
Looking at the map, 993 out of Trafford then cutting over to 130 before hitting Ardara might afford you some quieter roads and miss that climb from Trafford to Level Green. I've never ridden those roads but from driving them, they seem like they would be tough to ride due to traffic (speed and volume) and lack of a shoulder.
jonawebb -- thanks!
mboyd -- I may use that one to grind some hills soon, looks great. Thanks!
....lots of posts between me starting to type and finishing...
Just a heads up. The bridge into Trafford is under construction. Don't know if it is closed to foot traffic or not. I'll see what I can find out.
sew -- thanks for the 993 suggestion, that may be a safer way to go
Looks like you'll be ok on the Trafford Bridge construction issue. Temporary lane closures only. Oscar Swan has some great ride ideas in this area in his book (available as pdf online.) Check pages 90-100 or so.
But remember, when you are on the streets in something other than a car, you always take your life into your own hands, or maybe put it is the hands of others.
Thanks - I keep meaning to check his book out and it now looks like I have no excuse.
Looks like you'll be ok on the Trafford Bridge construction issue. Temporary lane closures only.
Sure about that? The news coverage earlier in the month said it was to close for demolition on April 9th.
http://www.wtae.com/news/30849886/detail.html
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/westmoreland/s_790128.html
But maybe they changed their plans.
nothing 
As I discovered this morning -- that sucker is closed, closed, closed. The detour was kind of fun.
Between the rain and a hopefully minor muscle strain, I didn't get all the way to Harrison City -- pooped out at Trafford Middle School -- but I'll take it.
Glad you had fun - here's another nice route (mostly) that I haven't done for a little while that goes in that general direction for you to try sometime: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/14364344
IF i were going to harrison city,
Cut through wall and wilmerding, then take
the bridge on 48 over to 130. 130 thru t
creek and pitcairen sucks.
993 is a great road out of trafford... as
stated the brige is out, but there is a detour via forbes rd that is a mile longer.
sweet.
@steevo what you described is exactly what I did.
ALSO:
FOllow if this makes sense to you.
In order to never go into turtle creek:
Braddock ave past edgar thomson. Up hill under
30. MAKE RIGHT like you are going to Eastpgh
make second left on versailes. follow that
down to the left. closed rd signs, ghostish
road to the greensburg pike. Right then
second left. kline through neighborhood
into Wall. Danny chew shortcut
The words 'Danny Chew shortcut' make me expect, uh, serious elevation changes, but the map looks like it isn't too bad. I'll check that out sometime, although I don't mind going through TC.
I rode 130 from westbound Pitcarin to Turtle Creek yesterday and refreshed my memory. There is a shoulder of variable width that is decent at times (a bit narrow sometimes also). However, the shoulder does not appear to have been swept (particularly since the semi-recent tar/chip treatment), so it's less usable than it could be.
By the way if you want to ride some time on- or off-road, send me a message - I'm in you general vicinity.
