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Take back the Street (ELB/Negley) Ride

There has been discussion of the need for a Take Back the Street ride in the East End in light of the recent attacks on cyclists in the vicinity of East Liberty Boulevard and Negley.


There are two prime times for this ride, as I see it. The first is before or after the District 7 Council to Go Meeting (6:30 on Thursday, in Highland Park). The second is before or after the City of Pittsburgh Police Zone 5 meeting on Tuesday, June 8th. (I don't have a time for that meeting, but suspect it is also early evening.)


Does one day work better than another?


swalfoort
2010-06-01 14:25:21

Thanks for starting a new thread.


I will be out of town for this and am sorry i cant make it!


I believe the one 5 safetly meeting might be the best way to do it... and I would say go ride before and get there when it begins by bike to really show that cyclists are there. bring your helmets inside, etc. Hopefully making the police aware will help, and we need to find out what is going on with the curfew because i never heard if it was approved or not (inside by 11 on weekdays, 12 on weekends for under 17-year olds)


The next Zone 5 Public Safety meeting is Tuesday, June 8th at 7pm at the Union Project. We were told at a recent community meeting that the police had some leads on a group of young teens that have been committing these random acts (not just against bicyclists), and I will be curious if there is an update. I am sure that any information your friend can give will be helpful. (courtesy of pat dowd's office)


caitlin
2010-06-01 14:48:14

I'll ride on the 8th. I think Free Ride was suggested as a starting point in another thread. Works for me- thoughts?


tabby
2010-06-01 16:40:10

I'm down.


ndromb
2010-06-01 16:51:04

i suggest after the meeting when it's dark. and likely more amenable to peoples' schedules (my own included).


saltm513
2010-06-01 16:57:17

I'm available on the 8th, either before or after the meeting.


hoffmannj
2010-06-01 17:49:59

I wrote this in the other thread...


I would advise against parking at Free Ride/Construction Junction for the Zone 5 meeting on the 8th, as the gate to the parking lot will be locked.


CJ closes in the early evening, and Free Ride doesn't have any hours on Saturday evenings, so even if you do park in that lot, your car will most likely get locked in by 7ish.


If you want to meet near Free Ride, there's street parking in the area..


rachel_ding
2010-06-01 18:12:06

With that said, it may be better to use the East End Food Co-op as a starting point.


rachel_ding
2010-06-01 18:13:42

No preference on date here.


Q: if this ride is focused on East Liberty, why start so far away? Start somewhere on Penn Circle, like the HD parking lot, and go up Highland->ELB->Broad->something,something->Centre->Negley->End


lyle
2010-06-01 18:23:53

um, why not just start at the union project where the meeting is held?


saltm513
2010-06-01 18:53:28

There was some discussion about the availability of parking, which will be limited at the Union Project if there are many people attending.


lyle
2010-06-01 20:27:31

Who needs parking when you can ride your bike?


rick
2010-06-01 20:49:48

there's a parking lot for UP on the other side of stanton, and a fair amount of street parking as well.


saltm513
2010-06-01 20:56:11

8th is best for me


robjdlc
2010-06-01 21:41:06

just let me know when it is and i will do the best to make sure i am out of work


stefb
2010-06-02 00:33:58

what about the trader joe's parking lot? there's a whole shopping plaza there to park at


stefb
2010-06-02 00:35:28

Meeting on the 8th starts at 7 p.m. If you want to ride there as a group (to make a statement) meet at Trader Joe's Parking lot at 6:30. Ride departs at 6:40 p.m.


swalfoort
2010-06-02 00:48:38

Or come early to the Union Project and learn how to hula-hoop at 6:30... Just sayin' ;). I'll be attending the 2nd half of the meeting, as the class I teach there ends at 7:30.


saltm513
2010-06-02 03:48:41

Great idea to "Take Back the Night (the Right?)" to use the ELB lanes. I use the lanes bikeing and skating. I can mobilize the inline skating group to join in as well.


Parking may be available in the far end of the Home Depot parking lot. it is a large lot. it is at Highland Ave. & Penn circle.


Keep us posted!


skisk8r
2010-06-02 14:11:36

so I won't be in town for this, but if it truly is a take back the night ride... I feel like we should do this on weekend night around 10pm-12am.


dmtroyer
2010-06-02 14:46:37

Just to confirm.


is there consensus that people are meeting at trader joe's parking lot at 6:30 to ride to the meeting?


erok
2010-06-02 15:53:32

@dmtroyer: shouldn't it be at or near the time that the assaults happened?


@erok: that's fine with me.


lyle
2010-06-02 16:09:52

@lyle exactly. justin was attacked around 10:30pm. I seem to remember the attacks from 6 months ago happening between midnight and 2 am.


dmtroyer
2010-06-02 17:57:09

The reference to Take Back the Night is in reference to creating a visual impact upon arrival at the Zone 5 community meeting, not necessarily a ride to actually TAKE BACK THE NIGHT.


One of those should be organized as well -- with riders equipped with cameras, helmet cams, etc. and therefore able to document any and all altercations.


swalfoort
2010-06-02 18:22:31

I'll see if I can go to this ride... I'm usually wiped-out after work, and usually don't get home until 6:30pm :/


bikeygirl
2010-06-02 18:26:19

I'm down. I also agree we should have a later night ride though. I don't think if there is a group of us we'll run into any trouble. If we do I might even know some of the kids because I've been tutoring in East Liberty since January.


sgtjonson
2010-06-02 19:59:36

Has anyone decided to ride tonight Thursday for the Council on the Go meeting or next week for the Zone 5 meeting, Where is Union Project located???


skisk8r
2010-06-03 13:31:48

union project is the big church on the corner of stanton and negley


erok
2010-06-03 13:38:03

I'm planning to go to the CotG meeting but it's a tossup whether I'll ride or not. I can handle getting drenched (like last night :( ) but would rather not squelch around sopping wet in the cafe for a few hours without a change of clothes.


lyle
2010-06-03 13:42:54

Seriously, is this happening? Because I have a billion other things to do and I don't want to be the only one hanging out in the parking lot.


erink
2010-06-08 21:41:57

there is a whole other thread about it. but i am leaving my house in a couple minutes to go wait for everyone to show up.


cburch
2010-06-08 21:42:54

I'm heading there shortly - hopefully I'll make it before y'all leave...


lyle
2010-06-08 21:52:38