BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

how 'bout that.

that'll be amazing when completed

Indeed.

How much of a stink have regular Wharf users raised about the loss of parking spaces?

How much of a stink have regular Wharf users raised about the loss of parking spaces?

Given how frequently those spaces are underwater, probably not much.

I always like to hear about any trail progress being made.

...ultimately the project will eliminate 150 to 200 spaces

In a perfect world, the project will create 150 to 200 additional bicycle commuters <3

How often does the Mon Wharf flood? During the winter and spring I think about once or twice a month. This somewhat critical article from last year (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/heyl/s_574012.html) Says that between Oct 2006 and Apr 2007 the wharf was flooded 18 times, sometimes for as long as a week.

So, the author is exaggerating a bit when he says the wharf is "constantly under water". At it's worst it's under water perhaps a quarter of the time. And while he ridicules the trail that will be unusable 25% of the time, to us who up until this point have had no trail, it will be an improvement of 400%.

Or, at least it will be once the ramps down from the Smithfield Street Bridge are constructed.

I've done more research on Mon Wharf flooding. The winter in his article was particularly heavy or else he was exaggerating there as well. The Mon Wharf floods 2 to 5 times a year typically. This means that the wharf is flooded perhaps 10% of the time, probably even less than that. That means that the improvement to cyclists will be 800% or higher.

I notice that he doesn't ridicule the city for putting a parking lot there in the first place. One would think that if building a bike trail that is flooded 10% of the time is foolish, then building a parking lot that is flooded 10% of the time would be equally foolish. I think he's just an autodominionist bitter that parking spaces are going to be lost.

From what I understood there were plans to fix the path so it would flood less. Guess I was wrong.

I personally think the path is a great idea flooding or not. Our rivers are an important asset. The more we use them the better.

Now if we can just get some more casual dining and drinking spots along the river we will be in good shape!

There's nothing to be done to have it flood less. we are at the mercy of watersheds, dams and the Army Corps of Engineers on that. The design, however, is features to lessen the impact of inevitable floods. The surface of the trail will not be level. It will have a slight cant to allow water and mud to naturally flow off. The railings will be minimal, cables I believe, so that they will not catch debris.

Those are the things I know about. Does anyone else have other details? The one picture I've seen online doesn't sound quite like the description I heard.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08171/891015-52.stm