Before: Smallman, Big Hole

Anyone who has biked eastbound on Smallman Street in the Strip District is aware of one of the worst drain grates in the City.  The drain at 14th St not only has a bike-wheel eating longitudinal grate, but is recessed in the street creating a permanent, yet well sculpted pot hole.  We’ve all had nightmares of hitting this thing and ending up on the pavement, becoming a pet peeve of many cyclists in town.

This catastrophe-in-the-waiting seemed like a great opportunity to run a pseudo-scientific test of the City’s 311 non-emergency reporting system.  Well, a few months ago, we emailed 311 to report it.  311 swiftly responded with a “Service Request ID” and we thought we were on our way.  Then nothing.  The important thing about calling 311 is that they give you this ID number so that you can follow up.

A month or so passed, then the follow up started.  Again nothing.  Another month, nothing.

Then yesterday, on our way back from the round table discussion about cycling in Council Chambers, a work crew was sweeping up the debris after removing the grate!  SUCCESS!

Anyone can call 311, and it’s fun!

Here’s How:  Pick something that really irritates you.  Call or email 311.  Wait.  Follow up with the request with the same ID number.  Wait and repeat until desired results.

After: SUCCESS!

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Hot off the Press!

Lend a hand Thursday evening at 5:30

We just received  > 15,000 copies of our popular how to guide for beginner and experienced bike commuters. Most of the information remains the same. We made a few graphic changes and updated some information. Highlights include more details to the “IN A CRASH” section, and an important reminder that even when you’re riding in groups to make your own decisions about when to go, stop, and proceed – especially through intersections.

With all these new guides now we need your help stuffing the guides with membership forms  to encourage people to become a member and learn more about BikePGH’s mission. The food, drink, and stuffing fun takes place at the BikePGH office this Thursday evening at 5:30.We’ll do as many as we can until 7:00.

We appreciate the help!

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Mayor Ravenstahl announcing the City’s plan for Bicycle and Pedestrian initiatives at Tazza D’Oro August, 2008

It’s been two years since the “Four E’s”  announcement – What’s changed?  How can the City push these initiatives forward?

Pittsburgh City Council member Patrick Dowd is calling a Post Agenda Meeting in Council Chambers to discuss bicycle and pedestrian initiatives, on Tuesday, August 31.  The round-table discussion will contain representatives from the Mayor’s office, City Planning, Public Works, Pittsburgh Police, the Port Authority, SPC, Allegheny County and BikePGH.  The focus of the meeting is to assess the the state of bicycle and pedestrian initiatives over the past two years since the Mayor’s announcement of the “Four E’s” initiative and the hiring of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator.  The meeting will look at the improvements that have been made, as well as how the various City departments can work better to further develop the “Four E’s” of Engineering, Education, Enforcement and Events.

Please Attend!

This is a great opportunity for the cyclists to see how the City handles bicycle and pedestrian issues.  The public is encouraged to attend, but there will be no public comments taken at the meeting.

• What: Round-table Post Agenda Meeting to discuss bicycle and pedestrian initiatives
• When: Tuesday, August 31 at 1:30
• Where: City Council Chambers, City County Building
• Why: To assess the past two years of bicycle and pedestrian initiatives, and how to move forward

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Click on the image to download a pdf of the detour

Detour on popular trail to last until next summer

The City of Pittsburgh will be closing a section of the Eliza Furnace Trail starting on Wednesday in order to replace the bridge that carries the trail over Bates Street.  A number of trucks and taller vehicles have crashed into the bridge over the years.

Eastbound cyclists will be diverted off of the trail, across Second Ave and onto Middle Access Road in the Pittsburgh Technology Center.  They will then be diverted up the ramp to the Hot Metal Bridge where they can continue onto the trail toward Greenfield, or cross the Hot Metal Bridge.  Special ramps will be installed to make transitions as seamless as possible.

Work is due to be completed in about a year.  There will also be improvements to the trail access from Bates St to make it wheelchair accessible and offer lighting.

Click here to download a map of the Trail Detour

You can follow a discussion about the detour on the BikePGH Messageboard

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Photo by flickr user Richard Drdul

What will Pittsburgh’s bicycle route signage point to?  Where should it be?  We need your help!

The next step in a major project that BikePGH is working on with the City of Pittsburgh has launched.  Often the best bicycle route between two points isn’t the same as the “better known,” congested driving route, leaving many cyclists, and would-be cyclists, intimidated and frustrated.  The Bicycle Route and Signage Plan will create a network of signed on-street bike routes that will help guide cyclists between neighborhoods and attractions.  Based on BikePGH’s Pittsburgh Bike Map, it will also help inform the City where on-street bicycle improvements, like bike lanes and sharrows, should be located.  The steering committee has picked a consultant, who is now looking for public input to help them fine tune the Plan.

Help out!

What they need to know is — which of the preferred routes on the BikePGH Bike Map should be signed with Bike Route Signs providing directions, destinations, and distances?

Tell us where signed routes should be established and which destinations should be included on the signs.  Let us know which hills are preferred and which ones to avoid.  Can you think of a street that could really benefit from additional signage or a contra-flow bike lane?  Tell us!

You can give us input about  each of the following aspects of a bike route sign plan:

• Mark a route that would be good for recreation or commuting
• Show us where you enter and exit the trail system
• Tell us which destination in the city should have signed bike routes leading to them?
• Show us where you got lost or confused due to lack of clear signage
• Show us where hazards or difficult intersections exist along otherwise good bike routes
• Where two routes may serve the same destination, tell us which one is best and why

There are two ways to provide input.

ONLINE

An online map has been developed where you can add your comments, best/worst routes, areas in need of improvement, etc.

Click Here:  http://communitywalk.com/bikepghrouteplan

• Login: bikepgh
• password: bikepgh

Comments can be submitted online until mid-October 2010

Public Open House

• Thursday, September 23, 2010, 5-8pm
• Kingsley Center, 6435 Frankstown Ave, East Liberty

For additional information, contact: Stephen Patchan, Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator, Pittsburgh Dept of City Planning, 412-393-0150, stephen.patchan@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

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Carnegie is a wonderful little town with much of the historic built environment intact

Carnegie residents have held on to the belief in their community despite industrial upheavals, economic downturns, and floods.  It holds much potential for the future because it has the infrastructure to become a very walkable, bikeable, livable, and human scaled community.

As our featured district this month Carnegie marks the Car Free Fridays location furthest from Pittsburgh’s urban core. Local bicyclists Bill Edmonds in conjunction with Borough Manager Whitney Brady have planned a delightful evening of Car Free fun.

Bill has designed two rides that he hopes will provide something of interest for almost everyone.

One is what he is calling the “Social Ride”, an easier route of about 7 miles that winds through the back streets and hidden corners of Carnegie and adjacent Heidelburg.  The ride will pass a couple of interesting cemeteries, one with a wonderful view, and another with headstones from the American Revolution era, the baseball legend Honus Wagner’s house, the beautiful and recently restored Carnegie Free Library, a 21st century green townhouse development, and a great street that will make you think you have suddenly been transported to the forest.  This will be an escorted, no-drop ride, leaving at 6:00 pm, and if there is enough interest, again at 7:00 pm.

The other ride is for the more adventurous set.  8 miles winding up into the hills of Rosslyn Farms and Carnegie Heights with some serious climbing and some amazing views.  Ride this one on your own or get together a group. A map will be available and the route is marked.

Both tours will start at the Carnegie Station of the West Busway

Golden Triangle Bike Rental will have bikes and helmets available to rent for $10 for those who sign up in advance.  Sign up by contacting Whitney at wbrady(at)carnegieborough(dot)com before 1:00 on Friday.

Car Free Carnegie Happy Hour immediately following bike tours at Paddys’ Pour House , 215 East Main Street, Carnegie.

Sticking with the theme of Car Free Fridays BikePGH highly recommends getting to and from by bus, especially if you plan on participating in the Happy Hour.  Follow this link to the BikePGH Message for a thread with information about getting to Carnegie by bus.

Thanks to Bill Edmonds for providing much of the content for this post.

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Celebrate Car Free Fridays

Green Gears Pedicab is offering free rides from the Wood Street Station to destinations within the Golden Triangle beginning at 7:30 am through 10:00 am Friday August 20th as part of Car Free Fridays.

Arrive to work in style after you exit your bus or the T. It should be a beautiful day and a pedicab ride is a fun way signal the arrival of the weekend.

Don’t forget to stop by Fifth Avenue Place to pick up your August voucher for discounts to local businesses and enter the Car Free Fridays monthly raffle.

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Car Free Fridays Event

Fifth Avenue Place continues to show its commitment to Car Free Fridays now hosting its third event. Retail Marketing Manager Kerry Donahue says Car Free Fridays fits in perfectly with the building managements goal of being eco friendly whenever possible. Enhancements like energy efficient lighting for tenants is part of their plan to strive towards more sustainable practices.

Fifth Avenue Place is a gracious host as well. They’ve invited Zipcar, Commute Info, and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership to join BikePGH and help get the word out about Active Transportation. Like all Car Free Fridays morning events anyone who agrees to go car free for the day receives a discount voucher for offers from businesses in Oakland, Downtown, and the featured monthly neighborhood. This month we highlight Carnegie. All car free commuters tomorrow also earn an entry for the Car Free Fridays monthly raffle.

Bicycle there and get breakfast for a job well done.

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An Op-Ed in the Post-Gazette

Read the rest of this article

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Congratulations, finalists! Now, it’s up to onlyinpgh readers to pick the winner!

The local blog, onlyinpgh.com, ran a Bikin’ in the Burgh photo contest during BikeFest 2010.  The finalists have been picked and the poll is up, so go vote!

The poll will be open until 11:59:59 pm on Sunday, August 22nd, and the submission with the most votes at that time will be declared the winner.

And what will the winner receive?  A BikePGH prize package that includes a 1-year BikePGH membership (or renewal), a Pittsburgh Bike Map, a BikePGH water bottle AND a T-shirt

Click here to vote for your favorite picture

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