Bike Pittsburgh

Please Write SPC Today!

We need to all comment on the TIP by June 25th! This is REALLY important.

RE: Please Write SPC Today!

Done.

RE: Please Write SPC Today!

Awesome. Thanks!

Any other testimonies? C'mon folks this is how change is made. It actually takes some elbow grease or in this case some tapping on some keys.

RE: Please Write SPC Today!

The comments I sent (hopefully other folks have some similar ideas and additional ideas).

"To whom it may concern,
I would like to urge the decision makers involved with the Transportation Improvement Program to continue designing solutions that are inclusive of cycling as a transportation means. Over the past few years there have been many advances in the region that include cycling. This is especially true in the city of Pittsburgh, including the Hot Metal Bridge pedestrian way, and the addition of bike lanes to both the Birmingham Bridge and Liberty Ave.

There are a few areas that are under consideration in the 2009-2012 Transportation Improvement Program that could greatly benefit the cycling public if the designs continue considering cyclists needs.
One part of the city that is traversed by many cyclists, yet provides a daunting obstacle, is the Penn Ave. and Penn Circle area. I hope these areas are part of the 58559, 58562, and 83136 MPMS numbers. Many of the lanes in this area are narrow creating bottlenecks for motorists caught behind a cyclist. These portions are typically filled with slower traffic. Although one section, between Shady Ave. and Fifth Ave. and beyond to Braddock ave., finds motorists speeding along at speeds well over 45mph even though the posted speed limits are 25-35mph. Motorists often become annoyed with cyclists "sharing the road". The region has much to gain from making this area much more inviting to pedestrian and cycling traffic as there are many development projects in progress including the recent redevelopment of the Nabisco Factory as a residential space.
Another project in the city of Pittsburgh is the Bates St. and 2nd Ave reconstruction (MPMS 68089). Bates ave is a much quicker way to the recent developments in the South Side Works, and even in it's current condition is slightly safer than 5th Ave/Forbes Ave/and the Birmingham Bridge. Still the area is dangerous enough that most cyclists prefer to travel out of their way to Panther Hollow and to the "Jail Trail". If Bates Ave could be widened a slight bit on the hill portion, the road could be better suited to cyclists.
The Glenwood Bridge is one other area that could benefit greatly by considering cyclists. The addition of Bike Lanes, and the street sweeping of those lanes, could increase cycling traffic, and decrease the heavy flow of vehicle traffic to the Waterfront in Homestead as well as the surrounding areas and those areas found in the South East section of the county. Additionally modifications made for cyclists and pedestrians to access 7th Ave. in Homestead and Carson St. towards the South Side would increase this traffic. These modifications could harness the success of the South Side waterfront trail by extending the trail the less than 200 meters to the bridge and providing access to and from the bridge via the trail.

Again, thank you for the previous improvements to the Traffic Infrastructure in the region that have included the needs of cyclists and pedestrians. I hope future improvements continue this trend."

RE: Please Write SPC Today!

This one just made it under the wire, about 2pm yesterday. It ties together my interests in NOT building the Mon-Fayette, and promoting ANYTHING that gets us out of our cars, namely transit, bicycles and walking. To wit:

*

To the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission:
Response to the proposed 2009-2012 TIP, 25 June 2008

In general, I agree with Project Region’s “Fix It First” policy, though I think it should be worded “Fix It First, Drive It Last”. This means two things:
(a) Fix existing things before building new things; and
(b) Favor the use of transit, bicycles and walking.

That said, I OBJECT TO the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Southern Beltway and Mon-Fayette projects, shown in Appendix 4. Regardless of whether the funding for these comes from federal SAFETEA-LU, the Pennsylvania oil franchise tax, or state Act 44 funds (which are borrowed), ultimately the taxpayer pays. Simply put, these projects that should not be built. Their whole purpose runs counter to “Fix It First”, and their whole raison d'être is based on usage projections first made when gasoline was less than 75 cents a gallon. Please do not approve those projects.

In contrast, I APPROVE OF Project #MPMS 72313, “North Shore Connector LRT-Gateway Line”. This major transit infrastructure project will reduce demand for imported oil, will reduce area auto emissions, and greatly improve congestion in the Pittsburgh CBD and nearby roads. Please approve this project in its entirety.

I also APPROVE OF all 57 small projects listed in Appendix 5, “TE/HS/SRTS Project List”. These will greatly improve the quality of transportation for the many of us who walk and bike to work, and/or use these areas as part of a transit commute. In particular, I personally use three of them a couple of times a week (MPMS 65957, MPMS 65960, MPMS 28365).

Since the list of transit projects in Appendix 3 is so long, I will focus on just one that I particularly APPROVE OF, though in general I approve of all of them. That one is: MPMS 77755, “East-West Corridor Planning”, for all fiscal years. This project is 100 years overdue, as the original plan for the Downtown-to-Oakland leg dates to 1906. Please fully fund this project.

In conclusion, please advance the projects which allow us not to use our cars. It has taken only 3½ years for the price of gasoline to double from $2 a gallon in December 2004 to $4 today. At that rate, we may well be paying $8 by the end of this TIP.

Thank you for considering my input.

RE: Please Write SPC Today!

Ok, I put my 2 cents in!