Bike Pittsburgh

Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

Several recent posts have alluded to the large amount of glass and debris on area bridges, both at the edge of the driving lane and on the sidewalks. My particular nemesis is the 40th St Br, inbound, on which glass is unavoidable in both places.

Whose responsibility is it to sweep these bridges? How often is it supposed to be done? Any idea of when any given bridge might be given a good sweeping anytime soon?

To me, there's nothing more irritating than getting a flat, other than getting a flat 10 miles from home on my way to a meeting. I now have two bike tires waiting for me to patch them. I don't have time for this!

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

it's a cruel world. i've had 5 flats in 5 days, this week. and then sometimes i don't get a flat for a month.

i've learned to accept it as part of life as a cyclist, even though it'd be nice not to get a flat because of some glass hole...

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

I've found glass is one of the few things that defeat puncture resistant tires.

I've got at least 2000 miles n a set of Vittoria Randoneer tires. No Flats.

I'm sure I'll have one today on the way into work.

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

Heh...I was bragging last weekend about 3000 miles with Marathon Racers on the P-38; got a flat yesterday on the Rocket, with the set of full-on Marathons at a mere 1500 miles.

Darn riverside trails...nothing but shattered beer bottles and industrial debris :-(

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

I've got at least 2000 miles n a set of Vittoria Randoneer tires. No Flats.

I'll second that. I may even have upwards of 3000 on mine. Mostly city riding, too.

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

Certainly, we as road users have a certain amount of responsibility for dealing with road hazards but Municipalities also has some responsibilities when it comes to infrastructure maintenance. Potholes need to be filled. Lines need repainted. Roads need to be swept. It is reasonable to expect that these things are done on a certain schedule or under certain conditions and, if those conditions are not met, it is reasonable for us to become upset.

The problem is that there are oftentimes conflicting responsibilities for bridges.

For the 40th street bridge, the south end is clearly under the jurisdiction of Pittsburgh Public Works Division 2. The north shore, is it Millvale? And the bridge in the middle? PennDot? I don't know.

My suggestion is to call the Division 2 offices and ask them who is responsible for the 40th Street bridge.

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

there have been periods of months and months (enough that i can't even remember how long its been) that I have gone without flatting only to lend my bike to someone and have them walk back with a flat... leading me to believe while this and that tire might be great it has a lot more to do with how you ride and if you're paying attention to what you're rolling over.

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

In my case, it is the tires. I've been on at least 6 other bikes on a regular basis in the same time frame as the bike with the Vittorias, everything else has flatted a few times.

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

Make sure to call 3-1-1 or submit the form. I've been able to get the Birmingham swept that way a bunch of times. Now, however the city is refusing to sweep the bridge until after penndot is finished with their work. makes no sense

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

I'll submit the form. Sounds like 40th and Highland Park need it the most.

Another approach is to hope that we get a bottle deposit law passed in this state. In my experience, I just don't find busted glass alongside NY roads like I do here. Put a return price of a dime or two on each bottle, and the natural army of 9-year-old kids will make damn sure there aren't any bottles *to* run over.

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

Here's a recent post of mine!

specialized borough cx 26 1.50 tires

Man, I just bought a pair of these yesterday 7/2. On my way home today 7/3
about a mile away from home I got a flat already!!! Just about 19 miles on these things, I'm sure not feeling confident on these things. I hope this is just a fluky tire and Specialized will do something about it. Man, and it was comming down hard today too,lol!

Havent heard back from specialized yet either. Was prob. my fault riding on the shoulder and significant water build up by the curb. Was only the smallest piece of glass though

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

Just now submitted the form for requesting a sweeping of the 40th Street Bridge. Just biked over it tonight in both directions. Unavoidable glass on both sidewalks, and enough to be troublesome for somebody in the driving lanes, too.

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

You know how they have the pull behind snow plow? We need to invent a pull behind street cleaner.

RE: Bridge and sidewalk sweeping

What I would like to see is one of those sidewalk sweepers like they use in front of the Federal Building, and make it one person's job to go around to every bridge in the area and just sweep the bridge sidewalks. An hour a bridge (maybe two for the biggies like 40th) and a half hour to get from one to the next and un/load equipment, is 6 a day or about 30 a week. In 3/4 of the year, rough numbers, they could sweep about 1,200 a year, with of course a few re-sweeps on those which need it more. Figure also $150K for salary, benefits and equipment lease. Sounds like piddlin' pocket change for the likes of PennDOT or whatever. Is that really too much to ask? Will we need a surtax on bike tires to pay for it all? (jk)