NextPittsburgh: What’s next for the Pittsburgh commute?

Trees of Pittsburgh ride 2011

Active transportation is on the rise in Pittsburgh

NextPittsburgh wrote a great piece on how Pittsburgh residents are rethinking their commutes. So what’s next Pittsburgh? Biking, walking, and more. See the full article for the full scoop including quotes from BikePGH executive director, Scott Bricker.

By Michele Fetting

Geographically speaking, Pittsburgh is compact. The entire city is a mere 56 square miles with the main business district nestled into a triangle between the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. End to end, downtown is less than two miles. And if you include Oakland, Pittsburgh’s second largest business district, it’s only about four miles.

Pittsburgh’s density is driving both commuting and real estate decisions. There’s been a 20 percent increase in the number of people who live downtown and for the first time in 50 years the number of US families without a car has gone up. And more than ever, people are making transit decisions based on health, fitness, affordability and environmental impact.

While nearly half of Pittsburgh commuters still drive, the city is uniquely positioned to offer a variety of options. May we suggest a NICE commute? That is, one with no internal combustion engine of your own. Here’s what Pittsburgh has to offer:

Bicycling
Biking to work in Pittsburgh has long been an uphill battle. Early naysayers said it couldn’t be done. The hills! The weather! But bicycling is bigger than ever in Pittsburgh, and the infrastructure needed to make bike commuters safer on roads is falling into place…

Read the full article.


Not a member of BikePGH? Join today! We need you to add your voice! Bike Pittsburgh works to protect cyclist’s rights and promote the vision of making Pittsburgh a safer and more enjoyable place to live and to ride. For more info, check out: www.bikepgh.org/membership

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