Join MAYA for the 3rd Annual Pedal Crawl

Join MAYA  (ME AND YOU ALWAYS) and the Allegheny City Society for the 3rd annual Pedal Crawl on Sunday, September  14. Riders can choose to pedal 10, 25, or 50 miles throughout Pittsburgh’s historic neighborhoods with the 50 milers starting at 8AM, the 25 milers at 8:30, and the 10 milers leaving at 9AM. The Allegheny City Society will host the historical portion of the ride.

All riders will also have the opportunity to stop at Bicycle Heaven for refreshments and to enjoy their annual BIKE SWAP MEET!

Bike Pittsburgh Members should use the  Pedal Club Rate to register for just $20! Register today!

Here’s a preview of one of the Pedal Crawl’s beautiful and historic stops.

THE ALLEGHENY COMMONS PARK

In the late 1780s, the government of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania sent David Redick, a surveyor and member of the state General Assembly from Washington County to layout a new town that was to establish in “the Reserved Tract across from Pittsburgh.” Redick’s plan followed traditions of many towns in England and America by having a town center surrounded by common land that was accessible to all residents. Over 100 acres were set aside as the common land.

As the newly formed Alleghenytown grew in size, the “Commons” provided the community with a wide variety of uses. In the years just prior to the Civil War, a group of property owners in Allegheny City began formulating plans to turn the “common land” into a well-designed municipal park. Following the war, these plans were again brought before Allegheny’s civic leaders. A major decision was made to contract with Mitchell and Grant, an architectural landscaping firm from east of the Appalachians to design the Allegheny Commons Park.

The park, when opened in 1869 was heralded as a “masterpiece of city parkland.” To put it in 21st century terms, it was a wonderful example of urban greenspace. The old conservatory located in the Commons eventually became the core of the present day National Aviary. Since the early 2000’s, the residents of the neighborhoods surrounding the park came together to form the Allegheny Commons Initiative (ACI). The goal of the ACI was to preserve the Commons, not only as a Historic District, but also as a public space where all Pittsburghers can enjoy its beauty. At present, the ACI is working along with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to keep the Allegheny Commons, the “lungs of the North Side.”