All Buses Now Equipped with Racks

If you use a bike for transportation, or you have been considering it, Pittsburgh reached a significant milestone this morning in Market Square. The Port Authority had several tricks up its sleeve in time for Transportation Exploration, an event celebrating sustainable transportation in Pittsburgh. The transit agency recently reported that every bus  is now equipped with a bike rack and today it unveiled a bus wrapped with a message touting the achievement. They topped it off with an announcement that T riders with bikes will now be permitted to board during rush hour. The news took the enthusiastic crowd by surprise. The improvements makes it much easier for people to combine bike trips with transit. For those who find Pittsburgh’s hills too daunting to ride or the prospect of traveling home at night by bike intimidating the Port Authority now provides complimentary reliable services that enable more people to go by bike. In the event of a sudden change in weather, common in Pittsburgh, the appearance of a bus mounted bike rack coming down the road can be a religious experience for some.

For South Hills residents and visitors who want more opportunities to travel by bike the news about the T was an especially big boost. Facebook and Twitter feeds promoting event originally sent teaser posts about a large wrapped gift that would be waiting for attendees in Market Square. The alleged present turned out to be the wrapped bus flanked with the message “now fully equipped a bike rack on every bus“. On the back of the bus a message urges motorists to drive with care and be aware of “our biking friends”. The bigger surprise turned out to be the announcement  regarding the T. The news really took people  by surprise. BikePGH’s Scott Bricker noticeability dropped his jaw and his eyes grew wide when Heather Pharo from the Port Authority shared the news.

Transportation Exploration raises awareness of our transportation choices

In addition the Port Authority and BikePGH, CommuteInfo and Zipcar were at the event to promote carpools, vanpools, and car share options. Bricker summed up the goals of Transportation Exploration in three sentences.

1. Raise the awareness of citizens and local leaders about how sustainability is closely linked with how we choose to get around

2. celebrate a major milestone in making it easier to get around by bike and by public transit, and

3. bring focus on the partnerships it requires to transform our transportation system.

Transportation Transformation also marked Pittsburgh’s participation in Moving Planet Day, “a worldwide climate solution rally” that officially takes place tomorrow to encourage less dependence on fossil fuels. Lynn Heckman from the Allegheny County, Ginette Walker Vinski from Sustainable Pittsburgh, and Aurora Sherrard who represented both the Green Building Alliance and the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative also spoke on behalf of their organizations and the importance of sustainable transportation.

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