Pittsburgh could learn a lot from this short StreetFilms video about Bus Rapid Transit. Not only is the system efficient, but it recognizes that bikes are an integral part of the transportation network. Note the bikeway next to the busway, and the bike lockers at the transit nodes. Here, the Pittsburgh Parking Authority’s new “Transportation Center” that houses Greyhound Station, doesn’t even have a bike rack.
Granted, we don’t have the flat space that LA has. Also, the Port Authority, on Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s request, has begun a study to determine the feasibility of adding a bikepath along the East Busway. Hopefully, we can take advantage of the Transportation Enhancements (TE) funds that LA has so intelligently used. TE funds should be more readily available due to their inclusion in Stimulus Funds as well. Considering that the Port Authority has delayed the overhaul of the bus routes, it’s not too late to get your two cents in.
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Our existing bus ways, considering they get far less traffic than our roadways, are perfect for bike lanes. the infrastructure is already there. It would make things so much easier just to lobby for bike lanes on the bus ways rather than demand new bike paths and bike routes. Pittsburgh is a city with a pinched economy and something like painting some new lines is far more viable than anything else I can imagine. So where is the red tape and whose got the scissors?
Actually Bennyh, there are pinch points on the East Busway that would cost hundreds of thousands if not millions to widen. The options to widen in these sections are to dig into the hillside and build a retaining wall or widen towards the rail lines which seems unlikely. I’m not saying this can’t be done, but it’s going to be expensive. The City of Pittsburgh is going to be paying for a study to see how much it will cost to retrofit the East Busway and make it safe enough for bikes to share it.
The West Busway is plenty wide except for that tunnel which cannot be widened. Unfortunately BikePGH didn’t exist 30 years ago when these projects were on the table and therefore couldn’t advocate for bike paths to be part of them.