By Tony LaRussa
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, May 13, 2007

Contending with car exhaust, steep hills and obnoxious drivers, traversing Pittsburgh’s streets on a bicycle can be tough on the best of days.

But traveling along a nearly four-block stretch of South Negley Avenue between Penn Avenue and Rippey Place can be downright dangerous.

Motor vehicles use two lanes in each direction, which leaves only 2 feet of the curb lane for bicyclists, who travel this busy thoroughfare often because of its relatively flat terrain and easy access to other sections of the city.

The major problem is the conditions of the road surface in the southbound curb lane heading from Highland Park toward Shadyside.

Dozens of crumbling temporary patches have left the street pocked with menacing craters, and heavy trucks and buses have caused serious “wash-boarding” of the surface in some sections.

“This road is terrible; it’s one of the worst I’ve been on,” said Ed Berry, 50, of Carrick, who frequently bicycles on Negley Avenue. “It’s dangerous because there’s no way to ride in a straight line.”

Guy Costa, director of the city’s Public Works Department, said the road is scheduled for work this summer.

“The street is scheduled to be torn up in June to allow connection to underground utilities for a housing project that is starting,” Costa said. “But as soon as that work is done, we’ll be right behind them resurfacing the street.”

Tony LaRussa can be reached at tlarussa@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7987.

Who’s responsible?

Guy Costa, director, Pittsburgh Department of Public Works, 412-255-2621 (press 5, then 2 to bypass the automated message)

Want to contribute?

This weekly column identifies broken pieces of public property and the people responsible for fixing them. Do you know of a problem? Tell us about it. Call 412-320-7825 or e-mail: fixit@tribweb.com.