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PITTSBURGH (KDKA)

Pittsburgh is now the first city in Pennsylvania to have a full-time bike czar

The city is creating the job to encourage more people to pedal their way around town, and make it safer to navigate city streets.

“Bicycles are on the road, they’re going to be sharing the roads. It’s only going to be a good thing for the city,” said Bike and Pedestrian Coordinator Stephen Patchen.

Patchen will oversee efforts to make Pittsburgh a bike-friendly city.

There are currently several bike friendly initiatives across the city, including one that will turn part of the Mon Wharf into a trail and network into Point State Park.

Ideas like tax breaks and incentives for businesses are being kicked around as well as for future road and transit projects.

“Before we go and pave a street like we are in East Liberty, let’s look at putting a bike lane there where there hasn’t been a bike lane before,” said Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

The $45,000 a year bike czar position comes out of a grant from the Mellon Foundation.