The City installed two bike racks at Espresso a Mano on Butler St in Lawrenceville.  Previously there was nothing to lock to.

The City of Pittsburgh’s brand new bike rack request program is bearing fruit.  200 bike racks are to be installed in city business districts and in front of small businesses.  BikePGH secured funding for 100 racks, then donated them to the City of Pittsburgh who matched the racks with another 100 through the Mayor’s Taking Care of Business Districts program.  The City has provided an online request form on their website where business owners can request bike racks for their cycling customers and employees.

To date, there has been a flood of requests, and we are now looking at options to expand and reassess the program to meet the demand.  Many neighborhoods still have yet to receive their racks, but they should be getting them in the near future.  Fortunately, this bike rack program is coinciding with the City’s new tree planting program, so that cyclists won’t be tempted to lock to the only thing available, the brand new tree.

Steve Patchan, the City’s Bike/Ped Coordinator, marks a rack request location in front of Kiln-N-Time on Penn Ave in Lawrenceville

The addition of 200 racks, or 400 bike parking spaces throughout the City is a huge jump in available bicycle parking.  Previously, bike racks for public use, ie. not on private property, were few and far between, so locals are sure going to notice and appreciate the new racks.  Anyone who’s had to lock to a garbage can to get a cup of coffee will agree.

Not a member of Bike Pittsburgh? Join today! We need you to add your voice! Bike Pittsburgh works to protect cyclist’s rights and promote the vision of making Pittsburgh a safer and more enjoyable place to live and to ride. For more info, check out: www.bike-pgh.org/membership