Bikes mean Business in Downtown’s new retail plan

Cities around the country are embracing safe biking and walking infrastructure to enhance and promote business districts and business opportunities. Pittsburgh is no exception. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, joined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), members of the Downtown Retail Task Force, Downtown stakeholders and representatives from Point Park University, outlined a new strategy to attract and retain retail businesses in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Pedestrian and bike friendly streets make Downtown even more appealing to residents, workers, tourists, and shoppers—all key to attracting successful stores and restaurants. – Lucas Piatt, Chief Operating Officer, Millcraft Industries

The result is the three-year Downtown Action Strategy, which aims to improve the retail experience in the City’s urban core by creating a new branding and marketing strategy, improving public infrastructure and space, and providing recommendations for new policies and incentives to enhance the neighborhood’s safety and walkability.

You can review the complete Downtown Action Strategy on the pghnow.org website.

Below are some “aspirational” examples that relate to bikes in the plan, with the caveat that the upgrades are “conceptual and will require additional study to refine the design and provide implementation details.”

Click on any picture to enlarge.

Smithfield St current conditions

Re-envisioning Smithfield St

Forbes Ave current conditions

A different vision of Forbes Ave

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