Join Pitt and CMU to Celebrate Bike to Campus Week With Online Activities, September 21-25

Photo from Bike to Campus day in 2019. Group of people holding signs celebrating riding bikes.

CMU and Pitt Welcome New Riders with a Week Long Celebration of Online Biking to Campus Activities

 Last year marked the first ever Bike to Campus Day event which celebrated, encouraged, and inspired folks to bike to campus on a specific day. This year, CMU and Pitt will host a week-long series of online activities that will follow the theme of “Welcome New Riders.”

WIth many new and varied ways that campuses are changing this year due to COVID-19 guidelines, everyone has seen a trend around experiencing and trying new modes of transportation, including more walking and biking. Last year, Carnegie Mellon achieved Silver-level Bike Friendly University designation from the League of American Bicyclists, and just last month Pitt announced that all employees and students at the Pittsburgh campus are able to take unlimited 30-minute rides on Healthy Ride, Pittsburgh’s bike share, as another commuting and mobility option.

Activities during Bike to Campus Week will include sessions with bike experts, bike commuters, group ride leaders, and League Certified Instructors to equip new riders with the knowledge and skills to take to the streets, as well as info on routes highlighting bikeable parts of each campus.

Photo of Forbes Ave. bike lane heading into Pitt from CMU.

Bike To Campus Week Schedule:

Sep 21, Monday Sessions – Welcome New Riders

  • How to Buy a Bike – Looking to buy a bike? Join Bruce Woods from Major Taylor Cycling Club and Alex Eckenrode from the Pitt Bike Cave for a session to equip you with the knowledge to buy a bike.
  • Healthy Ride at Pitt – Healthy Ride, Pittsburgh’s bike share, is a great way to start biking without owning a bike. Learn about how to use the bike share system, including how to active you free rides benefit as Pitt student, faculty, or staff. Don’t forget – Free Bike Day is Tuesday, Sept 22!
  • Getting Your Bike Ready for a Commute – Need some help getting an old bike ready for a commute? Learn the basics of how to get a neglected bike rolling.
  • E-Bike 101 – E-bikes are a great way to get around hilly cities like Pittsburgh. Learn the basics of buying an e-bike from Adam Rossi who sells e-bikes from his shop Adam Solar Rides, along with Lydia, an e-bike owner and the Volunteer Coordinator at BikePGH. Come with questions!

Sep 22, Tuesday Sessions – Traffic Skills Tuesday 

  • Traffic Skills Tuesday Morning Session – This session will go over the basics of how to be a confident city cyclist from riding with traffic to the rules of the road.
  • Traffic Skills Tuesday Afternoon Session – This will be the same as the morning session and will go over the basics of how to be a confident city cyclist from riding with traffic to the rules of the road.

Sep 23, Wednesday Sessions – What to Wear Wednesday

  • Dress for Success- Show up to campus looking your best. Learn essential tricks for dressing for a bike commute from cycling instructor Carrie Tippen and Pitt Sustainability Coordinator Nick Goodfellow.
  • Accessorize Your Ride – Panniers, fender, racks, oh my! There are so many ways to accessorize your bike to fit your needs – commuting, grocery shopping, even taking the kids to school. CMU bike master Karen Brooks and Black Girls Do Bike Pittsburgh’s Robin Woods walk/bike you through the many options available to you.

Sep 24, Thursday Sessions – General Questions Thursday

  • General Questions – Stop in to ask questions from staff at Pitt, CMU, BikePGH, and Healthy Ride (Pittsburgh’s bike share). No question is a dumb question – we’re here to help you.
  • Bike Pitt: Panthers Pedal – Ever wonder where the Bike Cave is or how to rent a locker? Pitt Bike Cave student staff Taylor and Sustainability Coordinator Nick Goodfellow take you on a tour of campus bike amenities and answer your questions about biking at Pitt.
  • Cycle CMU: Routes Around Campus – Do you know where the snake trail is? Or the best way to get to campus from Squirrel Hill? Get to know bike features and infrastructure of the CMU campus from folks who have insider knowledge.

Sep 25, Friday Sessions

  • Planning a Route – Learn how to get from A to B using the most bike friendly infrastructure including BikePGH’s Bike Map of Pittsburgh. 
  • Access the Trails – Pittsburgh’s riverfront trails run more than 24 miles – do you know how to access them? Friends of the Riverfront and Golden Triangle Bike will share how to use the trails and where they can take you.

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