Bike route through the heart of Downtown connects people to jobs, businesses, and recreation

For decades, there has been a dream to connect the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail to the Point. The GAP is one of the premier trails in the United States, bringing in millions of tourist dollars to our city and providing the backbone of our Three Rivers Heritage Trail system. Combined with the C&O Canal trail, it fully connects Pittsburgh to Washington DC, but has lacked an important connection to its final destination (or start), Pittsburgh’s Point State Park.

See the route from Point State Park to the GAP Trail

The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI), along with other stakeholders have (nearly) completed the final on-street connection that takes riders through the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh. 

DOMI and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership have been working to make Downtown more bike friendly, not only to aid residents and workers into one of the top employment centers in the state, but also to make sure that tourists and recreational cyclists using the GAP are able to safely access all of the great food and culture that downtown has to offer.

Along the trail itself, significant gains have been made by Riverlife to build the Mon Wharf Trail, the Smithfield St switchback, and a Grant St Crossing, however, the final leg into Point State Park still needs to be completed. Additionally, the Mon Wharf frequently floods and fills with mud, making this option inaccessible during these weather events.

Enter the “GAP to the Point” network of bike lanes. The final piece, just completed on Stanwix St and Liberty Ave, connects the GAP trail near the Smithfield St bridge to the Point, as well as to the popular Penn Ave Bike lanes.

The Stanwix St and Liberty Ave bike lanes have both concrete and bollard protection, and feature innovations to work around several bus stops, making it easier for buses to pull up directly to the curb. 

However, take note that the bike lanes are net yet totally complete.

First and foremost, the intersections are awaiting dedicated bike signals, complete with radar, that will detect when a bicyclist is waiting at an intersection. In the meantime, follow the temporary instructional signage until these installations are complete.

Second, there is a delay on the curb cut into Point State Park. The City has installed a temporary asphalt ramp, but will include a proper curb cut upon completion.

Find out about other recent and upcoming bike infrastructure on the MoveForwardPGH website.