Learn how you can support BikePGH’s advocacy to directly make an impact

It is always a cause for celebration when Pittsburgh gains new and improved cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. Every foot of bikeway and each new upgraded intersection makes life better for Pittsburghers. BikePGH is often the primary source of information on how to use new infrastructure as well as the keeper of a street’s history.

Safe street infrastructure is also an important component of our city’s livability. Two Pittsburghers who depend on our bicycling infrastructure in their everyday lives are Leif and Armin

Meet Leif & Armin

Leif lives in Lawrenceville, where he also works from home. Choosing to not own a car, Leif spends a lot of time cycling through the neighborhood. He is especially grateful for the Lawrenceville Neighborway and Butler Street bypass which provides a safer alternative to riding on Butler St.

“Drivers at Butler and Stanton are very aggressive. The bypass saves me time and anxiety.” – Leif

Armin uses the Penn Ave bike lanes to get to downtown shops and restaurants. He chose to make Pittsburgh home because of BikePGH’s proven record of success in advocating for safe street infrastructure.

“Bike lanes keep me safe. I make decisions on where to eat and where to shop based on whether there’s a safe route to get me there. I would rather bike four miles on bike lanes than one mile without one. I would not have moved to Pittsburgh without BikePGH’s decades of work.”  –Armin

How much time does it take to make positive change? 

These street improvements can be traced to BikePGH’s advocacy, made possible by our members and supporters who fund our work and make their voices heard to elected leaders.

You may not be aware of the quiet, unglamorous, long term work we do to make these wins for Pittsburgh possible.

Advocacy that works takes time, and BikePGH is in it for the long haul. Every success takes ongoing work over the course of months and years, such as meeting with city departments, local and statewide partners, and helping draft proposals and legislation. In the face of ever-changing sets of participants and goals of different administrations, BikePGH holds strong to our mission and values.

MoveForwardPGH, an initiative started in 2020 in partnership with the city’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, looked to kickstart the city’s Bike(+) Plan, drafted with the help of BikePGH. Over two years, BikePGH carried out the marketing and community engagement necessary to ensure the plan’s success, creating videos, billboard advertisements, hosting community meetings and, with POGOH, hiring, training, and managing a street team to garner public support. 

Our advocacy in 2022 and beyond

In 2022, key achievements of BikePGH’s continued advocacy for the goals of the Bike(+) Plan include the city’s first advisory bike lanes (South Side Trail), S Aiken bike lanes,  and Phase 1 of the Stanton Ave Complete Streets project. Though MoveForwardPGH is officially over, much of the Bike (+) Plan remains to be implemented. The plan’s goals are for the installation of 123 miles of bike infrastructure over 10 years. 

No matter how long it takes, BikePGH will continue to strive to improve streets throughout the city. As an indication of the value of BikePGH’s input and strength of its constituency, executive director Scott Bricker was invited to participate in  Mayor Gainey’’s Transition Team Committee for Infrastructure and Environment. The Committee’s work was informed by BikePGH’s Pittsburgh Bicycling and Walking Snapshot report, showing 2022 trends of the progress and shortcomings of getting around on a bike or a sidewalk.

Looking forward to 2023, we want to be able to continue to do this important work improving the safety of our streets for all road users, but we need your help! Donate now to support safe streets for all Pittsburghers. Our goal is to raise $50,000 by December 31st. Your gift will be doubled by a generous donor. Our work is only possible with your support, so please give generously.