In honor of Women’s History Month* we want to take some time to celebrate some women in Pittsburgh who have made an impact on our vibrant cycling culture and community.  In Part 2 of this 4 part series we will introduce you to women in the community advocacy space working towards greater access and increased safety for all who bike and walk in the city of Pittsburgh.

*BikePGH recognizes all feminine identifying people as women, and acknowledges that gender is not a binary. For more information on gender identity please take a look at our Gender Matters guide.

Erin Potts

1. What inspired you to get involved with cycling?
   Before I can even remember, I know I was on a bike. I’m told that as a little babe I would demand to be taken on rides “over town” on the back of my Gram’s blue Schwinn, and she would load me into the bike seat for a ride to see and be seen around town. I was super fortunate to grow up spending my summers with my Grandparents in Chautauqua, NY where people rode bikes everywhere, so as a kid, I rode bikes everywhere too. Bikes gave me a ton of independence at a young age and I’m very grateful for that experience. I honestly believe that my experience riding bikes as a kid had a direct impact on how and why I ride now: bikes are a fun way to get around and hang out with my friends.  
   
   
2. How long have you been cycling?
   I’ve been riding bikes my whole life. I never really think of what I do as “cycling” per se because it’s not a really athletic experience; in fact, I’m typically not trying to sweat at all. As an adult, I started riding while I was in grad school at the University of Utah. I had some really good friends who were bike commuters, and after several confidence building group rides, I too became a bike commuter.

3. Where is your favorite place to ride in Pittsburgh?
   I love a good bike lane. There’s just nothing better than being able to *safely* experience a city by bike. For that reason, the Penn Ave bike lane in Downtown is probably my favorite. It makes me feel really connected to the city, and I get such a better view of the businesses and the buildings and all the fun stuff that living in a city has to offer. I do have to shout out my bike lanes in Stanton Heights though; I use those lanes often and they’ve dramatically improved my regular commute. Bike lanes make cities better. They are my favorite place to ride.  

4. What advice would you give to new riders or someone interested in getting involved with cycling in Pittsburgh?
   Start riding with friends! And if your current friends don’t ride, make some new ones! There are so many awesome group rides that can get you on the road in a way that cultivates safety and confidence in numbers. You don’t have to do it alone. I’m a huge fan of BikePGH’s Women & Non-Binary Bike Program; their monthly summer rides are some of my favorites, and I always meet awesome new people on those rides. I’d also encourage folks to check out Critical Mass and POGOH’s Community Rides. All of these rides are organized by skilled ride leaders who foster a safe environment for fun, social rides that get you comfortable riding on the road. 
   
   I also have to plug POGOH here. So many people don’t ride because Pittsburgh’s hills are seriously intimidating. POGOH’s e-assist bikes are an awesome resource for new riders who are intimidated by hills or going too slow, or honestly for anyone who just wants to arrive at their destination feeling and looking fresh. There’s no shame in the e-bike! You’re still riding a bike, you still have to pedal, but that little e-assist motor makes biking in Pittsburgh an absolute joy. 

Harriet Jackson

(she/her)
Coordinator, City of Pittsburgh Safe Routes to School Program

1. What inspired you to get involved with cycling?
   I cycle now for exercise, but I’ve always enjoyed bike riding with my daughters as they were growing up. In addition, my job has me more involved with cycling by making sure routes students take to school are safe for them to travel on by bike or walking to school.
   
   
2. How long have you been cycling?
   I have enjoyed riding since my childhood. I grew up in a neighborhood where bike riding was a big thing.  My first bike had white wall tires and a banana seat. As an adult, I started cycling again 3 years ago.

3. Where is your favorite place to ride in Pittsburgh?
   My usual route was the trail from the Waterfront to the South Side.  But I enjoy riding through the different neighborhoods.

4. What advice would you give to new riders or someone interested in getting involved with cycling in Pittsburgh?
   I would suggest to parents to get your children started early with bike riding and learning the rules of the road.  I would encourage parents/guardians to participate in the City of Pittsburgh’s SRTS Walk & Roll to School Day event held in May and October. It is a great opportunity to introduce cycling to the younger generation.  The mission of Safe Routes to School is to increase the number of students walking and biking to school and creating healthy communities by providing safer walking, bicycling and riding routes while educating and encouraging students.

Nancy Levine

(she/her)
Member of the Highland Park Bike/Ped Committee, 14 years
Since retirement, Nancy has been biking to raise money for causes that are important to her. These include Bike4Haiti and biking to support refugee families who have recently moved to Pittsburgh and are in need of resources to settle here.

1. What inspired you to get involved with cycling?
   I became passionate about bicycling at age 4. At that time my family lived in a small city in Spain. There was a park across the street where bicycles were rented. Neither of my parents knew how to bicycle. I insisted on learning to bike, and so had to teach myself. The only bicycles available for rent were much too big for me, and training wheels did not exist. After many falls and many bumps and bruises, I eventually learned to bike with confidence. I have been cycling ever since.
   
   Over the years, my passion for cycling has only gotten stronger. As a child, my friends and I got around our neighborhood and visited friends on bicycles. I was already biking up to 20 miles a day with friends. As a college student, I didn’t own a car and got around my college campus by bicycle. When I got my first job, I commuted to work by bicycle during the warmer weather. About 12 years ago I gave away my car and committed to bike commuting 12 months a year. I learned to dress for all kinds of weather. In the winter when it used to snow in Pittsburgh, I changed my bike tires to snow tires. I’m retired now, but still get around town by bicycle.
   
   
2. How long have you been cycling?
   63 years!
   
   
3. Where is your favorite place to ride in Pittsburgh?
   There are so many places I love, but I’d have to say riding from the Southside to Mount Washington is my favorite ride as it is the most challenging.
   
   
4. What advice would you give to new riders or someone interested in getting involved with cycling in Pittsburgh?
   This depends a lot on your level of skill and comfort in riding city streets. Thanks to Bike Pittsburgh, bike infrastructure has gotten so much better in recent years. There are now many safe places to bike for cyclists to get comfortable with city streets. I’d certainly recommend a Bike Pittsburgh course on city cycling. I’d recommend finding some friends or a group to cycle with. It’s easier to get used to riding in the streets when you’re not alone. If you’re not comfortable with city streets, there are now a multitude of bike trails in and around Pittsburgh. You should definitely join Bike Pittsburgh if you have not already joined. I joined about 20 years ago and have been incredibly impressed by all of the changes that Bike Pittsburgh has been able to accomplish. Twenty years ago, it was not uncommon for vehicle drivers to yell at me out their window to “get off the road” or “pay taxes” or to try to run me off the road. Thanks to Bike Pittsburgh there is now a critical mass of cyclists and a robust bike culture in Pittsburgh and these kinds of drivers are now very rare.

Meet a few more amazing organization leaders from previous BikePGH spotlights:

• Recognizing and Celebrating the History of Black Women in Cycling
• Recap of Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato’s Responses to the BikePGH Candidate Survey

While there are many amazing women on this list, please note that it is not exhaustive of everyone who has made contributions to cycling in Pittsburgh. If you know of someone who should be acknowledged for their efforts, please leave a comment or reach out to catlyn@bikepgh.org.

Get Involved!

If you are a woman or gender variant person who is curious about getting involved with cycling in Pittsburgh, join us our WMNBikePGH Program events! We have monthly group rides, a camping trip, and annual an Summit!

BikePGH’s Women & Non-Binary program was created to break down barriers to bicycling and increase the representation of people who have historically marginalized gender identities. The program is inclusive of trans and cis women, intersex people, non-binary, genderqueer, agender and gender variant folks, as well as those whose gender identity falls outside of the dominant conceptions of gender.

WMNBikePGH aims to connect and empower those who might feel excluded from the male dominant cycling culture with free educational workshops, group rides, and social events in a safe and supportive environment. Together, we can build a more inclusive and equitable community for people who want to ride bikes.

Be sure to check out the next two parts of the series throughout the month of March to meet even more incredible and influential women!