Latest project ratchets up Pittsburgh’s bike infrastructure game
Since 2016, we’ve been engaging in the process of the URA’s Penn Circle conversion project, an important change that will help reverse the misaligned and damaging car-oriented planning of the ’60s “urban renewal” era. The project aims to knit the neighborhood back together by turning the four lane single direction highway through the heart of East Liberty into a two-way street, with fantastic protected bike lanes, protected intersections, and other bicycling and pedestrian improvements.
![Map shows the extents of this phase of the Penn Circle conversion project and adjacent streets](https://bikepgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/penncircle.jpg)
We previously published a sneak peek of the project back when construction was starting to take shape. Complete details can be seen on the City’s Engage Page.
The Penn Circle conversion, and brand new protected bike lanes are now open for business, and we thought you’d enjoy a tour of the new bicycling features before going out and riding them yourself!
![](https://bikepgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/protected-bike-lane-east-lib.jpg)
At the intersection of N Euclid and Station is a protected intersection that allows people on bicycles to continue their momentum without needing to stop at the signal.
Many road features such as slip lanes, that should only exist on a highway, have been removed in favor of improving the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.
![](https://bikepgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/protected-intersection.jpg)
Another protected intersection at Penn and S Euclid assists left turns for people on bikes, while reducing the chances of right hooks.
![](https://bikepgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/green-protected-intersection.jpg)
![](https://bikepgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/contaflow-bike-lane.jpg)
A small but useful change at the end of Friendship Ave at Euclid. A new contra-flow bike lane and exclusive bike signal makes for more intuitive connections to Penn Circle from the surrounding neighborhoods.