Cyclists: It’s time to stand up to Protect Public Transit

big red keystone shape with the text “Take Action! Stop Transit Cuts Now! in bold”
Image description: big red keystone shape with the text “Take Action! Stop Transit Cuts Now! in bold” (credit: Pittsburghers for Public Transit)

Safe, bike-friendly streets depend on great public transit

Earlier this year, the PA state government proposed a budget $100 million short of what Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) needs to maintain current service levels–which are already 20% less than what they were five years ago. In reaction to this shortfall, PRT has detailed sweeping service cuts and fare increases that could devastate Pittsburgh’s public transit system starting as early as 2026. Under these proposals, the entire system would see a 40% decrease in service and a 9% increase in fares. Paratransit service would be cut a staggering 62%, and fares increased 20%.

If that alone is enough motivation for you to act now, take action with our allies at Pittsburghers for Public Transit by signing their petition and plan to testify at a PRT hearing.

If you’re thinking, “but I don’t take the bus… this isn’t my fight,” let’s take a closer look at why it absolutely is your fight. Everyone who bikes and walks in Pittsburgh needs to stand up NOW to support public transit.

Transit and Cycling Work Together

The vibrant, delightfully bikeable and walkable communities we dream of can’t exist without robust public transit. When we look to cycling havens like Amsterdam, we often focus on their awesome bike infrastructure and lament, “why can’t we have nice things?!”. But an important part of what makes those systems work so well is strong public transit. For people coming from outside the City, the bus can get them there without a car and biking becomes an attractive way to get around once they’re there.

For those who can’t or won’t bike for whatever reason, great public transit within the city can help anyone get around without a car. And less cars means streets that are more comfortable for biking and walking. It also means less need for parking, which means that space can be put to better uses like greenery, places to gather and play, and really awesome bike infrastructure!

If we cut funding for public transportation, we will not get nice things.

The photo shows a bright green protected bike lane on a city street with a parked bicycle and a "BIKE LANE" sign.
This picture of a protected bike lane is an example of great bike infrastructure in Pittsburgh we want to see more of!


More Buses = Safer Streets, Thriving Neighborhoods

We all want a vibrant, safe city. The only way we’re going to experience that is to get a bunch of people out of cars and onto buses and bikes. The more bus riders, bikers, and walkers we have, the more safe, healthy, and joyous our neighborhoods become.

Why safe? Less cars (and better infrastructure made possible by less cars) = less crashes.

Why healthy? Less cars = less air pollution and more physical activity that supports body and mind.

Why joyous? Well, for one thing, dealing with the hassles and expenses of car ownership are major pains for a lot of us. Wouldn’t it be nice to just not? Wouldn’t you rather be outside on a beautiful day, or get home quickly on a rainy one instead of waiting in traffic?

A fluffy gray dog with a spotted bandana around its neck walks towards on a street, led by people walking while others ride bikes in the background.
The good dog in this picture might not take the bus, but loves walking on safe streets made possible by public transit!

And if you think about it, our city was built around walking and transit. It’s integral to our identity as a community. Transit generates over $700 million each year and supports over 5,000 jobs in our region. We cannot afford to let this vital system be cut by 40%.

We envision a Pittsburgh where people can thrive without needing to own a car – making Pittsburgh a world class leader in clean, affordable, and convenient transportation. While we champion biking and walking, we must acknowledge that not everyone can or will bike or walk for all their transportation needs. Transit provides essential mobility options that complement cycling infrastructure in creating the affordable, healthy, and vibrant communities we want to see.

Transit Supports Our Advocacy

The truth is, our job as advocates gets significantly harder without functional public transit. Our work is often a struggle against the deeply ingrained prioritization of cars and their speed above all else in American society – even safety. If we lose public transit, you can expect to see more competition with cars for space on the road, making it harder to implement new bike/ped infrastructure and possibly threatening existing infrastructure.

Additionally, non-drivers often rely on a mix of transportation modes, and having choices is important. Bus riders often become pedestrians and cyclists for at least a part of their journey, and many cyclists take the bus. Bus riders, cyclists, and walkers are natural allies when it comes to advocating for safer streets. We need to work together to improve access to good transportation options for everyone!

A cyclist secures their bike on a bike rack mounted to the front of a public bus.
Many cyclists rely on the bus like this person trying out the bike rack on a PRT bus.

Take Action Now

Our friends and allies at Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) have put together a list of actions you can take to stop these catastrophic service cuts.

The most impactful action you can take is to provide public comment to Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) before June 18th.

  • In person: PRT will be hosting three public hearings to gather comments from the public about the proposed cuts. You can sign up for these hearings using this link, although walk-ins are also welcome. The hearings will take place on:
  • By phone: Call PRT’s public comment inbox at 412-566-5525. Be sure to leave your name, zip code, and a message.
  • On paper: You can fill out a paper survey at PRT’s downtown service center (623 Smithfield St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222)
    OR
    Mail your written comment to this address:
    Pittsburgh Regional Transit
    ATTN: Funding Crisis
    345 Sixth Ave, 3rd floor
    Pittsburgh, PA 15222

They’ve also put together a toolkit you can use to organize your community to stop these cuts. It includes flyers to post in your neighborhood, slides for presenting to your community group, tools for hosting meetings with your state legislators, and more!

Remember: this isn’t just about “don’t cut my route” – it’s about funding the transit system our city needs. When we speak up at these hearings, especially as people who maybe don’t take the bus very often, we demonstrate that public transit benefits everyone in our community.

The future of safe, equitable, enjoyable transportation in Pittsburgh depends on all of us – cyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders – standing together for better funding and better service.

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