Student bike fairs, rides, free bike stuff, and biking resources will be popping up at universities across Pittsburgh
University students, faculty, and campus visitors alike will celebrate CAMPUS BIKE WEEK 2025, from September 7 – 12th at University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University and Duquesne University! Enjoy events aimed at getting you ready to take on your campus bike commute, ride to and from classes, and explore our great city by bike.
With the increase of people choosing to bike as a healthy, sustainable, and affordable mode of transportation, it is important that students have the opportunity to learn how to safely and confidently navigate Pittsburgh via bicycle. Learn about biking in Pittsburgh, meet your peers, and get free bike stuff at the events listed below. Don’t forget to tag @bikepgh on social media when you show up to any of these events – your post might be featured on our Instagram!
Students, faculty, and staff at ALL Pittsburgh campuses are welcome to participate in Campus Bike Week Activities. If you’re part of Duquesne, Point Park, or Chatham, you can still swing through the multi-campus events in Oakland to join in the fun!
Campus Bike Week Schedule
Sunday, September 7
- 5:30 – 7 pm: Join the Campus Bike Week Kickoff Fun Ride
- Meet ~5:15, rolling at 5:30 from the Carnegie Library POGOH Station. This ride is led by Complete Streets at Pitt, feel free to contact them with questions. View the route here!
- Open to participants from all campuses!
Monday, September 8
- 10am – 12pm: Pitt’s Campus Bike Week Kickoff Festival @ Pitt Bike Cave
- Celebrate Campus Bike Week with a festival dedicated to all things biking at Pitt and beyond! Enter a raffle to win a brand-new bike as well as locks and helmets from Pitt Mobility, Pitt Eats, BikePGH, and the Pitt Bike Cave. Connect with biking-related student clubs and Pittsburgh-based organizations. Share your thoughts on campus bike infrastructure with Pitt’s Planning Department, learn safety tips from Pitt Police, and try out Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s demo bus bike rack. Plus, activate your POGOH benefit and explore how to use bike share bikes from POGOH. Enjoy free giveaways and grab a bite to eat from nearby food truck, Ethel’s!
- Celebrate Campus Bike Week with a festival dedicated to all things biking at Pitt and beyond! Enter a raffle to win a brand-new bike as well as locks and helmets from Pitt Mobility, Pitt Eats, BikePGH, and the Pitt Bike Cave. Connect with biking-related student clubs and Pittsburgh-based organizations. Share your thoughts on campus bike infrastructure with Pitt’s Planning Department, learn safety tips from Pitt Police, and try out Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s demo bus bike rack. Plus, activate your POGOH benefit and explore how to use bike share bikes from POGOH. Enjoy free giveaways and grab a bite to eat from nearby food truck, Ethel’s!
- 3-7pm: Celebrate the new Tartan Bike Project
- Celebrate the Grand Opening of our new on-campus bike shop, the Tartan Bike Project! Come check out our new space in the first floor of the Gates Garage (previous bike sale location). We’ll be offering bike rentals, bike sales, and signup slots for bike repairs. After this event, regular shop hours will be M-W-F 3-6pm, so you’ll have plenty of other chances to visit.
- Open to CMU Students, Faculty, and Staff
Tuesday, September 9
- 12-4 pm: Carnegie Mellon Bike Fair @ the Merson Courtyard (outside the Cohon University Center)
- Join us for a Bike Fair! Get lots of help biking around town with: free BikePGH Bike Maps and Urban Biking guides, info on POGOH bikeshare, Tartan Bike Project help with bike checks and advice, anti-theft bike registration, a sneak peek at future bike/ped plans, and more.
- Open to CMU Students, Faculty, and Staff
- 5 – 7pm: CMU Operation Illumination – Bike light & helmet giveaways @ Forbes Ave & Morewood on the sidewalk
- This program distributes free front and rear bike lights and helmets to those riding without them for two hours or as long as supplies last! Stop by with your UNLIT bicycle (or unprotected head) to receive your own set of lights or helmet.
- Open to CMU Students, Faculty, and Staff
- 4pm – 7pm: Public Confident City Cycling Class (open to the general public – must register in advance!) – @ Pitt Bike Cave, 230 S Bouquet St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
- BikePGH’s Confident City Cycling Class provides all the skills and knowledge to safely commute in Pittsburgh. This on-the-bike class will cover basic and advanced cycling skills, best practices for solo and group riding, and on-street strategies. After some parking lot instruction, we’ll go onto the streets to learn and try out new skills and showcase the best of local bicycle infrastructure around Oakland! Note: all participants must wear a helmet and know how to ride a bicycle. No bike or helmet – no problem! Helmets and free POGOH bike rentals are available by filling out the form below.
Wednesday, September 10
- 10:30 am – 2 pm: Bike Pitt Resource Fair @ Public Market (William Pitt Union Lawn)
- Chat with Pitt departments, student organizations, and POGOH Bike Share to learn more about biking resources at Pitt! Enter a raffle to win a brand-new bike, lock, and helmet. Plus, sign up for bike classes happening throughout the fall.
- Chat with Pitt departments, student organizations, and POGOH Bike Share to learn more about biking resources at Pitt! Enter a raffle to win a brand-new bike, lock, and helmet. Plus, sign up for bike classes happening throughout the fall.
- 12 pm – 1 pm: Nature in Action Bike Ride @ Pitt Bike Cave
- Join Campus Recreation and the University Counseling Center for a mindful bike ride through our beautiful Oakland neighborhood. With all Natural Connections events, the University Counseling Center staff will be available to debrief, connect, or ask questions.
- Open to Pitt students, faculty, and staff. Registration required – Sign up here!
- 5 – 7 pm: BikePGH Operation Illumination @ Schenley Plaza, 5 to 7 p.m.
- Operation Illumination is BikePGH’s initiative to install FREE front and rear bicycle light sets for riders with unlit bikes! Stop by with your UNLIT bike to receive a free set of rechargeable lights, plus bike guides, stickers, giveaways and maps while supplies last.
- Open to all campuses – just be sure to bring the bike you need lights for!
- 5pm – 6pm: Carnegie Mellon Campus Bike Tour – Meet @ the Walking to the Sky Statue
- Join CMU for a campus tour of all things related to biking! Find out about the best routes from campus to nearby points (including a couple secret shortcuts), bike parking hints, locations of repair stations, and more. Starts at 5pm at the Walking to the Sky statue. Bike and helmet required.
- Open to CMU Students, Faculty, and Staff
Thursday, September 11
- 4pm – 7pm: All-Campus Confident City Cycling Class (open to students at all campuses – must register in advance!) – @ Pitt Bike Cave, 230 S Bouquet St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
- BikePGH’s Confident City Cycling Class provides all the skills and knowledge to safely commute in Pittsburgh. This on-the-bike class will cover basic and advanced cycling skills, best practices for solo and group riding, and on-street strategies. After some parking lot instruction, we’ll go onto the streets to learn and try out new skills and showcase the best of local bicycle infrastructure around Oakland! Note: all participants must wear a helmet and know how to ride a bicycle. No bike or helmet – no problem! Helmets and free Pogoh bike rentals are available by emailing kbr00ks@andrew.cmu.edu
Friday, September 12
- FRIDAY FUN RIDE with all universities – meet at 4pm, roll at 4:15pm – Meet @ Pitt Bike Cave
- Join the Pitt Bike Cave on a 5-6 mile group ride! Group riding is a great way to learn how to navigate the streets by bike and gain confidence through experience. The group ride is open to everyone from beginner to experienced bicyclists.
- Open to all students & faculty from all campuses
- Register here!
Plan your route with the Pittsburgh Bike Map
Use BikePGH’s Pittsburgh Bike Map to plan your biking route! The Pittsburgh Bike map is designed with the commuter in mind so that folks can learn some safer routes between neighborhoods and explore new places. Grab a hard copy at bike shops around the city, or at any of our booths during Bike to Campus Week! You can also check out the online bike map here.
A few things to remember…
- Plan your route and look for options – there are usually at least two ways for you to get somewhere:
- Look at the map to see what hills are steep
- See where the bike lanes are
- See what streets to avoid
- Remember: the best driving route is often not the best bicycling route
- Give yourself more time than you think
- Ride on the same side as traffic
- Take the lane if you feel uncomfortable
- Bring what you need (Video: How to carry things by bike)
- Be predictable + Use hand signals
- Look over Biking 101 to review some tips on safe, easier commuting from tire inflation to turn signals
- Every time you ride, do an ABC Quick Check on your bike to make sure it’s in safe working order
Happy riding! We look forward to welcoming students, staff and faculty across the city to join (or reconnect with!) the Pittsburgh bike community. See you soon at Campus Bike Week 2025.
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