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Downtown to Crafton Library.

Google bikes says Noblestown Rd to Crafton Blvd to Bradford. On the Map, Steuben up the hill to Nobel Ave looks promising. Any advice, oh valiant West Enders? I have to be at the library at 6 or 6:15 on Thursday. Anyone want to ride with me? Free coffee and brownies are part of the deal and you could share! My reputation for being slow is actually fairly accurate.
mick
2015-09-16 12:10:38
That's the route I would take. Noblestown out of the west end isn't all that steep. It's pretty wide so traffic should treat you fairly well.
mayhew
2015-09-16 13:33:57
Yep. I didn't know Crafton had a library.
edmonds59
2015-09-16 16:09:47
From my experience in that area, I have learned that no matter how bad google wants you to go on the trail, don't do it. It's unnecessarily hilly and really in bad shape.
jason-pgh
2015-09-16 17:02:18
I never knew Crafton was anything other than one half of a parkway exit, actually. You learn new things every day!!
mick
2015-09-16 17:02:26
It's interesting that Mick would be offering brownies. Just say'n.
marko82
2015-09-16 22:33:19
When you get out there, watch out for the grate I reported. Also, the G2 and 29 buses get you pretty close, too. The G2 might be your preferred route back, too.
stuinmccandless
2015-09-17 05:43:03
That's my library! I agree with the suggested route. I'm not a huge fan of Steuben, but not because it's unbike-able, rather because of the windy and hilly stretches where the road narrows and I lose confidence that drivers are going to notice me. I always try to hurry up when cresting a hill, because that's when I fear a driver is most likely to speed up without seeing me. There are some residential streets that you can take to avoid Steuben, but if you're confident it won't be a problem. There's actually a way to avoid the worst of the hill altogether by hoofing it up some steps - instead of taking Steuben duck onto Main Street and go through West End Village to get to Elbon Street. The steps get you up to Herschel. I BELIEVE those steps are in good shape, though it's been a while since I've seen them, so someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Also it's a LOT of steps. But anyways, that's just me. It's not a terribly high-speed area, especially during rush hour, so that's nice. Take a spin through Crafton's traffic circle, one of the few roundabouts in or near the city! Weeee! (Okay, it's not all that exciting).
doublestraps
2015-09-17 09:30:56
Yeah second that. I'd avoid Steuben because it's narrow with lots of parked cars right on the steepest part of the hill. Noblestown (which becomes Crafton Blvd if you go straight up the hill instead of turning left) to Bradford is pretty much my daily commute. Just beware of being right hooked at the light at Stratmore St and Crafton Blvd. I get out of work at 5 and have to go over to Southside today, otherwise I'd volunteer to accompany you. I don't think I'll leave Southside in time to get you to the library by 6:15.
pinky
2015-09-17 11:50:25
Thaks for the advice. The brownies will not be made by me. But if you are so inclined, i could proably help. One of my friends, Deb Pace is going to do a singer-songwriter gig at the library from 6:30 to 7:30. She's pretty good! Brownies and coffee start at 6. The brownies will be gone about 3 minutes after i arrive.
mick
2015-09-17 12:08:50
I tried the Elbon Street steps on Saturday, and they are indeed in fine shape. In fact, a very pleasant homeowner was trimming some of the brush that was overhanging some parts of the staircase when I went by her. For the record, my route from downtown to Crafton is to take the West End Bridge to the West End Circle, wait for a break in traffic and head for West End Village exit. Go through West End Village and bear right onto S. Main/Neidel. Get a great workout going up that hill and turn left onto Elbon. Up the Elbon St. Steps (again, a great workout). Make a couple easy turns onto Arnold. From Arnold, make your way to Stratmore either by turning down Round Top or climbing up the stairs to Clairhaven. From Stratmore you can easily turn onto Crafton Blvd., and there you are! You could also go up Stratmore to get to Steuben, but I'm not really comfortable with the speed I get coming down Steuben from there (30+ MPH without trying, around curves into traffic). Of course, you could also just take 60/Crafton Blvd. the entire way, but I personally prefer the complicated route on residential streets to the long, continual uphill that is 60/Crafton Blvd. I have a lot of respect for anyone that uses 60 as their daily commute. The most daunting part of the journey to the unfamiliar is probably the whole West Carson/WEC area (thanks PennDOT). As my route indicates, I find it MUCH more pleasant to cross an extra river to avoid the mile or whatever of West Carson that just crossing one forces. It's really a breeze getting onto the West End Bridge from the trail, and it's not really a popular enough pedestrian route that I feel bad using the sidewalk (I'd rather take the road, but I fear that'd be suicidal, especially given people's tempers). The sidewalk spits you out to a spot in the WEC that affords you plenty of time and a nice sightline to wait for a break in traffic.
doublestraps
2015-09-22 09:31:12