BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Legal way? Nope. This is unacceptable. We need a solution for access from hazelwood.

I still think it ought to be possible to build a ramp ascending directly from the end of the trail to the Glenwood bridge at that point. There's plenty of room and nothing on the ground there but grass....

The easiest way to get from the Duck Hollow Trail to Second Ave is to leave the trail where it passes under the RR bridge, cross all the RR tracks, and walk on the ballast the rest of the way to the dirt road that connects to Second. I've done this countless times there over 10 years and I've never been hassled. Safety note: if there is a train parked (not moving) on the tracks, walk around the end of the train (don't climb between the cars). We absolutely need a legitimate, bikeable connection here. I've been lobbying for that with Friends of the Riverfront, Darla Cravotta, and others. Lobbying help from others is always welcome!

We do need a solution here. It doesn't make sense that the trail just ends. It doesn't do any good if you're trying to get somewhere. Who can we send a message to?

Darla Cravotta is a good person to write to: http://www.alleghenycounty.us/county-executive/manager-special-projects.aspx Also Pittsburgh people (Peduto, Corey O'Connor), other Allegheny county people (Fitzgerald, county councilpeople), CSX people, Russ Peterson at Allegheny Valley Railroad http://carloadexpress.com/about-us/departments/

Ok I sent a message to darla. I would encourage others to do so as well. Thanks for the info.

She did respond to me and copied my message to Tom Baxter and Pat Hassett. It was nice to get a response.

Can someone Google map this so I can get a good idea where this is?

Dropped Pin near Duck Hollow Trail, Pittsburgh, PA https://goo.gl/maps/SPc9maprf1v

@EDROnline, this should get you there: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Duck+Hollow+Trail,+Pittsburgh,+PA/@40.3997236,-79.9350322,17z/ (if not, find "Duck Hollow Trail", and follow it to the far western end, just short of the Glenwood Bridge.)

Folks, the posted maps do not seem to have paths marked on them. I have not been through there in a while but I do recall the last time I did. The RR Co had laid new track and was putting up fences and such. So the following may need some tweaking. In general if you're coming from the east you should follow along the river (over ballast, unfortunately). At the first opportunity start crossing over as many tracks as you can (to an access road). Your goal is to get to Vespucius St, at which point you can get back onto the regular street grid. Coming from the west you can go along 2nd then bear right just before the bridge. The easiest spot to get across would be under the bridge (narrow, flat). Alternately, do the Vespucius thing. A couple of notes: (a) The workers about don't seem to care that you're there. Do make a point to be friendly though. (b) Do NOT try to get through or under a standing train. Go past and around. I really do not want to have read about you in the paper. Really. (And, the whole Almon[d]o thing had made that part of town less fun to ride through. But that's a different gripe.)

The point it there is technically no legal way to get moving after using the trail. Legally you'd be forced to completely turn around and go back through the entire duck hollow trail again to its starting point. Some of us here don't mind walking across the tracks, but it should be accessible for all. Seems so silly to have a trail that just stops without an exit.

I know people do it, but I feel the need to remind people that crossing the railroad tracks as described above is both illegal and potentially very dangerous.

FWIW, They do now have fences, and cameras around the terminus of the trail under the glenwood bridge.

Cameras! That's ambitious of them.

Cameras and fences are a good way to demonstrate due diligence, both to one's insurance company and to potential future jurors. It's important to keep in mind that this is not a bunch of villains twirling their collective mustache and trying to figure out how best to screw over cyclists...this is organizations who simply don't care about the convenience of hikers and bikers, but do care about their liability and their bottom line. To encourage them to change their position, you need A) a bigger stick, like the help of people at the state level with the power to define new at-grade crossings, or B) a measurable beneficial impact on their business, be it dollars, good will, or whatever. Or C), ideally, both.

Agreed. This is all about liability.