BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Also, What is riding the 6 Spring Hill and 15 Charles buses like given they go through Northview Heights on their way to Summer Hill?

I'm guessing that it's like riding any other PAAC bus in any neighborhood.

The road going from Ivory to Babcock is called Peoples Road.  It is two lanes each direction, no sidewalks, no shoulder.  Cars fly on it, but there is rarely much traffic, so if you take the right lane going downhill toward Babcock you should be good, and it is a fun gradual mile-long downhill ride, so you could really go fast if you wanted to.  It's sorta line Negley Run Blvd. used to be. For going uphill, or as a pedestrian in either direction, there is a calm side road running parallel to it called Peoples Township Road that is better.

@Eric, Northview Heights is a public housing development that has checkpoints at all entrances. There are jersey barriers at the top of Hazlett St. that can be walked around, but no motor vehicle can get in without passing a checkpoint. There is a checkpoint by the intersection Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Beech St. and on Penfort St. past Essen St. I have heard that Northview Heights is a very high crime area where a woman was stabbed getting off of a bus. That's why I am hesitant about taking buses or biking through this neighborhood.

I suspect that the risk of riding a bus with people who live in public housing is far lower than the risk of riding a bike on streets with cars.

Not sure how up to date these stats are, but Northview heights per this grading is much safer than downtown, Shadyside, or Sq hill. https://www.drkattorneys.com/blog/neighborhood-crime If you don't want to go, don't go. If you do, go. It's up to you.

I always thought Beltzhoover was pretty bad in the crime realm. If I was to bike through Northview Heights, would I need to pass the checkpoints? The neighborhood is accessible from Hazlett St., where there is a jersey barrier that can be walked around and no checkpoint.

In this general area. Today, I demonstrated how to avoid the highway ramp deathtrap on McKnight Rd. Here is video of that. https://youtu.be/CXPXnvbL5ug?t=241

I have been in Northview Heights dozens of times. I am not afraid to go there. I've shoveled sidewalks and talked with residents. Many of them, many times. If you fear going there, you were taught that fear. Sorry, I can’t help you there. If you’re on a bus going in, and were alive and in one piece at the time, chances of emerging the other side alive and in one piece are 100%.