BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

It's 3-4 miles from the Point, but parking at the North Shore trailhead by the penitentiary might not be a bad idea...there are regular (every few minutes, in my experience) patrols by the prison guards around the area.

I concur with RedDan, right in front of the ValSpar building.

Thank you! What's the street address for that place, or the intersection?

It surely is safe to park there. On the other hand leaving a car in the vicinity of the penitentiary may have its own issues. Are you perhaps planting a getaway vehicle? They seem pretty into being vigilant. I only say this because once, a few years ago, I was noodling around the pen, just checking the place out (it's really cool, if you ignore what it's for). A guard motioned me over and told me to get lost. I acted all gosh innocent and stuff, but they seem to be trained to show absolutely no sympathy, to anyone. There's a regular parking ramp next to the County Jail if you figure proximity to law enforcement makes things better. I expect they would have week-end pricing (eg $5/day?). But so would (I think) most of the other ramps downtown. Then there's the lots around Station Square, which I would expect to have security patrols (probably because of their drunken frat-boy clientele).

2000 Westhall St, Pittsburgh, PA

There's also this link, http://www.atatrail.org/tmi/directions.cfm which I found while looking for somewhere to park at OhioPyle (great place to park, btw, as they take down your info and have a ranger patrol the lot which is back behind a gate and out of sight... you'd never know it was there unless you are a regular or have used the lot).

At the end of the day there is no one attending the 2nd Avenue Lot next to the county jail so you can essentially park for free. Show up earlier in the day and it's $6. Park close to the jail where everyone else parks and you can easily get away with leaving it there for a few days. I've seen no evidence that the lot is patrolled looking for people parking there multiple days and there is always other cars there so one more is not going to be noticed..

Chris Mayhew wrote:Thank you! What’s the street address for that place, or the intersection?

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=15219&hl=en&ll=40.472102,-80.042583&spn=0.002722,0.004517&sll=42.792186,-78.826938&sspn=0.084021,0.144539&hnear=Pittsburgh,+Pennsylvania+15219&t=m&z=18 -- it's a Westhall St.

Chris Mayhew wrote:I have a friend who needs to park a car Fri-Sun while riding the GAP Trail. They’d like to end at Point State Park so Golden Triangle-ish. What are the suggestions from the board? Thank you! (Sorry, I realize this has probably been covered before. I’m starting this thread for said friend to look at so feel free to just post links to previous discussions. Thanks.)

10th street bridge parking lot (of 2nd) is free on weekends and $10 or $15 (don't remember exat number) per weekday. I don't what happens on Friday after 6pm. And it has a direct access to the EFT.

@Drewbacca, thanks for the Ohiopyle link, I have never been able to figure out where to park there (seriously) and I will make good use of that. cheers, V.

Vannevar wrote:@Drewbacca, thanks for the Ohiopyle link, I have never been able to figure out where to park there (seriously) and I will make good use of that. cheers, V.

The address on the site will take you to the day lot by the visitor's center. Once you go inside (give them your name and plate#), they will give you the combination for the padlock and direct you to the overnight lot.

Does anybody know the policy regarding overnight parking in Mckeesport at the lot next to the trail? There's nothing on the ATA webpage about it, so should you assume it's illegal and if you try it you'll get towed?

@bhattenb if you mean the lot adjacent to the municipal building - I've parked there multi-day a few times. I've always called the muni bldg and asked, they've always said Yes and I've jotted down the name of who I spoke to. Their approach is: that's the police parking lot, and they don't want you parking in the uphill part of the lot (because that would inconvenience the employees) so they want you to park in the downhill section of the lot. I did this a few times back when McKeesport was the end of the trail and things may have changed, but I never had a problem.

I actually meant the lot next to the marina parking lot. The one that's partially under the 5th Ave Bridge. But the one you're talking about is just as good. Thanks.