BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

The nerves regarding W. Carson (from the Corliss tunnel inbound, at any rate) are justifiable, no shoulder, and up against a stone wall. When I get a chance I'll take a look at that alternate route.

I know PRob takes West Carson inbound in the mornings, while I head outbound to greentree. I have no issues in the afternoon heading down main, taking the lane through the west end circle, down the ramp onto west Carson and making a left onto the sidewalk at the first light - though I am pedaling pretty fast.

I believe PRob takes the sidewalk from the corlis tunnel to station square in the mornings and reversed in the afternoons.

Steuben wouldn't be bad coasting downhill in the mornings, but I would check with PRob because he's just below you in Esplen.

I'm not extremely familiar with the area but what if you did Chartiers -> Steuben -> West End Bridge -> Belmont St -> N. Shore Trail -> One of Three Sisters Bridges back over??

I don't get out that way all that often, but when I have, I've used the sidewalk on West Carson, both directions. I'd much prefer getting a flat than to get flattened.

From the West End Bridge, definitely use the West Carson sidewalk. An alternate would be to carry your bike up the steps to the West End Bridge, then use the downstream sidewalk. Once you get over to Western Ave, you can wiggle your way on fairly tame streets on the North Side, or a variety of methods to get down to the river. IME that's more trouble than it's worth.

The Fort Duquesne Bridge sidewalk is preferable to the Fort Pitt Bridge sidewalk, and gets you to the same place. But that WEB-NS-FDB detour will definitely add a good 15 minutes to the trip.

Of course, what we really need is a bazillion dollars and an act of Congress to rebuild that abandoned rail line from Corliss down to the Wabash Tunnel. *looks upward, dreamily*

EDIT: I see that two others were replying while I was typing. I guess a lot depends on how comfortable you are riding in traffic, and how fast you can ride. If you just putter along (like a lot of us do), use the sidewalk. If you can maintain a good 12-15 mph for an extended period, do what the others just above me suggest.

Good for you. Enjoy the commute. It will get better soon, as PennDOT completes the West Carson Street project.

An interim, but out of the way option is outbound to McRocks Bridge, up Davis stairs, then Fleming to NS trail.

I rode Chartiers->Steuben a few times and I'd take that over West Carson by a huge margin.

From there I'd usually take WEC to Carson and make a left as soon as possible, but that last part does suck so the steps are a good option.

Howdy Westender.

When I ride to Downtown from Crafton, I take Noblestown Rd into West End, then walk through the pedestrian crosswalks in the West End Circle. I then carry my bike down the stairs and ride on the Carson sidewalk and across the Ft Pitt walkway.

Sometimes if traffic is light, I'll skip the walking and carrying and ride on Carson. But I definitely evaluate traffic and what time it is before I decide. I'm just not comfortable merging there in heavy traffic.

I'm on my way back to activity from ankle surgery and hoping to be commuting by August. I'd be happy to take Steuben St instead of Noblestown and ride in with you then.

Feel free to message me, too. I'm glad to see other West Pittsburghers riding bikes!

On that right hand turn from Noblestown/Main to Carson Street it doesn't seem obvious that you need to take the lane there, but if you stick over on the right hand side, then after making the turn, there is a lane of traffic merging from below on your right, so the first time I did that I ended up with traffic wizzing by on my left AND my right at 40 mph or so.

Boazo, a little trick, at the ramp you describe, there is a concrete barrier along the right. At the bottom where the lanes merge, right where the barrier ends, there is a little safe zone where I stop and look back at the right hand lane and wait until there is no traffic coming on the right, then safely ease on through. Though that is probably not the most novice move.

Westender, definitely do the Chartiers/Steuben/Main/Carson route. And don't hesitate to use the WEC/stairs/Carson sidewalk method described above.

What time do you start work in town? I usually start work at 9:00, so when I ride I am passing through the WEC area about 8:45+-

Thanks all! I'm hoping to start work between 7-7:30, so I'd estimate passing through the WEC ~ 6:45 -7:15 or so.

I'd prefer to take the Corliss Tunnel if possible given that it would be a much easier ride overall elevation-wise. What really alarms me there (aside from the tunnel) is that the sidewalk on West Carson looks to be made of old boards? Is it as bad as it looks or is it entirely rideable? I may need to get some wider tires if I aim to try it.

Pinky, thank you for the offer! I'll have to let you know what I end up doing once I start in July.

And Pinky, we are looking to move to Crafton within the next year or two!

@Westender - you don't want to know what is under all that plywood on the sidewalks. Trust me on that. Yes, it is as bad as it looks, and perhaps worse. But, there is a project underway that will fix that problem. Relatively soon. In the meantime, try a bunch of routes until you find one that you like.

I love Crafton - I hope you find a place you like there! Definitely let me know. I'm of the "slow and steady" school of biking.

I tried the sidewalk from Corliss to West End once. Yes, it's plywood. Yes, it's covered in broken glass and has big holes.

I ended up with a flat caused by a giant chunk of glass, but that was when I was still using MTB tires. Since then I have more commuter-friendly tires with those plastic liners to help prevent flats.

It's really a shame because the view of the city from that area is terrific. I really hope that that stretch improves soon.

I'd recommend a dry run on a Saturday or Sunday morning when traffic is lighter. And if you're going to try the sidewalk between Corliss and WEC, definitely pack flat-changing supplies.

The sidewalk gets much better just as you go underneath the WEC.

Hello everyone. I was gone for a few days.

I ride on West Carson Street every day from Esplen into town and back. I am on the street between Corliss Tunnel and the West End Circle too. I used to dash across lanes to the sidewalk at the West End interchange, but am staying on the road now that the snow is gone (I am assuming it is gone for now).

I have also noticed 3 bikes on a regular basis doing the reverse commute on West Carson outbound in the morning. It is nice to see more and more people.

I see other riders using the sidewalk between Corliss Tunnel and the West End. I don't do that, but they have a right to choose.

And it will be some time before the venerable DOT can afford to reconstruct West Carson, so it will unfortunately be that way for a while yet.

I would be willing to help facilitate a bike-pool group ride in the AM if we could agree on a time. I know others here have organized them, and it could help by providing safety in numbers.

One day I saw a young woman stuck on West Carson (on her bike) because the traffic was overwhelming her. She rode the bus day after day and wanted to know what it would be like to bike into town - from Sewickley. Riding with her was the most meaningful thing I did that week, just by being there to encourage someone to continue with a feat like that.

I ride in around 8:30 ish most mornings. I return anywhere from 6 to 9 PM.