WOW!! SORRY SWALFOORT but I have to disagree with you.I believe Pittsburgh can learn a lot from Cleveland.Their MetroParks are absolutely beautiful and surpass ours.I feel there is some bias from you and other Pittsburghers,but I honestly got to say they have prettier bike trails.....P.S.....I was born in Baltimore,but lived in Pittsburgh most of my life.
High Praise - From Cleveland!
Pittsburgh’s cycling community is getting some love from Streetfilms. The active transportation nonprofit spent 48 hours in Steel City recently, and they had nothing but good things to say about the city’s bicycling community and walkable infrastructure.
I am especially intrigued by Pittsburgh’s membership-funded bike advocacy group Bike PGH and pedestrian only Market Square.
Cleveland and other cities in our region can learn a few things from Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh deserves this national recognition.
Link:
http://rustwire.com/2010/12/21/pittsburghs-bicycle-community-highlighted-on-streetfilms/
Getting Yinzers to admit they have anything to learn from Cleveland? HA!
The MetroParks rule, by the way.
Nothing can be learned from Cleveland.
I think cleveland is okay.
Never rode a bike in Cleveland, but yay, Metroparks! They also have a lake, which is arguably cleaner than the rivers, having swim in both multiple times.
I've been to the Hinckley buzzard festival a couple of times, and was surprised to find out that the official buzzard sighting takes place in one of the Cleveland Metroparks. It's quite a ways out from the city, too.
Cleveland Metroparks' buzzards page
Cleveland may arguably have MetroParks & nicer bike trails --arguably..... but what I think they don't have & could learn from is the cycling community's enthusiasm & the city's energy as a whole. I've been to Cleveland's downtown area a bunch of times, and everytime I've been there, it always looks so sedated!! It makes a stark contrast between the city's architecture & urban planning versus its people. The only area that seems energized is around the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and that's probably because of the tourists.
Pittsburgh's Market Square was greatly improved by its remodeling to be honest, and so have the bike trails due to advocacy..... and I think any city can learn from that!
I rag on Cleve, but like most places there are some very cool things in and about Cleve, and some very crappy things, think racist tea party a$$hats, but that town is hurtin. Compared, Pgh has weathered the economic downturn brilliantly.
Cool things,
Rays
http://www.ohiocitycycles.org/
http://www.britewintercleveland.com/
Point of clarification...the entire Cleveland text was cut and pasted from a planning journal focused on rust belt cities. Link will take you there. None of the comments were authored by me. I like Cleveland and envy their parks and lakefront. Sorry for not making the source of the piece clearer in the original post.
I spent a week riding in Cleveland as a novice cyclist. It was an interesting experience. My hotel was in the downtown, and I kept my rented bike in my room. I rode each morning and afternoon when my research at the library was done. I agree there's a lot less traffic than other big cities I've been in, but there are many nice places to ride. I participated in a Bike To Work day ride, went on a long afternoon trip over the bridge, and did a group ride on a Saturday from Ohio City Bicycle Coop, the people I rented the bike from.
One curious note; I didn't see a single 'wrong way' cyclist or anyone riding on a sidewalk. I can't say the same for Philly or Pittsburgh.
Give our topography and history I think we have some amazing parks.
things cleveland has that pittsburgh doesn't:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B88mhf95QWg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jubP3t27IQ
Every spring, I have to watch the ix indoor amusement park commercials otherwise I'll go through some weird form of withdrawal. Ah, nostalgia.
(sorry for the derailing, I'm just really excited to go home tomorrow after work)
I used to date a guy from Cleveland.