BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Marko82 wrote:“The HOV lanes on the Parkway North will be closed from 7 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday for Pittsburgh Triathlon events, PennDOT announced today” Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/pittsburgh-triathlon-to-close-parkway-north-hov-lanes-696883/#ixzz2a9efeHfx I thought I’d post this to make sure that no one “uses” these lanes while they are closed, because that would definitely be wrong to do.

They could use Banksville Rd for the swimming portion instead!

It sounds exciting, but how do I get the family down to the Parkway to watch the race. It seems to be a terrible location for spectators.

In the past, the bike turnaround has been at the McKnight Park n Ride - that would be one place to watch. Otherwise, the roads along Heinz Field are the beginning/end of the bike course and are spectator friendly. It's going to be crowded this year because of the construction near Bettis' - I think the transition area will end up taking most of the grassy area. Also I remember the pavement on the HOV being less than desirable with lots of gravel and holes and crap, for those of you not riding on it overnight. Though it's been a few years since I did this race, so it may have been paved in the meantime.

Swim/bike transition is always the most amusing to watch.

If a cyclist were asked by PersonsOfAuthority to make a safety inspection of the HOV lane, it might look something like these images I found while doing a Google search. Coming inbound/southbound/downhill (pick your preferred alignment), the right lane was much smoother than "my friend" Cesar Catastrophe remembers from the old PedalPgh route. 3.5 mile downhill, no pedalling until it got flat.

2014 edition: The Parkway North HOV lanes will be closed this weekend for the 17th annual Pittsburgh Triathlon and Adventure Race, PennDOT announced today. The closure is scheduled from 7 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2014/07/30/Parkway-North-HOV-to-be-closed-for-weekend/stories/201407300174#ixzz395QgFzR0

Pittsburgh Triathlon is still looking for volunteers. Saturday race -- http://www.piranha-sports.com/EntryList.aspx?RaceID=806 -- still has 6 openings for General Volunteer category And Sunday -- http://www.piranha-sports.com/EntryList.aspx?RaceID=811 -- 30 openings.

JSYK (responding to the 2013 comments): * The park & ride is actually just off of Perry Highway / Perrysville Avenue. Unfortunately, there is no park & ride anywhere near the lower end of McKnight. The Perry P&R is easily accessed from the Perrysville Ave exit off I-279. A left at the light off the exit, a left at the light near the bottom of the hill. There is a second lot a bit farther downhill from this, on the other side of the PennDOT salt dome. * Pavement on the HOV lane is pretty good. It got a complete paving job a year or two back. I motorcycle on it regularly, and find it pleasant to ride on. * Biking on it while closed is generally not a good idea, though I've done it. There is a very narrow span of time when it is known to be closed on both ends, but you cannot tell it is closed on the other end from the end you're looking at it. And people scream along here, 80-90+ mph.

Somebody completed a voluntary, grass-roots safety sweep of the HOV lanes on Saturday afternoon. http://type2-clydesdale.blogspot.com/2014/08/triathlon-hov-lane-safety-sweep.html Caption: hang on a minute, I need to reboot this damn GPS.

Spreading the corruption safety to others, I see. Jolly good!

Got caught in the thunder storm this morning and took shelter at the bike/kayak rental area under the 6th street bridge. I have to hand it to the sodden runners passing through.