BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Actually, if you are coming from Lawrenceville, you will barely be on the trail at all.

Cross the 40th Street Bridge on the sidewalk FURTHEST from downtown. At end of bridge, follow "goatpath" down towards Millvale. Watch your step - the path is only about a block long, but the camber (side to side angle) changes a couple of times.

At the stop sign/pedestrian crossing at the bottom of the hill, turn left, under bridge, to first street. (Probably easiest to cross the dirt area, rather than using the street).

The first street you will come to is Maryland. Turn left onto Maryland, and follow it uphill for a block. You'll come to the church immediately upon rounding the corner at the top of the hill.

There is a parking lot with a grotto located just past the actual church building.

P.S. If you are coming from the Millvale Trail, just exit Millvale Riverfront Park along the main access road. That will take you to the stop sign/pedestrian crossing mentioned above. Cross the street, take the first left, St. Nicks will be one block uphill, on the right.

On Swallfoorts' route at the end of the 40th St Bridge at the traffic light you could just ride down the exit ramp to Millvale instead of using the 'goat path'. Its a 2 lane exit ramp. Use the goat path on your way back from Millvale to Lville, because when your going that way your "against" the traffic coming down the ramp. There's a section of "sidewalk" on the 'goat path' route that cambers about 45 degrees that I've always walked.

Boazo -- Good point. I usually "think" about this movement in the opposite direction, hence the recommendation for use of the goat path. You are right, though. Heading towards Millvale, the road ramp is a much better (and safer) option.

Minor variation, with a caveat. At north end of 40SB, cross PA28 and get on the sidewalk, turning right. In only a couple hundred feet, you come to a choice of a set of steps or a brief, very steep path. Take either. You will be on Maryland, almost across the street from the church.

The caveat: You will have to watch for road signs, their supporting structures, and the sandbags that sometimes hold them down, as well as mud if it's rained recently. The sidewalk itself may be muddy. Each time I've gone through there recently it's been a little different.

Oooo - and though I 311'd it, there's still a construction sign on the outbound sidewalk side of 40th street bridge. The sign is sharp and the bridge railings are very unforgiving. My ribs are still angry at my misperception of handlebar width there. So head's up! I'd ride the road, depending on the timing. Every time I ride a sidewalk, something goes horribly wrong and reminds me I'm allowed in the road.

If you _really_ want to take the trail (and who wouldn't?!) you could cut across the river on the 31st street bridge and get down somehow to the trail, I've never done that but I'm told it's easy.

Outbound 31SB to L onto River Ave (before north end of bridge). Go about 100 feet past base of hill and left-U-turn onto trail.

"...if I can take the trail almost all the way and then easily cut over. Is it possible to get off the trail near St. Nick's?"

Yes. If you're coming up the trail instead of crossing the 40th Street Bridge, at the end of Riverfront Park, you will turn left under an overpass and over some railroad tracks, then cross the road to get to Maryland Avenue.

"Am I going to get killed trying to do so?"

No, but you'll have to look both ways and run across the road at the "pedestrian crossing".

This may be further complicated by the fact that - last I checked - Maryland Avenue was closed. Don't know if you can get through on the sidewalk or not. If not, you would need to go to the next street, Stanton Avenue, and loop left up to Maryland via Sheridan Street.

"At north end of 40SB, cross PA28 and get on the sidewalk, turning right..."

Was over there about a week ago... alas, the whole area across 28 was torn up and inaccessible; sidewalk appeared to be gone. And that was the "official" access, obstructed and muddy as it was. That leaves only the aforementioned goatpath on the south side of 28, (which I personally love and find exhilarating, wicked "camber" and all ...my new word for the day!). ...Hope they plan on restoring access to the bridge from Maryland.

"At the stop sign/pedestrian crossing at the bottom of the hill, turn left, under bridge, to first street. (Probably easiest to cross the dirt area, rather than using the street)."

To be clear, the stop sign is not at the pedestrian crossing. The pedestrian crossing is at the dirt area, and yes, it is probably easiest to cross there. But ya know, I've gotten to the point where sometimes I just don't wanna.

Recently, all I wanted to do was turn left onto Grant Ave. (the main street), and I took advantage of the low traffic in my direction and got in the middle lane at the stop. Traffic was solid (two lanes) in the opposite direction, and the curbside driver was distracted, looking to their right, and began pulling out, on course to hit me, before looking back and braking. From that experience, I will be extra hesitant about crossing two lanes at a stop (though, offhand, I can't think of any others that I encounter).

IMO, this is a problem area, which needs to be addressed. The existing setup is inadequate. There is plenty of pedestrian and bike traffic here, but you pretty much have to fend for yourself. Even setting aside the 40th Street Bridge access (which is vital), here's a nice town with a nice riverfront park, and this is how you get to it? Likewise, it's not very welcoming to the town for trail users.

Thanks, everyone!