BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

If it were me, I'd do one of the following: Highland Park Bridge->Freeport Rd->left on Indianola Rd(AKA 910)->second right on Gulf Lab Rd->left at T on Russelton Rd->into Deer Lakes area. This is direct, if trafficky. To cut out Highland Park Bridge and most of Freeport Rd: make your way down to Verona/Oakmont, then take the Hulton Bridge to a right on Freeport; then, the left on Indianola as described above. To trade traffic for hills: 62nd St Bridge to Bridge St, right on Butler, right (crossing Rte 8) to Kittaning St/becomes Dorseyville->right on Saxonburg Blvd->follow to Deer Lakes area.

Take the Highland Park bridge on the sidewalk for no traffic. People are driving too fast these days on the HPB. Some are up to 70mph and slam on their brakes at the end. I think IQ's are getting lower and lower, but I digress. There is no great route to that region. At Fox Chapel Road and Freeport you could take a right and loop down through there for a traffic break. There are lower roads in Blawnox as well, but nothing is easy out that way unless you are big into mountain biking, then you can ride the tracks on either side of the river up that way. Yes, people do it, if you have some big tires. Fat bikes are best, but it is done on regular mountain bikes sometimes.

I think it depends on time of day and day of week. Our bike suitability maps would suggest considering outbound travel on Allegheny River Boulevard through Oakmont, then Constitution/Cox Comb connection to New Kensington. Note, there are no great river crossing bridges for bikes out that direction until you get to the Freeport Bridge, which doesn't work for this trip. Based on traffic volume and connections, the New Kensington Bridge is probably your best bet. Crossing the New Kensington Bridge will put you on a less great section of Freeport Road, but it improves for cycling before too long. Freeport is a direct connection to the Park entrance. http://www.spcregion.org/trans_pedbike_maps2.shtml#all If you reference the maps, you'll want to look at sheet 23 and those down river, for the most part.

Thanks to everyone for the input. It will be on Saturday, so I hope I will not encounter much traffic if I follow the final route reddan suggested.

Gonna try this ride soon as well. I used to go along Frankstown, through Verona, to Allegheny River Blvd., across the Hulton bridge -- Reddan's second option. It was not bad. The Hulton bridge can get hectic, but that can work to a cyclist's advantage -- backed up traffic means everyone's going at your pace. Google also suggested what looks like a more suburban/country route, staying south and then cutting north at the end. Frankstown -> Leechburg -> Milltown -> Kerr -> Logan's Ferry -> to the New Ken bridge. Could be cool but I don't know if those roads are more country (mostly empty) or suburban (SUVs speeding along while their occupants text). Anyone have experience there?

Thanks for that map link, Swalfoort. I'm really happy to know about that resource. The map suggests that at least some of those back roads up to New Ken are nice for riding.

Lincoln Rd is way better than Frankstown. Leechburg -> Milltown -> Kerr -> Logan’s Ferry is ok but hilly for sure. Freeport's not that bad, especially outbound.