BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I haven't biked beyond Bellevue along California/Church/Center but I'd guess that it's not too bad (traffic not too fast, street not too steep). If you go down Locust St it appears you can use sidewalk to avoid biking on 65, as you said. There's an Old Camp Horne Rd that you can use if you're willing to trade traffic for a hill. I'd try this route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/21782833?privacy_code=i7aM812LWRpSuSw9

I biked Camp Horne Road a few times, a few years ago, and found it was OK, but several folks on this older thread disagreed.

California/Church/Center is pretty good, a bit of traffic but It's generally slow and predictable through the towns, but the bridge on center is out where it crosses over camp horne road, so you would have to re-route around. Could do perrysville to Hiland and a bit of sidewalk (to avoid 65) to camp horne.

Did Cali/Center to Emsworth last week. Center to 65 (Perrysville/Hiland) is steep, but not too long, with some flat in the middle. Sidewalk on 65 was fine, even up to North Ave, which is another climb back up to Center on the other side of Camp Horne. Can't speak to Camp Horne itself, tho it's not a long segment, and I've done it a few times in the southbound direction. If you take Hiland, you'll pass this attractive church:

Thank you all for your advice! I'll report back when we return.

The lower part of Camp Horne Rd is quite rideable. Bits don't have much of a shoulder but the road is wide enough to accommodate car and bike (though maybe not garbage truck and bike). Using Hiland to get there from/to California is very convenient, and it's not even that much of a grade. The Emsworth Church is indeed attractive. And the porch comfortably holds two bikers waiting for a shower to pass.

• The older thread has a lot of useful information about biking thereabouts.
• Google bike routes are kind of clueless. For example: It takes you out the bike trail to the penitentiary, up McClure then an immediate left up Antrim to California. Huh?

Trail to Pen, Eckert, McClure, Antrim for 100 feet (steep but short), then R on Fleming, L Termon, R Calif, is a worthy alternative.

Antrim sucks, but it's short. Eckert to McClure to Benton to California is an alternative climb that's a bit easier of a grade.

Eckert to McClure to Benton to California is an alternative climb that’s a bit easier of a grade.

Would have been my choice, especially since I believe it's actually shorter than if you right away climb to California. If you're at the bottom of the Ft Duquesne Br crossing on the north side it seems easier (and maybe shorter) to get up to Allegheny Commons and do Brighton to the head of California (yes, using the alley). If you insist on the trail, why not cut up to Beaver and Chateau and ride up the pedestrian ramp to California? In any case, there's maybe more to automating bike routing than a couple of hard-coded rules. Which was my original point.

I live a couple blocks from that Park.  Riding Camp Horne btwn ORB and the Park won't be fun, but it won't be much of a problem on a Sunday morning.  I used to ride/walk it regularly on Sunday mornings. From town, California/Lincoln/Church/Center will be your best bet.  I usually just ride up Brighton to California, past the post office and up the hill to Brighton Hts Rd. The hill on California is long, but gradual.  And there are blissfully few cross streets. Once you get past Bellevue/Avalon, look for left turn on Dalzell or just after that.  A block to a right on Beaver.  Follow curve on Beaver down to ORB.  Right on ORB 2 longish blocks will take you to Camp Horne.  There is a sidewalk here, if you want to use it.