BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

http://localhost/2014/05/15/bike-to-work-day-south-hills-to-downtown/ I've brought a bike on the T many many times. Just use some common sense. The passengers have always been cool about it. The drivers have gotten much better over the years. And using the T to get halfway there is such a great solution. I'd definitely encourage you to do it. Take the T to 1st Street (so you don't have to cross Carson St, and away you go. When you get used to that you can figure out a route through the South Hills.

Keep in touch. There is a growing need to get into town from south of Mt Washington, and every route has something to de-recommend it. I live north, so can't give you any pointers on southern routes, but I might be of assistance with the various approaches to the northern end of your route. I cross every bridge from 62nd St to McKees Rocks every once in a while.

The T is the way to go . line up at the last train and i also bring a strap so i can secure the bike and relax for the ride. The 1st set of seats fold up if they are not taken

cowchip, is there a time of day to avoid, or is it all pretty much the same? thanks - chris

Sounds like the T and a folding bike would be ideal; Or you cold lock and keep a cheap bike near Station Square and use that. BTW, I assume the "citi bikes" or whatever we are going to call ours, are just for this purpose - last mile transport.

I have never had a problem even with a fair amount of people on train , although i use after 6pm from Station Square and 6 am to Station Square , also go to Giant Eagle and buy a pre paid PAT bus card that makes it a snap to pay and go ! Every cyclist should carry a bus card for emergency use !

For now the T is the best option for almost everyone, but I'll just include a little note, Natalie Rudiak made a point about being there in person at the start of the ride of silence (and then proceeded to make a point about her making a point to be there... politicians). Anyways, since she put herself out there as an ally, I'd take her at her word. If you would really prefer an all bike route if reasonable and safe I'd write to her and talk about the roadgoing situation as applies to your commute, the poor nature of the options you face, what you think may be doable. If you want, I think it always helps to have another voice chiming in about opening up the unused part of the wabash tunnel for cyclists and the seldom seen greenway to at least cover the mt washington climb and get a little bit of a break before tangling with west liberty/pioneer or saw mill run: http://localhost/mb/topic/wabash-tunnel/page/3/

I wrote Kail-Smith about opening the tunnel (it's in her district) and she, cleverly, I thought, deflected the question to our own Scott Bricker, who basically said were working on it, but not now. So keep trying, but also expect that they've heard this request before and know how to deal with it. The south hills are a tough nut to crack.

If you're worried about riding in traffic the T is definitely the way to go. The trick to taking a bike on the T is just not being ass about it. Getting it on the Blue Line is rarely a problem, getting it on the Red Line it helps if you are getting on before Dormont. But don't rule out 19. It's a lot safer than you think it is. Before breaking my arm a few weeks ago I was riding Washington/West Liberty straight into town from Mt. Lebo every day, starting at about 7:30 AM, and I have never had a problem with aggressive drivers or traffic. For over Mt. Washington I would then take a left in front of the tunnel, go up Warrington (it's a great ride now that it's been repaved), and then you can either go down Arlington (if you're going to Downtown/North Side) or Bocston (if you're going to the South Side).

If someone is comfortable with W. Liberty, why not just take the tunnel all the way to PJ Mcardle, and roll off to the right down Arlington? During rush hour, the Liberty tunnel wouldn't be moving too fast.

Police would stop you. Famous DD changed route because police asked Danny Chew not to use LT.

My two cents - I live in bethel park and work on the north side and have taken nearly every route to get there, including the T. I have the same concerns about getting grease on somebody who is dressed up and headed to work. If I'm not on the T before 6 am, I don't take it because it is SRO after that most days. I find evenings to be crowded even at 7 pm. People are pretty cool but I may be too considerate for my own good. West Liberty Ave is better than you think it might be from a car perspective. The discussion about non-sensing lights is applicable when you get to the tunnel and have to make a left toward Warrington. The light doesn't pick up the cyclist so you have to wait until a car gets behind you, which doesn't take too long. The light is so long that you will have a train behind you before it changes. You could chance the light but it is a long left, it is sometimes hard to tell, who has the green, and cars come flying out of the southbound tunnel. I'm chicken, trying not to become a road pizza, so I wait for the green. Boggs is better than Warrington to climb, less steep and no tracks to get caught in. Go down Sycamore instead of McArdle to pick up the trail. 13 miles to Manchester this way. 88 is decent also, except for the last portion from McNeilly to 51. Take the lane. At 51 the jug handle construction is ongoing. When you get a green go across 51, walk through the construction (this is assuming you are there between 6-6:30 am, if not walk through the rite aid parking lot) and go up Ivyglen, Lodge, Esther, Sunnyland, Stewart, and Brownsville to 18th Street. Take 18th street all the way down to the trail. 15.5 miles to Manchester that way. An alternate to the route 88 / Ivyglen route is to take 88 to valley to lucille to andrea and then hamilton. then go to mcroberts, grove, baptist, brownsville and cross 51 at south hills country club, whitehall. Follow Brownsville all the way to 18th and the trail. 16.8 miles to Manchester that way. One final proposal involves getting to Mt. Lebanon Boulevard, Brucewood, Avon, Jefferson, Poplar, Castle Shannon Boulevard. Turn right on E Shady and cross 19 / Washington Road. Right on meadowcroft and follow it to hayson, allender, potomac, to green tree road. You'll have to be very ballsy and take the lane and be very careful passing by where everyone gets on the parkway west to sit on Green Tree hill every morning. Go down Greentree road into and through the West End. Wend your way to the West End Bridge. Step over the jersey barrier and take the walkway and the steps at the other end down to the trail. 11.5 miles to Manchester this way but by far the most dangerous way. There are others, Brownsville to Streets Run; Brookline Boulevard to Whited to Colerain, Nobles Lane, Brownsville Road and 18th Street; Crane to 51 to Woodruff or all the way to the West End Bridge. Some of these are much more dangerous than others, you might die on any of them at any moment. Watch out for the faux hawk in Carrick. Go as early as possible and join us in championing the Seldom Seen Greenway, which leads to the Wabash. That corridor will truly and safely connect the South Hills to Downtown and points beyond. See you out there.

12 months a year I drive (in a car!) to the lot over by the Riverhounds stadium ($6), then I take my bike out and go across Smithfield St bridge and then the Ft. Duquesne Bridge. It is only 8 miles round trip, but it is a nice way to start and end the day, and I can wear my work clothes. I've been cautioned not to take my bike on the T during rush hour, but seems like folks here haven't had problems.

I live in Brookline and really like the route up Nobles Ln to Brownsville to 18th St. I can't help a whole lot with a route prior to that. I think 19 isn't all that terrible from Mt. Lebanon to the tunnel, but between South hills village and Mt. Lebanon I think I'd be a little more nervous. I just took a minute to write to Natalia Rudiak and to Peduto to register my wish to have some better bikeways in the south hills. I'd love it if there were routes to follow that were safe enough for me to feel comfortable towing my 3-year-old into town. So much fun stuff to do along the bike paths. We just need a good connector.

Absolutely agree. The routes from uptown Mt Lebanon in are doable depending on your knowledge/courage/confidence but there really is no good way to get from South Hills Village to uptown Mt Lebanon.

Oxford Dr to Highland Rd to Milford Dr to 88 to Connor to Willow to Bockstocke Ave From there either take the dirt path behind the First Commonwealth Bank (if dry) or Brucewood Dr to Avon Dr to Jefferson Dr

Whichever way you go, make sure to have at least two really good blinkies on the back. I have one under my seat and one on my helmet. Using rechargeable AAAs that I pop on the charger every six hours of use, and run them anytime I'm on the road, day or night, I am sure to be seen if anyone is paying attention. (It's that last part that scares me, regardless of where I am, but I just beat back the fear every time I get on the bike, and ride anyway.) I regularly tackle McKnight Road. Need I say more?

No good way from SH Village to Uptown Mt. Lebanon? The road that the SHV T Station is on is called Village Drive. Take that to Ft. Couch and go right. Get in the left lane and turn onto Donati Road, which becomes Dorchester Road. Follow it back to the end, where the Pathfinder School is located. Get on the sidewalk to the right of the school and follow it behind the school. It leads up behind St. Thomas More Church and into the UPMC Parking lot. No traffic at all once you are off Ft. Couch. Oxford to Highland is busy. If you want to avoid it, go to the far right of the UPMC lot and find the paved path along side the ball diamond. Follow it across the tracks and take a left on the first road you come to, which is Avon Lane. Follow it around to the right and it becomes Pickwick Drive. Take Pickwick to a left on Strathmore. Go to a left on Meadowbrook and another left on Highland. Go right on Oregon Trail, go diagonally across Conner onto Greenridge. Take the first right on Hastie and a left on Willow at the bottom. Then follow Chris' directions, Willow to Bockstoce to Mt. Lebanon Blvd, etc... 5.4 miles - see ride with gps map - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/new

Once you get to the ride with gps page, click on routes and you will see the SHV to Mt. L route map option

bad link to ride with gps, it just goes to new route page...

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4941164 Try this link.

I like that route an awful lot.

Keeps you out of the fray

I would change slightly beginning of the route -- http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4974364

The first part of the alternative proposed by Mikhail is good but the path on the map through Village Green Park does not exist as shown. This is a children's park with swings and a big field in the middle where soccer is played, so I don't think riding across the middle of the park is a good idea. Staying on the perimeter becomes a mushy muddy ride for a good part of the year, especially as one approaches the Conestoga Road side of the park. If a lot of cyclists start riding through there and creating ruts, I am sure there would be complaints from residents. So, if you are going to use the alternative route, when you get to the upper level of the UPMC complex, I would recommend going around and down to the right to pick up the path along the ball field and continue to Avon Lane. I like going right on Ft. Couch because when you get the light, it is downhill, you can get a jump on traffic, and there is an extra left turn lane shortly thereafter to get you out of traffic and onto Donati.