Pittsburgh Transportation - Bicycling

Bicycling

Pittsburgh has a thriving cycling community despite steep hills and variable weather. Efforts have been made to incorporate the bicycle into the transportation system. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail encompasses all the trails in the city. The Eliza Furnace Trail, known locally as the "Jail Trail", stretches from Downtown (at the Allegheny County Jail) to the East End region of the city, where trail access can be found along some roads. The North Shore Trail spans from the Alcosan plant along the Ohio River and continues along the Allegheny River to Millvale. The Southside Trail follows the Monongahela River and currently ends in Baldwin Borough, but plans are underway to connect to McKeesport, completing the Great Allegheny Passage. This trail, in connection with the C & O Canal Trail, will form a continuous off-street trail from Pittsburgh to Washington DC. PAT has installed bike racks on some buses and it allows bikes on its subway/busway system during off-peak hours. Bike Pittsburgh (a.k.a. BikePGH) is the local bicycle advocacy group and is working to make Pittsburgh increasingly safe, accessible, and friendly to bicycle transportation. The non-profit bike collective,Free Ride, recycles bicycles and bike parts, teaches bicycle construction, and has programs to sell or earn a rebuilt bicycle. Additionally, bicycles can be borrowed at two places along the Heritage Trail through the Friends of the Riverfront/Dasani Blue Bikes program.