Biking News

Thanks to our friends from BikePgh for this important information:

To facilitate north-south travel within Downtown, the City and Port Authority will allow people on bikes to use the bus lanes on both Smithfield and Wood Streets, making them bus-bike-only lanes.

• On Smithfield, bikes can use the new bus-bike-only lane to travel southbound, helping create a connection to the Smithfield St Bridge and Eliza Furnace Trail.
• On Wood St, bicyclists will be able to travel in the new bus-bike-only lane northbound, connecting to the new facility on 3rd Ave.
• Additionally, a new bus-bike-only lane will be installed on Fort Pitt Boulevard from Smithfield to Wood Street.

The shared bus-bike-only lane will give people on bikes more direct travel options, limiting the need to go blocks out of their way to reach their destination. Bicyclists are still prohibited from using the other bus-only lane along Fifth Ave in Uptown and Oakland.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS

When traveling in the new bus-bike-only lanes, bicyclists are expected to:

• Travel in the same direction as the buses
• Never pass a bus (due to oncoming car traffic)

Motorists using Smithfield St and Wood St should be aware that, in addition to buses, people on bikes will be coming toward them.

Going in the same direction of car traffic on both Smithfield and Wood, bicyclists are permitted and expected to travel as they currently do, in the shared lane with cars, and not in the bus-bike-only lane.

Additionally, a new bus-bike-only lane will be installed on Fort Pitt Boulevard from Smithfield to Wood Street. This phase I of the installation will be completed by mid-October 2018.

Scooters and motorcycles are still prohibited from using the bus-bike-only lane. 
For more information, including a map of the enhancements, and information on phase II click here.

City of Pittsburgh Bike Plan – Input Sought

The City of Pittsburgh is thrilled to announce plans for a new Pittsburgh Bike Plan. Since the completion of the City’s first bike plan in 1999, many of the projects outlined in that plan have been installed, national best practices have changed and biking continues to be an important component in many Pittsburgher’s daily routines. Through the implementation of the new Bike Plan, Pittsburghers of all ages and abilities will have a better opportunity to incorporate bike riding into work commutes, recreation activities, daily errand-running, and social events.

But before the Bike Plan can be finished, the city wants to hear from you! Throughout the month of October, they are looking for input from residents, business owners, commuters and, really, everyone who interacts with Pittsburgh’s streets. Follow the link below to tell the city how to better connect you to the places you need to go. Through this link you can also get more information about a series of public meetings where you can hear more about the City’s priorities, processes and plan. pittsburghpa.gov/domi/bikeplan.html

Or attend a Public Meeting:

Allentown Senior Center, 631 East Warrington Avenue
October 10, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Manchester Citizen Corporation, 1319 Allegheny Avenue
October 15, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 South Highland Avenue
October 16, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.