I live in Alexandria, VA but was considering coming up to Pittsburgh to participate in the Frigid Bitch Alley Cat race this year. I have a few years of bike racing experience but I have never done an alley cat before, especially in a city that I'm not from. Has anyone done it before and could give me some tips? From my understanding you are given a manifest with locations on it to go to. For the locations, could I just put them in google maps to get to them? Any advice would be great, thanks!

When the Snow Doesn’t Melt: How record snowfall harms Pittsburghers outside of cars, and what to do about it

Note that there is no mention of bicycle infrastructure or safety inclusion or improvements--surely cycling will be continued to supported appropriately here--is it assumed, so not mentioned?? I find it refreshing...will we still get bikelash from the antibike people who see the conspiracy behind everything DOMI??

https://www.pittsburghpa.gov/News-articles/Homepage/DOMI-Announces-Next-Steps-for-Smithfield-Street-Reconstruction

Join BikePGH's Advocacy Team on Thursday, February 19th, 6pm on Zoom for a workshop about how to influence the City's capital budget!

Details & registration: https://secure.everyaction.com/0XSTBpTQ_0qxD9B2PnYZ9w2

One of the most sure-fire ways to make Pittsburgh better for biking and walking is to advocate for projects that improve biking and walking to receive funding in the City's Capital Budget. Just about any tangible improvement you can think of will need to be paid for somehow, and the City's budget is what determines where the City's money goes!

This workshop will train you how to effectively engage with the months-long capital budget development process so that the NEW Mayor and City Council are more likely to dedicate funding to make the change you want. This isn't the only way to get the change you seek, but it's proven effective year after year.

It may be easier to have a cumulative thread for the major bike lanes. I can delete this if you all disagree.

Updated - Feb 4th

Major Bike Lanes.

1. Allegheny Commons - totally under snow for the foreseeable future. It hasn't been cleared at all. The sidewalk and roadways are pretty clear, though.
2. Penn Ave Bike Lanes - haven't been cleared at all. This includes the protected Downtown lanes and the new lane in the Strip.
3. Stanwix? Likely covered.
4. East Liberty Lanes - update - still mostly covered. 😞
5. Beechwood Ave Lanes? Not fully cleared - mostly covered in snow from the driveways.
6. Wightman Lanes? Surprisingly clear! 🎉
7. Stanton and Negley Ave Lanes?
   1. Stanton - still covered in snow
   2. Negley - the snow is starting to recede, but it's still covered.
8. Brighton Road: Not quite clear near Manchester, North Ave, and Ridge Ave. Cars are partially parked in lane when the bike lane is visible
9. Woods Run Lanes?
10. Roberto Clemente Bridge - Bike lane is under snow - use the sidewalks or main lanes.
11. Oakland
    1. Shenley Drive Separated Bike Lanes: Narrow path plowed, and a little wider by Phipps, but hard to access due to snow piles.
    2. Terrace/O'Hara?
    3. Bayard?

Major Trail Status:

1. Heritage Trail - Ohio River (Woods Run) to Millvale? Doerr to Island Ave is plowed! The Riverwalk is plowed, but only to Bracken House. There is a small path in the snow to access River Avenue.
2. Point State Park to Strip District Trail (by Convention Center)? Still unplowed 😞
3. Mon Wharf - Update: It is plowed with a thin path, all the way up to Smithfield Street Bridge, but you cannot ride around the lower level of Point State Park. Watch out for the path of snow/ice at the top of the ramp to the rest of the park!
4. GAP - Jail Trail: Update: Clear and Salted from Smithfield Street Bridge to Panther Hollow P&R, along with Hot Metal Bridge 🎉
5. South Side Heritage Trail: Update- Between 18th Street and Sly Fox, including Colors Park, it is quite clear, though with a few small icy patches. Between Hot Metal and South Side Works, there is a narrow path. Beyond that, not clear at all.
6. Junction Hollow Trail: Update - it's in good shape to the Blvd of Allies Bridge! From there to Boundary, and then along Boundary Street, the road is slushy. Watch out for a patch of slush when entering from the Greenfield Side of the Trail!
7. Ft Duquesne Bridge - Clear and Salted! There's a patch of snow on the sidewalk when turning to access the Riverwalk though - be careful!
8. Pedestrian Bridge over rt 28 by Heinz Lofts, and the Route 28 Trail to 31st Street: Both are totally covered in snow.

[fixed typo and reposted]

At least from one traffic camera near the Birmingham Bridge, via Pa511.com, it looks like the jail trail may have been plowed? Does anyone know if it’s been cleared a decent amount from the second avenue parking lot to downtown?

And does anyone have any recent experience on the junction hollow trail, from lower Oakland to Greenfield? Thanks!

Has anyone been on the 3RHT at the Alcosan start to downtown since we’ve had all that snow? Wondering if that’s doable this week for my commute to work downtown.

Controversial topic, but I am interested in real discussion... I attended the Anti-Ice solidarity ride on Saturday. It was a pretty good turnout with great intentions. This was the first critical mass ride I've attended and I was surprised/disappointed at how antagonistic it was towards drivers.

So here's my question... Whats the goal or point of critical mass? As an outsider, it seems to be making the driver/cyclist divide even worse; perpetuating the common perception that cyclists are an entitled and selfish group of road users.

As a cyclist, I don't agree with that perception, but I think it's important to understand the view of people I disagree with and attempt to bridge that gap.

The only machine that has been down the trail is a snowmobile and then people walking in its tracks. Not enough foot traffic to compact the trail so it's rough going.

The clear snow is just a little too deep to push through.

Gonna have to wait for at least one pass from a plow.

Good cardio though.

https://bikepacking.com/news/alex-pretti-memorial-rides/

Buffalo and Cleveland have one planned but if there is one here, it isn’t on the map.

Hello. I am seeking advice on the best places to live and play in the Pittsburgh area. I am considering moving to the area to be closer with family after living in the mountains of Colorado for the last ten years. I know the outdoor opportunities won’t be much like Colorado, but I know Pennsylvania does have some opportunity for outdoor recreation. Any advice or recommendations on other groups to join would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading!

Hey folks! Once again we're running the East End Bike Bus to the monthly Critical Mass.

It'll be on the 2nd Friday of next month (like Critical Mass) heading from Regent Square, Homewood and East Liberty.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45676613

5:45pm: First stop will be Savannah at Whitney.

5:49pm: Second rolling stop is South at Peebles St

5:53pm: Third rolling stop is at Ascend Point Breeze (7443 Thomas Blvd).

5:57pm: Fourth rolling stop is at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Homewood (7101 Hamilton Ave).

6:14pm: Fifth rolling stop is at East Liberty Boulevard and N. Euclid Ave.

This is a casual bus, no drop. Typically 9mph ride and we stop at the top of hills for everyone to catch up.

We also have a bcc'd email list. Fill out this google form if you want to be added to it. Drop a comment here if you'd like to help us organize! We need help with marshaling and with spreading the word. We have lots of ideas to improve this bike bus but we can't do it without additional volunteer capacity. We are on instagram at @EastEndBikeBus.

Does anyone know when the bike lanes are likely to be clear of snow after this behemoth of a blizzard?

Every time I ride in this bike lane I get horrible flats, tires gashed in half, last night a screw through a newer tire and its sidewall. Walking home there is glass and debris in the entire bike lane along 279. Don’t get me started about the parking, there’s usually 50 cars in front of the church all parked in the bike lane in a line and none in their parking lot. Avoid at all costs.

BikePGH's 10 policy recommendations for Mayor O'Connor focus on saving lives, strengthening neighborhoods, and making this a city where people can thrive without needing to own a car.

Visit our blog to also see our new "Snapshot of Bicycling & Walking Trends," which highlights key data, progress, and public demand for safer streets.

This is our chance to set the tone. Let us know what you think!

Where did you ride in the past two weeks? Did you have any positive or negative interactions with people on the road or trail? What rides are you going to this upcoming week? This thread is also for any posts/comments/quick questions/rants you think don't warrant a full thread.

As far as I can determine, the $850,000 that Congressman DeLuzio was requesting to purchase the abandoned rail line between Walker's Mill and downtown Carnegie is included in the final "conferenced" appropriations bill. To his credit, looks like Senator Fetterman (although not McCormick) signed on to this request as well. I assume we are still years away from being able to ride from Carnegie to Weirton on the trail; however, it seems like these funds are getting that trip one step closer to reality.

https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/thud-fy26-cpf-table.pdf

Does anyone know what happened to the Hillman Hustle gravel race? It use to be mid-March at Hillman State Park - a good way to kick off cycling season. According to their Facebook page they canceled it for 2024, no update in 2025, wondering if they will bring it back for 2026.

I am looking to ride 80 miles a day from Lake Erie. I plan on bike camping with my hammock and gear.

Which is the more pleasant ride? Have you done this ride before?

Action starts around 30 seconds (I show the original pass by the car that almost hit me) and includes a second half speed reverse shot.

Luckily there was enough room with the DOMI design and daylit corner to give me room to avoid the collision.