I am a native North-Sider and an avid bicyclist who leads group rides to help people experience the joys of riding in the city. The freedom that bicycling throughout Pittsburgh gives me is indescribable, but is not trepidation-free.
Approximately 10 years ago, the city began installing bike lanes/facilities along popular corridors — East Street, The Commons and Brighton Road — that enabled cyclists to feel more comfortable as we traveled about during our group rides. However, a general consensus among us was that they “did not connect,” which raised safety concerns until recently.
Within the last few years, the City of Pittsburgh and the Department of Mobility & Infrastructure, along with the MoveForwardPgh team, have collaborated to change the culture of living, driving and cycling on the North Side. We now have protected bike lanes where Brighton Road begins that connect to the existing bike lane at Kirkbride Street. In addition, new traffic-calming measures such as speed humps and bike lanes have been put into place along California Avenue.
Last week I was traveling on Brighton Road near North Avenue by automobile and noticed more bicyclists on that stretch of road than I had ever seen in the past. I simply smiled and said to myself, “It’s working.” The new infrastructures allow me to continue to introduce road cycling to women without fear that ultimately stifles the joy of road riding. Stay tuned everyone, there is more to come!
ROBIN L. WOODS
Summer Hill
First Published: September 2, 2021, 4:00 a.m.