Yesterday morning around 8:45, as I was heading downtown on the jail trail, I came up along side two people, loaded tourers, who were biking from DC to Cleveland. We had a nice chat, and it turned out they were headed to the Montour Trail for their next segment. I asked how they were getting there (because I had no idea), and they seemed a little unsure but one said they intended to head through downtown to the North Side. I told him I thought that that would put them on the wrong side of the river for the Montour Trail, but that maybe that was a better detour for some reason - I wasn't sure.
What's the right answer here? I know there may be no perfect traffic-free route, but are there a few decent alternatives? Next time I want to be a better guide.
Boy I hope they didn't try going up 65, but I didn't hear about any deaths on the news, so probably not. I suppose they could have gone up Brighton Rd, California or such, and stay on top of the hill.
But from town, to Cleveland, the Montour Trail would be not applicable.
The way would be to stay on the south side of the Ohio, Carson St to McKees Rocks, out 51, to Chippewa, and so on.
Somewhere else on the board there's a good route laid out.
My buddy Mike went from the GAP to Cleveland via the Montour. Because of the gaps in the Montour, he found it difficult.
Edmonds' suggestion works for me (never done it though).
noblestown rd to the panhandle trail which then very awkwardly intercepts the montour.
Geez. Well, I hope they made it all right.
The T to Library...
I ran into them up by the PNC building about 9:00 or so. They asked me how to cross the river and I strongly suggested Smithfield Street Bridge and then back under to the trail on the south side there to skip that stretch of Carson. They said they were headed to the Montour trail but never asked me how to get there (I'd have sent them Chris's way I think). I assumed they had maps but that there were so many bridges they didn't know which to cross.
I found myself thinking they were about to find out Pittsburgh is a much hillier place than the GAP, but I didn't want to spoil their morning.
"you can't get there from here."
You can always get there from here it's just that you have to go through somewhere else that isn't actually between here and there.
I think my first question would have been "Where are you trying to get to, really?" My second would have been "Why do you want to know?" My third would have been "How adventurous do you want to be?"
If they just wanted to see the end of the trail, sure, NSide trail to Eckert/McClure/Antrim/Fleming, McKees Rox Br, 51, Neville Island, and more of 51, would take them right past the northern end of the MT. Probably not what they want. If they want to actually ride the MT, a nice G2 ride from Dahntahn would get them to Ikea, and a nice little descent from there would put them right on the MT.
Adventure can be in the form of riding WCarson St on a bicycle, or riding a bus on WCarson with the bike on the front. Personal taste.
nice G2 ride from Dahntahn would get them to Ikea
Their bikes were laden--front and rear panniers, handlebar bags, extra stuff tied across the racks back... Besides they looked like serious touring riders who knew the route. In my case anyway (I can't speak for Chinston's experience which may contradict my impression) it just seemed like they were asking a local about the most "bike friendly" way to cross the river.
They looked like serious tourers to me, but they seemed surprisingly uncertain about the route — or at least, more uncertain than I would be. Different people have different approaches, and I think if I were undertaking a trip like that, I'd have more of my route planned out, especially around tricky urban locations. But I guess they were more freewheeling.
Maybe you gave them confidence about the route since I'm pretty sure I saw them after you, I came up behind them on my way to work shortly after 9:00 I think.
